Day 34: 16/07/17 Musée des Arts et Métiers and Centre Georges Pompidou

AJ loves inventions so today we went to the Musée des Arts et Métiers which seemed to have pretty good reviews despite it not being particularly interactive for kids. It didn't disappoint. Both kids were enthralled by the devices and machines beautifully presented in wooden framed glass cabinets. There was everything from early navigation devices, to weaving looms and the first steam car. I was particularly interested in the napiers bones exhibit as this was a new way of doing large multiplication problems that I learned during teacher training. Here they had the original sticks as well as a large example for the kids (or big kids) to try out.







I also loved the geometry sets which seemed to include an early version of Diennes (tens and units to those I went to school with).

AJ had fun figuring out how the binary system works.

As well as looking at the transport exhibits.

Once we had had our fill of inventions we tried to find a boulangerie to buy a baguette as usual to get a baguette for lunch. Fail! So we had a snack and a drink in the shade before walking to the Pompidou Centre.

Here we had more luck and found a baguette to put our fillings in before sitting in the shade to eat. We then discussed if we should go inside. In the end the boys weren't particularly interested so they went off to play in the park at Notre Dame whilst Esmé and I went to appreciate some art!

The first port of call was the kids gallery which housed an activity where children were invited to make a decoration for the big birthday cake out of random foam shapes and plastic tubes. Esmé loved this and we must have done this for at least an hour! There was also an inflatable dome which projected a moving image onto the floor inside it which was really popular with my little lady.







Finally we went to one of the galleries and spent about 20 minutes admiring the work. Esmé loved the animated projections and wanted to become part of the art itself!

Some playing at various parks on the way back and an earlyish feed of pasta with some leftovers from yesterday. All in all a pleasant day. Early start tomorrow to sit outside the Captainaire's office from 7am until he opens just in case our new SIM card is delivered early again. We'd really like to be on our way tomorrow but without the SIM card we'd have no mobile internet so will probably stay put and chase it if it doesn't arrive.