Parisian Firemen Get Naughty

Okay, so the pictures are horrible...I took them with my cell phone. Next year, I'll bring the telephoto lense. ;)

Every 14th of July the French celebrate Bastille Day, or the birth of their democratic republic (on July 14, 1789 the Parisian mob destroyed the Bastille prison, a symbol of the king's absolute power). But more importantly, it's also time for the annual Fireman's Ball, aka le Bal des Pompiers. On the evenings of July 13 and July 14, fire stations throughout France host huge dance parties open to the general public. In the countryside it's more of a charming family event. In Paris it's more like a night of open-air clubbing.

With firemen. Oh là la...

After a bit of debate on which one would be the most fun, I went to the Caserne du Port Royal, in the 13th, with my accomplices Miranda and Victoria. We got there at 10pm (they usually start at 9pm) and it was already filling up. The DJs had the regular repertoire of French and Anglophone dance hits (there was Mika, Abba, and way too many French pop singers I'd rather not mention), accompanied by fog machines and a laser show. There were about five different bars set up, each run by a different fire station team (some from the suburbs) dressed in different outfits. Some had on their regular navy and red uniforms, other had on the full formal gear, and one team (at the stand selling hot dogs and fries) had on adorable white and navy striped shirts...all they were missing were little berets!

Love those kepis! 

The ladies and I headed to the bar at the very back, which was set up in the firestation patio, so it was separated from the main dance floor mob. There was a huge sign, "Bounty Bar", and inside the prow of a pirate ship -- with a pole -- served as the dance platform. The ladies and I were curious about the myth of the fireman's pole, so being a good journalist that I am, I decided to ask. "So, do you boys really have a pole?" Of course they do. Some things are the same all over the world.

Fireman straddling a cannon at the Bounty Bar. 

And before you say it, yes, I could have asked them to show me their pole, but that's sooooo cliché. And I would have missed the show. It wasn't even midnight when the platform filled up with firemen (a few firewomen) and some of the more enthusiastic crowd. It was only a matter of time before the shirts came off.

Sure, they're putting their shirts back on at the end, but only so they can rip 'em off again on the next song!

"And then what?" you may be wondering. You'll have to come see for yourself. A word of advice: even though it goes until 3am, get there early if you want to mark your territory...all of the firemen tend to "disappear" by 1am. And I'm sure it's not because they have to get up early for work, either. ;-)

  

Overheard in the crowd, from one American (or Canadian?) girl to another: "Go for it! No one here will ever see you again!" Yeah. Unless of course it appears on You Tube the next day. Sigh...kinda makes one miss the good ol' days.

A better video to give you an idea of the atmosphere.