Grande

Whereas, Grande in English, means something impressive and magnificent, it simply means Big in French. Hence, while a small Coke, is mois Coke, its opposite - a Large Coke, is Grand Coke. Simple enough.
But the French have it in them , for being flashy and classy. As a result, when they decide to do something Big, its Grand nonetheless.
Yesterday, was July 14 - the day, when the French Revolution began - way back in 1774, by storming the then prision - Bastille . Til today, 14^th is remembered and celebrated as Bastille Day. The morning has the usual Army Parade. Well, I would have called it, the French equivalent of 15th August Parade, but it has actual Army Jets flying about & not being carried atop army tanks, as a exhibiion. As I hear, these, Jets actually fly at near ground level, along the Champs Elysees. I don't think, we ever do that.
Similarly, later in the evening, there is a fireworks show at Eiffel Tower and its, well, Grand! I haven't seen - 4^th of July fireworks, but I don't think, they can get much bigger than 40 minutes of a colour splattered sky. I haven't seen so many people on the streets either. It was actually crowded and I was loving it. With less than a week to go, I couldn't a better last Saturday. There was a proper feast on the streets of Paris. People were in readiness of the fireworks. Locals, were more relaxed - had beers and wines handy, packed their picnic dinners, comfortable and portable chairs out. There can't be a more romantic dinner, than by the Seine on lush greens, as fireworks celebrate overhead. No one minds, the milling crowds at such times, anyway.
On similar lines, Paris has other Grand landmarks. The Grande Arch at La Defense, seems to be created for no particular purpose - Just for Fun!. But once, they set at doing it - they made it so Grande - that I am sure that the whole of English couldn't come up with a better suited word for it, than well, Grand. Its in the middle off nowhere - but has the view of over 3 kms. from La Defense to Etoile to the Concorde - all along the Champs Elysees. For trivia, the road from Grande Arch to Etoile - is named Rue de Grand Army.