* all photos by Zac except where indicated
__________________
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Musee de la Mine, St. Etienne
'This old mine shaft rehabilitated into a museum provides a very good insight into the miners and their working conditions. Through the visit, you can discover the room of the “hung”, then the sink, the lamp before descending to the “bottom of the hole.” The first rooms trace the lives of miners on the surface, while the descent into the well (about 7 meters) highlights the daily work of workers, tools used and the dangers of the mine. This old Couriot shaft is a beautiful museum that pays tribute to all these “black faces” that worked hard towards the modernisation of our country’s industry, to their profession and to this region marked forever by these dirty men!' -- Vally26, qype.co.ok
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Vulcania, near Clermont-Ferrand
'Vulcania offers you the chance to share unique experiences in a spectacular natural setting: the Volcanoes of Auvergne. Become an explorer for a day and unravel the mysteries of the Earth, feel the power of volcanoes and the forces of nature. Discover the beauty and fragility of our planet. Rides, interactive platforms, 5D films and high-tech innovations will allow you to experience the Earth through amazing attractions and activities. At Vulcania, learning is exciting too... We strongly recommend planning to spend an entire day at the park inorder to take advantage of all the exciting attractions and activities it has to offer.' -- Vulcania
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La Ferme aux crocodiles, Pierrelatte
'The Crocodile Farm draws over 300,000 visitors each year and is the biggest attraction in the Drôme. The Crocodile farm is unique in Europe, and is housed in an 8000m² greenhouse in which there are over 400 animals: 9 species of crocodiles, giant tortoises from the Seychelles and the Galápagos, and tropical birds. The greenhouse has over 600 tropical plants species and is a very interesting horticultural and botanical garden.' -- ot.avignon.fr
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La Grotte de la Cocaliere, Ardeche
'The famous cave that you’re about to visit was hollowed out of the limestone rock at the height of the Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian, Tithonian - between 146 and 135 million years ago), and is only one branch of a huge underground network covering thirty kilometres or so. Its history began 35 million years ago (Eocene, Tertiary period) and is still continuing today, for La Cocalière is a living cave, i.e. still in formation.' -- grotto-cocaliere.com
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Les grottes de Saint Marcel d'Ardèche
'The cave of Saint Marcel d'Ardèche contains a vast network of underground galleries, amazing basins, eccentric formations, immense rooms with evocative names such as "the Fontain of the Virgin", "the hall of Kings", the "Painters Gallery". The natural entrance to the cave was discovered in 1838 by a hunter Aiguèze in pursuit of his game, using the technique of ferrets. It would take 50 years for a first thorough study, done by Edouard-Alfred Martel, considered the founder of modern caving. He devoted an entire chapter to the cave of Saint-Marcel in his book "The Abyss" published in 1894, where he provided a complete and detailed description of the known parts of the cavity.' -- collaged
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Haribo Bon Bon Museum, Uzès
'In May 1996 HARIBO opened the Musée du Bonbon at its Uzès production site. Since then, more than 100 000 visitors, both large and small, have visited the small town in the South of France to find out about the history of liquorice, fruit gum and sweet manufacturing. With its hundreds of old exhibits and documents, the Musée du Bonbon is unique of its kind. Admirers of old promotional items dating from the period around the turn of the century can enjoy a wide variety of historical posters and packaging of all types. Old machines and workshops are used to provide the visitor with a vivid depiction of the history of sweets. These machines and workshops have been rebuilt in a manner faithful to the original. It goes without saying that HARIBO is also an important part of this history.' -- collaged
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Miscellaneous *
* found photos
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Clermont Ferrand's Black Gothic Cathedral
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Gorges de l'Ardèche
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Tricastin Nuclear Plant, Pierrelatte
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The Margeride region
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St. Etienne
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"Les Verres" Loft, St. Etienne *
* found photos
Where we stayed and worked.
