Travels in Europe

"Attention, calling all geeks and engineers, next stop: Musée des Arts et Métiers". The very first technical and industrial museum, this pantheon of technical inventions has it all - 16th century astrolabes, pendulums, marine chronometers, steam engines, early cameras, looms, aeroplanes... even a mars rover! Enough to awaken the inner geek in us all:

The following day, with a tear in my eye, it was time to bid Paris adieu. Farewell drinks were at "Le Passy" near Mark's apartment on the Right Bank (16th arrondissement). Then it was off to CDG for the 27 hour flight home. Arrived in Sydney on the Friday. Time to look for a job...

The Arc de Triomphe offered views that were as spectacular as those from the Eiffel Tower.

For most tourists in Paris transporation is either by foot or by metro. But Sam had a third means – the scooter. Scootering rights were sometimes suspended, however, due to over-enthusiastic usage...

Dinner was at "Le petit retro" - recommended.

I'd been told that the Catacombs of Paris were worth a look – kilometres of abandoned mines used to store the remains of millions of former Parisians. But you have to see it to believe it – a seemingly endless piles of bones, neatly stacked, metres high and deep.

Sam added a little extra to the ambience.

When the words "Paris" and "museum" are mentioned, what normally springs to mind? The Louvre, perhaps? The Musee d'Orsay? How about the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle? No, it wasn't on my "to do" list either. But the Natural History Museum turned out to be a real gem, providing numerous hands-on exhibits and photo opportunities:

The evening was spent drinking and cycling, taking advantage of the many public bicycle stations located throughout the city.

We all meet at Pigalle metro station to begin our exploration of Montmartre. An area of Paris famed for it's artistic community, past residents included Picasso, Dali, Monet and Van Gogh. The Basilique du Sacré-Cœur offers commanding views over the city:

...while the main square allows artists and caricaturists to ply their trade:

On this trip Ben discovered a chain of stores called Pylones. They specialise in novelty gifts – but with a little extra wit attached. Here's a bottle opener I purchased, done the "Pylones" way:

The "Latin Quarter" of Paris is an area teeming with restaurants and small boutique art galleries. Armed with nothing but a camera, I decided to explore the district. Most of the proprietors were happy to let me shoot their premises, and the resulting shots made a welcome contrast to those of monuments, palaces and towers...

Dinner was in the "Marais" – a trendier and less touristed district.