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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 16, 2017 17:06:40 GMT
I have a well known aversion to most places in Brittany, but I knew there was one place that I wanted to discover because I have seen so many things about its annual summer event (that only started 5 years ago), which benefits greatly also from the fact that the incredible mechanical performance group Royal de Luxe is also based in Nantes. So, the annual Voyage à Nantes is a sort of combination of the Lille 3000 event -- which takes place every 3 years but which lasts about 6 months and the annual Nuit Blanche in Paris which only lasts 12 hours. There was definitely room for middle ground somewhere else in the country, so it lasts about 2 months in July and August. It is ending next weekend. I got in just under the wire. I actually managed to find a slow train from Paris to Nantes instead of the TGV, and I was delighted. Call me old fashioned, but I often feel as though I am arriving places too quickly these days. The train stopped at Les Aubrais (Orléans), Amboise, Blois, St. Pierre des Corps (Tours), Saumur and Angers. The trains stops for only 3 minutes in these cities, but it breaks up the trip into bite sized pieces and it lasts for 4 hours. On the way back to Paris, I will be on the TGV for only 1h56. I walked from the train station to my hotel, not knowing what I would see along the way. It's only 3 tram stops, but it was still to early to check in anyway. |
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Post by bjd on Aug 16, 2017 18:05:31 GMT
I made a thread about Nantes 5 years ago but noticed that all the photos have disappeared,so I'll be interested to see yours. We were also there during the Voyage de Nantes.It's a neat city -- I really like it.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 16, 2017 18:38:09 GMT
That is the Photobucket apocalypse. All of my Photobucket photos disappeared yesterday, and that concerns at least 85% of my reports. Anyway, back to Nantes... |
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Post by mich64 on Aug 16, 2017 19:09:07 GMT
We seen a wheel quite like that in operation when on a lake cruise in Switzerland and am now wondering if it was for salt as well.
I like photos 6,7 and 10 from post 1, and the wall art and vertical landscape from Reply 2, photos 2 and 3.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 16, 2017 20:50:06 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 17, 2017 5:17:19 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 17, 2017 5:25:52 GMT
Looking forward to more -- this looks like so much fun and I'm enjoying seeing pictures of this city. The elegantly antique covered passage is somewhat of a shock after seeing that intersection that had been hammered into nothing in the war. It's a miracle that the cathedral and the passage seem to be unscathed. Love the vintage hotel. You must have been a little tempted by its quirky outdated modernity. Those pods you characterize as mysterious look to me as though they might be food stands. Guess we'll find out!  edited because we simul-posted ~ Banana terminal? Neglected to say before how terminally lovely and graceful your candid capture of the waiter at La Cigale is -- really a wonderful photograph. I also love the big yellow crane picture. |
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 17, 2017 6:07:08 GMT
Thanks. There's a lot more to come and I haven't even stopped taking pictures yet. |
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Post by bjd on Aug 17, 2017 6:55:19 GMT
When we were there we followed a pink line. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go to the island with the Royale de Luxe installations.
Bixa, I think the "banana terminal" is where bananas grown abroad were shipped into Nantes and ripened before being sold in France.
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Post by mossie on Aug 17, 2017 7:03:16 GMT
Love the jumpers on the Wallace fountain figures
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 17, 2017 10:38:43 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 17, 2017 13:35:16 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on Aug 17, 2017 13:48:26 GMT
That is amazing! I'm quite taken by Nantes.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 17, 2017 14:45:29 GMT
Yes, indeed ~ what ^he^ said!
The city is certainly inspiring you, as your photos are out of this world.
It's a little disappointing to hear that the banana terminal is due for a major spruce-up, as the bars and restaurants look as though they developed so delightfully because of cheap rent and being left alone.
In the third elephant picture there is a poor dog in the middle foreground who doesn't know what to think & is cowering with her head sheltering between her human's knees.
