Defacto Spectacle 2014: Here... Elsewhere

This is a free annual fireworks show held in La Défense - this years will be the fourth edition. It is a little off the radar because technically it's outside Paris, and therefore doesn't get the same level of promotion that Paris events get.

This is great of course, because it means the crowds are smaller and more family friendly. None of the French car burning tradition to be found here!

The show is a mixture of lighting effects projected onto the Grande Arche and other nearby buildings, combined with pyrotechnics and sound. Based on my experience last year, the show is well choreographed, and the smaller 'stage' and audience means the syncing between sound and visuals are much more effective than your average pyrotechnics show.

The theme for this years show is a trip around the world.

The street art murals of the 13th arrondissement

One of my favourite things about Paris is its street art... And without question, 1st prize goes to the 13th arrondissement, where the local mayor and Galerie Itinerrance have been supporting the creation of large public murals by international artists.

So... for lovers of street art - below is a quick guide to the large murals and their locations (with artist names in brackets).

Allow 2-3 hrs to seek them all out, and keep an eye out for the countless smaller works along the way. The murals have been listed below in an order that follows an overall clockwise route...so following this order will be an efficient use of your walking / biking energy.