Arts & Metiers & odds and sods
Jun 8, 2015 9:55:35 GMT
Post by mossie on Jun 8, 2015 9:55:35 GMT
My last Paris trip was devoted to the artists studios in Belleville as described in the Paris section. However these were only open in the afternoon so I had to occupy my mornings elsewhere.
The first day I struck lucky, I set off on the 75 bus intending to visit La Chapelle but because of congestion? the bus was terminated at the Arts and Metiers museum. Often in the past I have considered visiting when I see it while passing in the bus, so now I decided to take a chance. Walking in I was immediately struck by this,the original Statue of Liberty by Auguste Bartholdi
The museum itself is housed in the old priory of St Martin des Champs which was taken over by the revolutionaries for the purpose, and further enlarged as the collection grew. It also contains an original version of the Foucault Pendulum, made to demonstrate the rotation of the earth. Of course the old aircraft took my attention, where better to display them than consorting with the angels in the roof of a church
Also shown was this wonderful contraption powered by two steam! engines. There are considerable doubts as to whether it actually flew
Here is a general view
There are also several primitive cars, including this one , which apparently has had an accident with a very sharp blade
Also on view are some marvellous examples of carpentry, demonstrating how old buildings were constructed prior to mechanisation.
Of particular interest to me with my navigators hat on, were old sextants and clocks
While this clock shows dual time in the conventional way and the impractical decimal version, conjured up to fit in with the rest of the metric system
Not forgetting a prototype calculating engine, forerunner of todays computers
Coming back to earth, I always stay in the same hotel, once called le Laumiere, now Ibis Styles Buttes Chaumont. Here it is just to the right of the green van, one can just see the exit from Laumiere metro on the extreme right.
No visit to Paris is complete for me without a visit to the parc Buttes Chaumont
Where sun worship is king
The kids are well catered for, and this truck brings in a herd of ponies for rides
Another staple is the Bassin de la Villette, once a major dock of the port of Paris. This is a popular meeting place where picnics and romance take place regularly
It is also a prime spot for petanque and skittles, there must have been a dozen groups playing
Never a shortage of people messing about in boats either
Leaving the Bassin I was having a quiet coffee when this lady wandered into sight, giving someone considerable earache. She kept on just wandering about talking into her phone all the while I was drinking my coffee, such stamina.
Sometime I passed this crossroads which has a small claim to fame, being the site of the last barricade of the 1871 commune, when it was held against the army by one man for a few hours
and met these two mannequins in the street
The viewpoint over the parc de Belleville is another favourite people watching spot, with its super view across the city
Some young lady had sacrificed her modesty in the cause of art to have part of her anatomy displayed on one of the columns
While below a real artist was at work
I'll pause for now and hope to return here later
The first day I struck lucky, I set off on the 75 bus intending to visit La Chapelle but because of congestion? the bus was terminated at the Arts and Metiers museum. Often in the past I have considered visiting when I see it while passing in the bus, so now I decided to take a chance. Walking in I was immediately struck by this,the original Statue of Liberty by Auguste Bartholdi
The museum itself is housed in the old priory of St Martin des Champs which was taken over by the revolutionaries for the purpose, and further enlarged as the collection grew. It also contains an original version of the Foucault Pendulum, made to demonstrate the rotation of the earth. Of course the old aircraft took my attention, where better to display them than consorting with the angels in the roof of a church
Also shown was this wonderful contraption powered by two steam! engines. There are considerable doubts as to whether it actually flew
Here is a general view
There are also several primitive cars, including this one , which apparently has had an accident with a very sharp blade
Also on view are some marvellous examples of carpentry, demonstrating how old buildings were constructed prior to mechanisation.
Of particular interest to me with my navigators hat on, were old sextants and clocks
While this clock shows dual time in the conventional way and the impractical decimal version, conjured up to fit in with the rest of the metric system
Not forgetting a prototype calculating engine, forerunner of todays computers
Coming back to earth, I always stay in the same hotel, once called le Laumiere, now Ibis Styles Buttes Chaumont. Here it is just to the right of the green van, one can just see the exit from Laumiere metro on the extreme right.
No visit to Paris is complete for me without a visit to the parc Buttes Chaumont
Where sun worship is king
The kids are well catered for, and this truck brings in a herd of ponies for rides
Another staple is the Bassin de la Villette, once a major dock of the port of Paris. This is a popular meeting place where picnics and romance take place regularly
It is also a prime spot for petanque and skittles, there must have been a dozen groups playing
Never a shortage of people messing about in boats either
Leaving the Bassin I was having a quiet coffee when this lady wandered into sight, giving someone considerable earache. She kept on just wandering about talking into her phone all the while I was drinking my coffee, such stamina.
Sometime I passed this crossroads which has a small claim to fame, being the site of the last barricade of the 1871 commune, when it was held against the army by one man for a few hours
and met these two mannequins in the street
The viewpoint over the parc de Belleville is another favourite people watching spot, with its super view across the city
Some young lady had sacrificed her modesty in the cause of art to have part of her anatomy displayed on one of the columns
While below a real artist was at work
I'll pause for now and hope to return here later