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Post by mossie on Aug 17, 2017 19:08:29 GMT
That elephant is quite something, can't wait to see the video
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 18, 2017 3:34:42 GMT
Just a little bit longer to wait... I'll be back home in a few hours. |
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 18, 2017 14:59:36 GMT
Before we continue our tour of Nantes, here is the beast on the move.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 18, 2017 15:39:54 GMT
It's really cool that, even though the wheels and mechanism are clearly seen, it still seems as though the elephant is really walking.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 18, 2017 17:43:36 GMT
The carousel for young children is also wonderful, with creatures rarely seen on such devices. s19.postimg.cc/ltonjddhv/P1070296.jpgimageshack.com/a/img923/5711/tRPZGn.jpg imageshack.com/a/img922/4181/7a0IIP.jpgimageshack.com/a/img923/5076/vcTyhm.jpg imageshack.com/a/img923/6518/egd8Bh.jpgTime to a stroll in the Machine headquarters, obviously an old shipbuilding hangar. s19.postimg.cc/evl1kc8sz/Nantes_153.jpgs19.postimg.cc/g1tmwvmhf/Nantes_155.jpgI love vast spaces like this than you can discover at your own rhythm. s19.postimg.cc/kozoyn9ub/Nantes_156.jpgIn one of the spaces where one must pay to enter, hidden behind a fence, I decided to see if my camera could see a bit more if I held it up. s19.postimg.cc/9lko6sdxv/Nantes_158.jpgI will go there next time to see the hidden creatures. s19.postimg.cc/t8j2wei6r/Nantes_157.jpgI'm sure that this area is used for all sorts of events. Two days later, I saw dozens of children settled in groups for a picnic before whatever their activity would be, rain or shine. s19.postimg.cc/kqe85t11v/Nantes_159.jpgWhatever is on this upper balcony is one of the attractions, waiting for my next visit. s19.postimg.cc/48vtsnq1f/Nantes_160.jpgBut this is what people are lining up for, even when the elephant is sold out. s19.postimg.cc/mjcjgdwur/Nantes_161.jpgPart of it comes out into this arachnoid structure. s19.postimg.cc/rxbbnxmkz/Nantes_162.jpgs19.postimg.cc/cak2ak8sz/Nantes_163.jpgAs I left the area, I saw that the elephant was still sneaking around. Unlike amusement park rides that last 3 minutes, this excursion is at least 45 minutes long. (Is there a WC on board?) s19.postimg.cc/4khvj5vv7/Nantes_164.jpg |
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 18, 2017 18:06:30 GMT
back to the tramway, unsure of where to go s19.postimg.cc/70jox0dxv/Nantes_166.jpgSorry, I decided to go to the Carrefour Market supermarket directly across from this thing that constantly demanded to be photographed. s19.postimg.cc/ycackltar/Nantes_167.jpgI am still wondering where the last "missing piece" is since I had found one of them on the port. The installation is called "The Missing Piece" in any case. s19.postimg.cc/dw3xg48er/Nantes_168.jpgs19.postimg.cc/5pbxojic3/Nantes_169.jpgIn possession of provisions and beverages, I returned to my hotel room to admire the view. Not much of a view, especially since the pool in the square was dry and abandoned. s19.postimg.cc/s3tm4rl3n/Nantes_171.jpgRooftops are always interesting, though. s19.postimg.cc/itmjycgpf/Nantes_170.jpgThe sun was setting. I decided that I should go see the Buren rings when it got dark. s19.postimg.cc/azgwfu2kz/Nantes_172.jpgs19.postimg.cc/q0j6x3lar/Nantes_173.jpgIt was a bank holiday, but the following day was a working day, so the bars of the banana terminal were rather calm. s19.postimg.cc/mbyjuqhlf/Nantes_174.jpgs19.postimg.cc/43wnwq843/Nantes_175.jpgAt 21:30 the rings were illuminated. Yes, I know that full darkness would have been better, but I have my limits. s19.postimg.cc/5k86evb0z/Nantes_176.jpgs19.postimg.cc/3q0du8uc3/Nantes_177.jpgs19.postimg.cc/efe2mi64z/Nantes_178.jpgs19.postimg.cc/hkyocpor7/Nantes_179.jpgs19.postimg.cc/xe3mt6bo3/Nantes_180.jpgNightfall is lovely in many places, but I am such a morning person that it is incredibly difficult for me to be out at 22:00 in the summer. s19.postimg.cc/52i2w4rrn/Nantes_181.jpgOne last photo and then I took the tram back to the hotel. s19.postimg.cc/ixgdelm6r/Nantes_183.jpg |
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 18, 2017 18:53:57 GMT
Actually, I like the view from my room. On top of that, I had a corner room with a window showing another side. But that was just the Mercure Hôtel across the street so it was of no interest. s19.postimg.cc/45u1689sj/Nantes_184.jpgBack to the tram. I didn't say that I was just one block from all three tram lines, which was brilliant. s19.postimg.cc/5s5gm8hoz/Nantes_185.jpgThe semicircular football pitch dates from a previous Grand Voyage event, but it was so popular that they kept it. s19.postimg.cc/xcyadhz83/Nantes_186.jpgThe magnificent idea is the huge mirror that restores the view to a proper rectangle. s19.postimg.cc/puajr4ihf/Nantes_187.jpgs19.postimg.cc/73d7updar/Nantes_188.jpgI was off to see the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, reputedly the main attraction of the city. s19.postimg.cc/v9nv5tzf7/Nantes_189.jpgBut first I paused at the water mirror that we will see later. The seagulls were anxiously awaiting some activity there. s19.postimg.cc/vnydwwyab/Nantes_190.jpgs19.postimg.cc/7gdssdac3/Nantes_191.jpgs19.postimg.cc/tx663y1zn/Nantes_192.jpgHere is another place where picnic tables were installed, just because it was a nice place to put