Palais de la Découverte

Welcome to the wonderful world of science.

And good news, everyone! It wants to be your friend!

For those familiar with Chicago, think of the palais as an updated museum of science in industry. There is a bit more fun and art within the exhibits. Also in Paris fashion, its abode is magnificent.

The exhibits are standard science fare: the human body, the solar system, geology, mathematics. Many of the exhibits are from a historical perspective. Meaning, what we as humans discovered at what point in time.

There is an interesting temporary exhibition on climate change. This was not solely about current climate change, but encapsulated elements of the earth’s position in the solar system as well as tilt of its axis. The exhibit also included millions of years of climate change on earth to provide context for current dilemmas.

There was also a photographical exhibition on volcanoes and geology. The pictures were stunning, and it was a good introduction to the different types of geological activity that involves heat and explosions.

Activity best viewed from afar.

If you like science, it is a good place to get a refresher, see some history, and sprinkle a few new bits of knowledge into what you know. The museum is appropriately sized and you will be able to do most of it in about 3 hours. It is near the heart and walking distance to a lot of other sights. It is not a must, but is worth consideration before the final cut.

Home Again

Thanksgiving will be the first time home in seven months. The trip is long overdue.

To move to another country is to open you to a new perspective. Sometimes this openness arrives like a blooming flower. Other times, it is like a fireman axing through a building inferno.

A break will be nice.

The plane ride does not seem so long right now. There are many people to see and large parts of life to continue. This trip deserves the want it commanded for the last month.

Though the Paris experience dilutes the desire for permanent Illinois residence, its efforts on the wish to return only enhance the sentiment. It is hard to not feel longing.

Paris is a great city, but missing some important things.

To return to them is happy.

Grande Arche de la Défense

For those not in the know, Paris has a historical axis. Axis meaning in a line and historical meaning old stuff. Included in the official documentation is the Pyramid de Louvre, the Obelisk at Concorde, the L’Arc de Triomphe, and the Grande Arche de la Défense.

The grand arch sits on the west end of Paris in the largest business district in Europe. As such, the space demanded a rather large monument. The concept was an arch that was inviting and not a symbol of conquest.

Apparently a new concept in the world of arches.

You can go up to the top of this structure and enjoy the sights – the panoramic elevators are simultaneously wonderful and terrifying for anyone with a fear of heights.

And unfortunately, they are the best part of the monument.

Suffice is to say, “eh.” Some things had value, but mostly the grande arch is forgettable. The effort taken to build the monument is not continued in the presentation at the top. Taking in its view from inside Paris in the context of the skyscrapers of La Défense is a much more poetic tribute than what is found inside.

My apologies, dear reader, but even though it looks pretty, best to save your 10 Euro.

Musée de L’Égouts

Only in Paris would you find a museum with the following warnings:

Don’t eat anything
Don’t touch anything
No leaning
And wash your hands when you leave

You must see this museum.

The musée de l’égouts explains how Paris manages the basic element of life. From rain to drought, tap to sewage, resource to ecology, the museum is thorough on everything water for the geography of Paris.

The museum is found by taking a stairwell below ground to a working sewer (see the no touching rule). From there, you first see a collage of clippings and information related to the sewers. Around the corner, and the real tour begins.

You will learn how rainwater is drained and sent to the Seine. You will learn how wastewater is processed. You will see a working sewer in action. You will understand the history of water in Paris.

You will relive Les Misérables.

This engineering marvel fascinates. The quantity of water managed astounds. The reversal of industrial age pollution in the Seine is surprising (it has fish now, who knew?). For something so important that gets taken so for granted, it is eye-opening to see behind the scenes of our modern comfort, the tap.

The trip takes about two hours to see everything and is well worth the 4.30 Euro. The smell is not awful, but it is a sewer. Overall, the musee de l’egouts is packs plenty in two hours and leaves you plenty of time for a relaxing Parisian coffee.

Six Months

Hard to believe, but yesterday was six months in Paris. To celebrate, a crepe au nutella was had for dinner.

Ok, it just looked good at the time, but still really tasty.

Anyway, here's to you, Paris. Your parks, your restaurants, your history, and your people. May you forever be yourself and may we never want you any other way.

New Neighbor

There are at least three layers of security in most French apartments. The main entrance, the second entrance, and your front door.

The main entrance of my apartment is a large chunk of wood, painted blue. It is heavy, over 2 meters tall, and you need a key code to open it from the outside. From the inside, there is a switch that temporarily unlocks it.

Fall is generally wet in Paris. It rains, it is cooler, and thus the humidity lingers. Humidity and cooler temperatures are not good for the front door.

What has been a fully functional first line of defense is now a decorative entrance. In this new weather, the inconvenience of the key code is an issue no more. The door has swelled and refuses to completely close.

Normally, this is not a worry. A lot of people have the code. You hand it out to friends or deliverymen, or the mailman. This is what the second door is for.

My roommate does a lot of traveling around the world. Enter 8AM and his arrival from the airport. Normally, one enters the code to the blue door and it opens.

“Ow!”

“Aroo?”

A vagrant and his dog discovered that the door works well as an alarm clock.

Suffering from heinous jet-lag, my roommate walks past and closed the second door firmly.