Since Independence Day is an American holiday (no kidding?), the French office was open and I spent the Fourth of July working. But, it was actually a good thing because I have a ton to do before I go on vacation next week and it gave me the chance to catch up a bit.

I wanted to do something “American” to celebrate the Fourth, but google didn’t provide me any information other than that the Obamas would be celebrating in Paris—Barry and I aren’t that tight so I figured that wasn’t an option. So, I decided I needed to get some sparklers.

I knew that sparklers weren’t illegal in Paris because I saw some attached to a bottle of champagne at a bar I was at last week. But, where to buy them? Paris doesn't have grocery stores that sell everything you can think of like back home. Luckily, my coworker Hans knew the answer—at a costume shop! (Of course!)

There are, strangely enough, three costume shops on my way home from work (one of which is called “tricks and treats” in French). I went to two of them and asked for “Bougie Magiques”—the translation for “sparklers” my coworkers gave me. The clerk at the first shop said “Non,” and the clerk at the second shop tried to sell me trick birthday candles. At the third shop, when the clerk again brought me birthday candles, I proceeded to tell him “plus grande” and waive an invisible sparkler. This he understood. He dug through a box of magic tricks and, voilà, produced a very sad looking package of sparklers that he sold to me for 5 Euro. (FYI in case you're ever in France on Independence Day, or just want a fun fact for the next cocktail party, the correct phrase for sparklers is "Cierges Magiques.")

Luckily, I had two Americans visiting, so we hit the town to celebrate our country’s independence. We found no other signs of celebration other than a bar that hung American flag pendants and whose bouncer was wearing an American flag button-up shirt ala Sacha Baren Cohen’s when he sang the fake national anthem (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwcfY0Ldf2Q). Brittney tried to strike up a conversation, but I have a feeling the owner made the bouncer where the shirt, because he did not seem to be in as festive of a mood as us.

Since it doesn’t get dark until almost the crack of dawn (and because we had to find a bar that had matches), we waited until our evening was over and went out into the street behind my apartment to light the sparklers. Luckily for me, my friends are patient; they let me drag out my camera and tripod and get pictures of them drawing with their sparklers (there was a little too much light from the buildings for them to turn out great, but they’re not bad—I will post them once I upload them).

Given the heat wave back home, I think that my American holiday in France may have won out!