Great trip report. Thank you!

AnselmAdorne,

I, also, had the feeling that we were looking at only a tiny portion of a really much bigger exhibit; as if they had taken cases almost at random and stuffed them into too small a space. Surely the major renovation of the museum promised for the next few years will provide a bigger and more balanced display.

BTW, did you go up to the "Plans and Reliefs" museum, way, way, up under the eves? (I don't do well with steps) Now, that is a weird place. Acres of deserted, dark, spooky, space with pools of light shining on huge relief models of old French cities and ports. Really fine models, but surely the space could be used for something better.

I was also disappointed with the temporary special exhibit of "Sexuality in WW II". A few posters of scantily clad ladies urging guys to enlist, and a rudely carved cigarette case do not an exhibit make, IMO.

Don't get me wrong, the museum is a wonderful place; I spent most of a day there, but it could be so very much more in the future.

:-)

Nukesafe, thanks for taking us along vicariously on your wonderful trip to Paris. We were there in June for our 25th anniversary but didn't renew our vows (hopefully they won't expire). I can't think of anything more romantic than that. Also we passed through the Arts et Metiers Metro stop and were very intrigued by the displays there. It will be on our list for the next visit.

Terrific report, Nukesafe. thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Hi, nukesafe.

I did take a look at the plans and reliefs exhibit. I gather that these models, meticulous in their detail, were used in officer training courses. I think they had put the whole works up there in storage and then thought that they could add a few spotlights and turn it into an exhibit.

Just in passing, if you have an interest in French military history, I spent last weekend in Verdun looking at the 1916 battlefield. I'm working on a trip report, which I'll probably post by mid-November.

AA

Nukesafe, love your trip report! Am bookmarking for a later leisurely read. Congratulations to you two on the renewed wedding vows - wow, how romantic!! :)

Glad the American Hospital fixed you two right up so you could enjoy the rest of your trip. :D

Thanks for sharing such interesting experiences.

Bookmarking, excellent! I don't have time to read it all now so I'll save the rest for later! Thank you for a great post.

Lovely reading your trip report today especially as I had just been reading "Paris Walks" by the Landes girls. I have been highlighting the print that has loads of things to do with Rue Galande - a truly fascinating street. Mention of Trois Mailletz with it's history is made.

Loved your report. About three years ago at the Invalides, I was "interviewed" by a young woman, one of the questions being whether it would be helpful if the signs were also in English. Glad to see they have followed through on the results of the poll - "sword" - gotta love it.

Thank you for your great report.

Nukesafe - I really enjoyed reading your trip report. Thank you so much for the wealth of information! I'm bookmarking for our May trip.

nbbbrown,

Glad you enjoyed my trip report, and I hope some of our experiences will make your visit more enjoyable.

Happy Traveling New Year!

:-)

Quickly about the "plans relief". They aren't there in storage because they didn't know what to do with this old stuff. They are considered very important historical documents, especially for military history. The famous military engineer general Vauban ordered to make them during the 17th century, in order to plan the siege and/or defense of towns of major strategical importance at the time.

I understand (not sure though) that they will be moved to their own museum soon, probably out of Paris, in one of the fortresses Vauban built.

Clairouscur,

Thank you for the clarification on those displays in the Army Museum attic. I thought they were wonderful; just a bit "spooky" in the way they were displayed. Huge dark spaces, interspersed with pools of light over each of the displays.

Since I seemed to be the only one in the entire exhibit, it was easy to let my imagination run to thoughts of how these life must have been in these ancient towns and fortifications. The only sound was the echo of my own footsteps as I went from one scene to the other. I love historical fiction, and wish I had access to such models to focus my immagination as I read of historic sieges.

:-)

:-)

Bonjour Nukesafe--

My wife and I will spend the month of May in an apartment about 0.5 miles from where you stayed (rue Buffon, close to the rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire intersection).

Can you provide any insight into the area around the Metro Censier Daubenton station? We are familiar with rue Mouffetard itself, but would like to know about cafes, boulangeries, traiteurs, restaurants in the area more-or-less between your apartment and ours, especially ones you liked.

Nos remerciements d'avance!

Bonjour, M. Bear,

Our apartment was on Rue Broca, which was almost equadistant between Censier-Dubenton, and Les Gobelin Metro stops. Since we usually took the bus, rather than the Metro, we would walk down Rue Claude Bernard to the intersection where both the #21, 27, and 47 bus stops all were located.

We tried a small bistro near the apartment, and another just at the bottom of Rue Mouf, but did not find anything that really turned us on. I must confess our mortal sin; that the favorite place we found for our morning coffee was the Starbucks just across the street from the #27 bus stop near Les Gobelins. Rather than having to wait interminably at a bistro for our tiny coffee, while watching a series of buses depart, we could get a huge insulated cup, and a croissant to go, and still catch the bus,, gobbling as we rode.

We saw more and more busy Parisians doing the same thing. We would kick back for our people watching break later in the day.

I'm sure you will have a lovely time in Paris. Be sure to do a trip report!

:-)