Paris Diary: Day Number 22
Since I’ve been here several times before and have seen most of the major monuments and museums, I’ve been spending this trip doing whatever interests me. That has included a couple of visits to museums, but they hadn’t been a big part of this trip. Then on Sunday, I decided that maybe I would buy one of those Museum Passes and go on a four-day museum binge. I’ve never bought one of the passes before because it’s only worth it if you see more than one museum a day. Now, that I had splurged on the pass, I meant to get up early so I could go to one museum, take a lunch break, and then go to another museum. So, of course I overslept today. Oops. That’s one museum off the list.
I decide that I would go over to the Cité of Science and Industry, over in the Park de la Villette.
My second day here, I walked along the Canal Saint Martin up to the Rotonde de la Villette, a fascinating eighteenth century building that I keep meaning to feature in a post. Today, I walked in that direction, but instead of walking along the Canal Saint Martin, I walked along the rue de Faubourg Saint Denis to the Gare de l’Est.
Crossing over a bridge, I saw what I presumed to be train platforms.
This is a photo of the decorative pattern on the railing on the bridge and the shadow it cast on a support.
From the point where I ended my walk a couple of weeks ago, at the Rotonde, I walked alongside the Bassin de la Villette.
Here, a rainbow can be seen over the canal.
I paused to snap a few pictures of several boats that were tied up along the canal. This one had a sign saying that it was a cafe and perfomance space. I stopped in for a beer.
This is the inside of the boat. You go downstairs to get your drinks and then bring them up here.
I did a quick sketch of a couple of men seated across from me. Two little girls came up and asked if they could see. Then they wanted to know if “les messieurs” knew about being sketched. I told the girls that I did not know.
Here’s a pretty shot of the canal.
As I approached the museum, I saw a second, even more impressive, double rainbow. You can see spots of raindrops on my lens.
The museum was a huge amount of fun. Because of its location, I don’t think it’s a top site for a lot foreign tourists, but it was jam-packed with French kids. Most of the exhibits are very hands on, so it’s especially good for children. frequently, when museums try to do innovative and interactive exhibits, I feel that they aren’t any more engaging than the usual static ones, however, I thing they’ve done an excellent job here. If you like science and technology, I recommend it even if you’re not a kid. If you bring children to Paris, this stop should be high on your list.
fojap 
The canal and then the rainbow! Just for you! Beautiful!
picture just gorgeous! I want to have a beer on that boat!! 🙂
Yeah, it was really cute. Like a floating dive bar in the village.
Smashing pictures.
I love the Boat Pub.
I was in France in the early seventies. I was just a kid. But ever since experiencing Side Walk Cafes etc and seeing the Tour de France in the flesh pass through a small town I have loved that ‘feel’.
There are plenty of places in Europe like this. Portugal is another.
Thanks.
I might be heading back over there tonight. They’re having a ska band playing, I believe. I live in a smallish city right now, so I’m taking advantage of being here to do big city sorts of things, not just “French culture” ones. I love France in general, but I really love Paris, but I love it more for things like that than for the clichés. New York’s gotten so expensive, I feel like they’ve driven out many of the more quirky and unique establishments.
Never Been to the US.
Left the UK for Africa in 79 and have commuted to and fro every few years for visits.
I’ve only been to the UK once. I spent about two weeks in England and Wales in 96, one week at a convention and one week just touring around.
Never been anywhere in Africa. It’s a hugely expensive trip from here.
As it is the other way round!
We must just be content with Satellite TV and the internet.