Techno Parade

One of the interesting conundrums of being in a foreign country and with a different language and culture, is not being aware of what is a routine occurance, and what is a special event.

This morning when we were leaving the apartment, we saw a full-sized police bus, heading east, with the siren on. We could see uniformed policia inside, but assumed this was a normal occurance.
We took the metro to the Bastile station, with the intent of getting off, and walking east towards the Marais, where apparently there is a thrift shop. Lots of young, trendy French kids on the train. Wonder where they all go on Saturdays? (as this was Saturday). Many wearing all-black, many with striped shirts, wide belts, etc. French teen trends?

As we moved with the swarm out of the Metro (geez, the metro sure is more crowded on Saturdays!), the sound of a train overhead was louder and louder the more we went to the surface. The Bastille was jam-packed with 17 year olds, dancing to the loudest techno-music you ever heard, policia everywhere, kids mixing drinks in the streets. What is going on? Riot? Maybe one of those French anti-war protests? Hmmm.

C was in misery, his hands locked tight over his ears. Finally I asked one of the policia. The answer, in French, was Tecno Paris. Or was that Techno Parti? or Techno Parade?

We wedged ourselves into another train to get out of there. At the next station, booming again! Hmm. Must be Techno Parade, since it seemed to be following us. We headed out and away, lunch and a park.

Another stop, two hours later, guess what? Techno Parade was following us!

Further research revealed that the annual Techno Parade circles around our apartment from noon to 6 PM. Over 400,000 attendees, 20 floats, and lots of loud techno flooding down the long sound channels formed by the tall buildings!