Look for the red balloon

25th July '09: PARIS

With some friends from home and some new french friends, we went to the very well attended outdoor cinema at Parc de la Villette. We sat under a red balloon so as to find our way back through the crowd. 'Into the Wild' was showing (in English, thankfully). I'd never seen it before and loved it - so beautifully shot.

However, probably not the best film to watch when embarking on a trip!

'...a little bit more attention and imagination'

26th July '09: PARIS

By chance we saw a little flyer for a Jacques Tati exhibit that was on at La Cinematheque Francaise. I am now desperate to see all of his films. Love the graphics for posters - their playfulness makes them work well with the films thay are attached to. A very well curated and designed exhibition.

Here are a few quotes that were on the exhibition walls:

"I want my film to start when you leave the cinema" - Tati, 1967

"My method merely presupposes a little bit more attention and imagination from the spectator" - Tati, 1966

"I'm one of those film makers who love their films and don't mind not being seen by everyone, like an artist doesn't mind not having his work hung in every living room" - Tati, 1979

New found respect for Nike

25th July '09: PARIS

Since reading about the Stages exhibition on the 'Its Nice That' website, I had wanted to visit. 'Lance Armstrong and Nike unite to launch Stages, a global art exhibition to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer.' It seemed especially fitting that we go, as the Tour de France was to finish the following day in Paris.

I like the idea behind the exhibition and especially liked Tom Sachs' Tequila bike for girls.

It gave me a new-found respect for Nike too.

www.stages09.com

Punched Paper

25th July '09: PARIS

Outside the Jardin du Luxemburg we came across a man with a rather impressive portable music box. Look how lovely the punched paper that he is feeding in is. Lucy (Mrs Music Box herself) was especially taken with it.

Beds amongst books

25th July '09: PARIS

Shakespeare & Co. is a bookshop in Paris where traveling writers can stay (there are beds dotted around the rooms bursting with books) in exchange for an hours work in the shop. There are rooms where you can sit and read, nooks with typewriters, a piano which was been played while we browsed, notices of how to open a book correctly.

Hat Club

24th July '09: PARIS

Paris seemed daunting. We were a bit overwhelmed and not quite sure what was expected of us. On our way to find a drink in The Latin Quarter, we found a band busking on the corner of a street. Feet were tapping, hips were beginning to wiggle. We stopped to watch with the ever growing crowd. All the band were wearing hats. "We found Hat Club...and its a Friday" Lucy and I whispered to each other. Our grins grew.

The band were called 'The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz band' - they are amazing! We felt suddenly at home, like we belonged. I knew then that we were going to be just fine. And so the trip began...

www.lostwandering.com

Explorer 200

Its been a long time. Blogging seems to have taken a bit of a back seat, but I have a good excuse: I have just returned from a wonderful 6 week trip around Europe. The ladies (Lucy Vann and myself) started in Paris on 24th July and from here went to Amsterdam, Flevostrand, Berlin, Dessau, Munich, Salzburg, Linz, Vienna, Prague, Krakow, Budapest, Zagreb, Split, Hvar and Korcula. Phew.

So, get ready for quite a blog marathon! I'll do my best to let you cop a good feel for our trip.

Ok, this might take a while. Enjoy!