Thursday 10 February 2011

Adventure #7 Le Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes


Hands down the worst zoo I have ever been to. I went with my class, it rained, there was no café so we ate sandwiches on a soggy bench surrounded by aggressive sparrows. It was pretty desolate and I'm pretty sure most of the animals were clinically depressed. I am not at all an animal lover, and am usually pretty grateful for the pvc pane that separates us, but even I wanted to set them all free.

Still, I saw a sloth, which is always a joy, and a monkey with its arm in plaster. In the photo is Nenette, a veritable celebrity, not that you'd know it from the complete lack of information and unglamorous surroundings in which she lives. I found out by coincidence that she is the star of a documentary and the oldest inhabitant of the oldest zoo in Europe. She is lovely. I'm plotting a way to dig her out as we speak...

Monday 7 February 2011

Adventure #6 Martin Parr


I have the lovely Fran Lloyd to thank for introducing me to the world of Martin Parr. And the brilliant world of Twitter to thank for alerting me to his presence in Paris, in conversation at the Pompidou. Twas an honour to have a chance to listen to him talk about his work. I vraiment like his style. Wish I had the balls to photograph some of the interesting characters we peruse on Paris streets and metros.

Sunday 6 February 2011

Adventure #5 Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine




Bits of churches inside a museum, pretty cool, wish I remember any of my Gombrich history of art book in order to spout intelligent observations and understand the symbolism but my brain doesn't work that way (it only remembers the names of celebrity children. The Jolie-Pitts: Maddox, Pax,  Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne. And that's in age order). Also, good view of the TE. I never get tired of seeing the TE.