Guy Fawkes day and protests in France

As if we haven't had enough fireworks, the end of Diwali was
punctuated by the November 5th celebration of Guy Fawkes day.  400
years ago a Catholic dissident and a group of conspirators plotted to
blow up the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.  The got so far as to
gain access to tunnels underneath the buildings and pile up tons of
gun powder.  Their plan was to kill the current monarch and as many
parliamentarians as possible, then put in a Catholic friendly king. 
Catholics at this time were rather down-trodden and didn't live the
easiest lives in Protestant England.  So depending on your point of
view, these men can be seen as freedom fighters, or terrorists.

Guy Fawkes was caught red handed bringing gun powder into the tunnels.
 He was brought to the Tower of London and sentenced to death.  So
what we celebrated last night was the thwarting of a treasonous plot,
and the condemnation to death of a revolutionary.

Traditionally Guy Fawkes day is celebrated with fireworks, Bonn-fires
and the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes.  Talk about holding a
grudge, or at least pouring salt into old wounds (400 times).

Anyway, last night we took the tube with some friends to Wood Green
station in northeast London and followed the throngs of people to
Alexandra Palace.  Because this was the foremost fireworks display in
London, there must have been 100 thousand+ people there.  This is
probably one of the highest points in London, so we were able to see
all the fireworks going off around the city.  Then they put on an
extremely well orchestrated fireworks demonstration that was timed
perfectly to music.  It was the grandest fireworks display I've ever
seen.  I hate to say it, but even Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa
weren't as good.

On a different note.  As I mentioned previously, Laura and I are
flying to the south of France  in a week and a half.  As if on cue,
some of the French populous has decided it is revolution time! 
Apparently the fire-bomb/Molotov cocktail wielding masses have spread
from the German border down the Mediterranean.   Nice (where we are
going) has been effected, but we're not too worried.  If things
escalate, then we'll likely not go, but as it is I think it'll just
add a bit of spice to an already exciting trip.