Fete de la Musique (Festival of Music)

The first such festival took place on June of 1982. On this day, professional and amateur musicians from different French regions and all over the world play their instruments completely freely everywhere in the city. Indoors or out.

They can perform in public squares, porches, in front of pubs and restaurants, covered walkways, side of bridges, under cafe awnings, sidewalks, park entrances, church steps, etc. etc. Everyone is encouraged to play absolutely every type of music - from huge outdoor concerts to an old man playing a flute in one street corner. All free of charge. (Well, some appreciate donations). This festival is always held in the day of the Soltice, the longest day of the year. Indeed, the photos above were taken at approximately 9:30 PM - and the sun was still shining brightly.

CENTRE POMPIDOU - this high tech steel and glass center (near Les Halles) for 20th century art has a bold exoskeletal architecture, with its exterior escalators enclosed in transparent tube. It has brightly painted pipes and ducts crisscrossing its transparent facade. Green stands for Water, Red = Heat, Blue = Air, Yellow = Electricity.
Here's P and E standing in the center of the city, which is the 1st District (or 1 eme). This was E's old neighborhood. He explained that Paris is divided into 20 Districts (called Arrondissements), starting at the center and progressing in a swirling, clockwise direction - similar to a snail's spiral shell.

Speaking of snails - that's what we had for dinner appetizers. P and I both have a weakness for escargots. Especially ones that are cooked in Le Bon Bolli garlic and herb butter (similar to Krauter butter). Finger lickin' gooood!!

The festival lasted till dawn the next day but by midnight, the young crowd spilling on the streets was becoming more and more rowdy. After witnessing a drunk young guy getting ran over by a car, we finally decided to bid E Adieu and called it a day.

For more about Edible Snails, check out: http://www.escargot.fr/uk/