them. s19.postimg.cc/rh4cq3jwz/Nantes_194.jpgI have not yet looked up what this incredible building is, but I promise to do so if anybody asks. s19.postimg.cc/o02an4kur/Nantes_195.jpgs19.postimg.cc/4jhl0lpqr/Nantes_196.jpgQuite a bit of money went into some of the bus shelters, compared to most other cities. s19.postimg.cc/bb803geqb/Nantes_197.jpgSince the château was not open yet (yes, again! early riser), I investigated this huge esplanade. s19.postimg.cc/p6avznyj7/Nantes_198.jpgThis is the back of the château. Could that curved modern thing possibly be what I suspect that it is? We'll find out later. s19.postimg.cc/kyg3qwx3n/Nantes_199.jpgA moment of comemmoration for the military who gave their lives for us. s19.postimg.cc/v9sgjkosz/Nantes_200.jpgs19.postimg.cc/jlyep0zo3/Nantes_201.jpgThis is really quite a huge esplanade in case anybody thought that Nantes is not a big city. s19.postimg.cc/guf4yf15f/Nantes_202.jpgThis is one of the former gates of the city. The city needed gates for protection because the Duchy of Brittany was under the threat of the evil Kingdom of France. s19.postimg.cc/h5wlb6hlf/Nantes_203.jpgs19.postimg.cc/chudl7wk3/Nantes_204.jpgI didn't get close enough to this column to find out what it was. s19.postimg.cc/f3w3wxjmb/Nantes_205.jpgs19.postimg.cc/96s8g42hf/Nantes_206.jpg
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 19, 2017 5:52:05 GMT
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Post by bjd on Aug 19, 2017 6:03:55 GMT
That "incredible building" is the old LU cookie factory. It's now an exhibition space, L'espace Unique. We stayed nearby when we were in Nantes.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 19, 2017 14:58:47 GMT
Thanks for the factoid, bjd. Everybody knows that LU is one of the most important things in Nantes, but I didn't know that the place was so over the top in architecture. It comemmorates the 50 martyrs of Nantes who were shot after the assassination of the Feldkommandant on 20 October 1941. This became an event of international importance with official statements by both Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. The statement by Roosevelt was all the more remarkable because the United States had not yet entered the war against the Axis powers. s19.postimg.cc/r2ttz0l1v/Nantes_229.jpgIt faces a lovely little lake in the centre of the city. s19.postimg.cc/iw1u7fuz7/Nantes_230.jpgs19.postimg.cc/h6sqzdf9v/Nantes_231.jpgs19.postimg.cc/wile2bn2r/Nantes_232.jpgNot knowing where I was now, I just followed the green line. s19.postimg.cc/gijwgfgk3/Nantes_233.jpgThe covered market was an option, but most of it was not open, probably due to the fact that it is August. So I just peeked in for a moment and did not even enter. s19.postimg.cc/lihcodm6r/Nantes_234.jpgs19.postimg.cc/4yjo24wwj/Nantes_235.jpgThe green line wanted to take me down here for some reason, but just like with a GPS, every now and then you have to overrule it. s19.postimg.cc/ej8cm4sk3/Nantes_236.jpgs19.postimg.cc/wjchteefn/Nantes_237.jpgI followed these two beer-drinking vagabonds for a moment, and when I saw the social services building, I knew they had to go there, which they did. s19.postimg.cc/64spy1rir/Nantes_238.jpgI was headed in the direction of the Tour de Bretagne, just because it was there and I needed to verify exactly how ugly it was. s19.postimg.cc/so93qtv9v/Nantes_239.jpgGlancing to the side, I saw that Nantes is a hillier city than it first seems to be. s19.postimg.cc/5ul7epcwj/Nantes_240.jpg The Tour Bretagne (apparently its official name according to Wikipedia) was built in 1976 and is obviously unloved. It was half empty at the beginning because the rent was too high, so it filled up with municipal services. There was orginally a restaurant on the 29th floor, but it was closed after too many suicides.  Wikipedia tells me that a "secure" observation deck was reopened in 2012 on the 32nd floor. If I had known this, I probably would have gone up. Something for next time. |
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 19, 2017 15:12:45 GMT
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Post by mossie on Aug 19, 2017 15:20:12 GMT
Quite a place. BUT, you raise questions which you don't answer. What is that strange domed building? and what is the curved modern thingummyjig??
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Post by mossie on Aug 19, 2017 15:23:04 GMT
Missed your last post while I was being rude, but this passion for knitted garments for things is ridiculous, or does Nantes have particularly cold winters?
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 19, 2017 15:28:53 GMT
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Post by bjd on Aug 19, 2017 18:02:32 GMT
Missed your last post while I was being rude, but this passion for knitted garments for things is ridiculous, or does Nantes have particularly cold winters? Not just in Nantes, mossie. Over the past years, there has been an occasional fad for knitting colourful covers for public areas. I saw some lampposts like that in Cahors several years ago. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 19, 2017 19:04:08 GMT
The walkway with the ships' names is a brilliant concept and the memorial beneath the quay is effectively beautiful -- as is your photograph of it.
Mossie, yarn bombing is a fun form of guerrilla art. It's so much friendlier than graffiti, say, and damages nothing.
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