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*
p.s. RIP: Les Blank. Hey. There's a distinct possibility that there won't be a p.s. tomorrow. Basically, if it's pouring rain when I wake up in the morning, as it so often is here in Paris, you might well get a p.s., but, if it's not raining, and non-rain is what my weather widget is currently predicting, I'll be heading off early on an adventure sort of a la the ones in the post today, in which case I'll catch up with the comments from today and tomorrow on Thursday. ** Thomas Moronic, Hi. Your birthday is Saturday? Nice. How are you celebrating IRL? ** Misanthrope, Little dude needs to break that consumerist and capitalist bent before it's too late. Although an Xbox is an awfully nice gift. Undertaker won! Yes! Man, so so many veterans are still in the ring. Never could stand Cena myself. Ha ha, that dream sounds totally plausible to me. I don't even know why exactly. ** Scunnard, Oh, shit, you're bringing that game back to me in all of its ... whatever. Exactly my experience. When I go back to LA, and when I notice that game lying there on its shelf, I always want to plug it in and see how hellish and arid the town has become after eight, nine years without a sign of me, but I'm too terrified. I thought the guilt-tripping thing was kind of innovative or something. A lot of room to move there for developers. ** David Ehrenstein, High five on Melville, and thanks for all the Ehrensteinian scoop and insight. I'll check around for that Nogueira book. I don't know it. Yeah, wow, Margaret Thatcher, how about that? That is not the most flattering picture of God I've ever seen. You might be the only other person I know who's read 'Pierre, or The Ambiguities', if you have. ** Alan, Hi, man! Oh, cool, exciting, about that mysterious good news. I'll await. I've never seen Melville's 'Enfant Terrible' film either. I read the Cocteau novel way back when. I loved it a lot at the time. I wonder how it holds up? You know/like it? Yeah, I finally saw 'Spring Breakers' last night. I loved it, of course, and it's so interesting that you mention Malick in relationship to it because I did have these moments of thinking 'That's so Malick', and I wondered if I was crazy. Huh. ** Wolf, Yeah, she dead. I haven't read around too much this morning, but I have seen an unusual amount of criticism and slamming of her, relatively speaking vis-a-vis newly dead 'giants'. Enjoy! ** Cobaltfram, Hi, John. Oh, did I seem upset? I wasn't at all. Must have been some accidental tone problem in that sentence's construction or something. The only midnight-ish activity I remember in 'AC' was when the town gathered around the lake for a New Years Fireworks show. If I can go to bed when I most want to, it's at 11 pm. That seems to be my body's favored falling asleep time. Thanks about the scrapbook. I think it helped a lot. I want to try to do in the novel what I did in the scrapbook, which is kind of an ideal result. I think I might have figured out the novel's purpose and way of getting there. We'll see. I'm working on it, and we'll see. A super-surreal novel, interesting. I hear you about the main character and the overarching trajectory. Anyway, sounds fruitful if that idea stays interesting. Me? I'm doing really, really good, thank you. ** Steevee, Hi, S. Man, well, if it's no trouble, that would be really kind and great of you. Thank you so much for wanting to do that! ** Tosh, Hi, T. Cool, I managed to sync into your passions again, awesome. What were the odds? Thanks a lot for the tip on the Vincendeau book. I'll look for it too. ** Sypha, Hi, James. Well, soon you'll have legs like a long distance bicyclist maybe. And of course it's great to hear that you're in a good mood. ** Bill, Thanks about the post/stills. You might try 'Army of Shadows' next, if you want a Melville recommendation. I don't think I've seen 'Flocons d'Or', unless I'm forgetting. It's a good one, eh? You as a proto-Goth teen ... now that's something I wish I had seen. Any photos? ** Un Cœur Blanc, Hi! Really nice to see you! I'm very happy to hear that you're surviving and happily. Thank you or your subconscious for dreaming such a curious, nice dream about me. What's weird is that I did get confused about my romantic bent at just about that age, and I did date a girl for about a year, although she only had a classically gorgeous body if a girl having a body like a skinny boy is classical. Anyway, nice. Blanchot and Barthes are a cool couple. Hm, maybe Barthes happened during Blanchot's barely writing phase? I don't know the timeline well at all, though. You sound good! That's so good to know! ** Okay. There's some of the stuff that went on during my friend Zac's and my recent work trip/ vacation for those of you who are interested. If you are, enjoy, and, if not, uh ... I don't know. The blog will see you tomorrow, and I might or might not see you as well.
__________________
Musee de la Mine, St. Etienne
'This old mine shaft rehabilitated into a museum provides a very good insight into the miners and their working conditions. Through the visit, you can discover the room of the “hung”, then the sink, the lamp before descending to the “bottom of the hole.” The first rooms trace the lives of miners on the surface, while the descent into the well (about 7 meters) highlights the daily work of workers, tools used and the dangers of the mine. This old Couriot shaft is a beautiful museum that pays tribute to all these “black faces” that worked hard towards the modernisation of our country’s industry, to their profession and to this region marked forever by these dirty men!' -- Vally26, qype.co.ok
__________________
Vulcania, near Clermont-Ferrand
'Vulcania offers you the chance to share unique experiences in a spectacular natural setting: the Volcanoes of Auvergne. Become an explorer for a day and unravel the mysteries of the Earth, feel the power of volcanoes and the forces of nature. Discover the beauty and fragility of our planet. Rides, interactive platforms, 5D films and high-tech innovations will allow you to experience the Earth through amazing attractions and activities. At Vulcania, learning is exciting too... We strongly recommend planning to spend an entire day at the park inorder to take advantage of all the exciting attractions and activities it has to offer.' -- Vulcania
_____________________
La Ferme aux crocodiles, Pierrelatte
'The Crocodile Farm draws over 300,000 visitors each year and is the biggest attraction in the Drôme. The Crocodile farm is unique in Europe, and is housed in an 8000m² greenhouse in which there are over 400 animals: 9 species of crocodiles, giant tortoises from the Seychelles and the Galápagos, and tropical birds. The greenhouse has over 600 tropical plants species and is a very interesting horticultural and botanical garden.' -- ot.avignon.fr
_____________________
La Grotte de la Cocaliere, Ardeche
'The famous cave that you’re about to visit was hollowed out of the limestone rock at the height of the Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian, Tithonian - between 146 and 135 million years ago), and is only one branch of a huge underground network covering thirty kilometres or so. Its history began 35 million years ago (Eocene, Tertiary period) and is still continuing today, for La Cocalière is a living cave, i.e. still in formation.' -- grotto-cocaliere.com
____________________
Les grottes de Saint Marcel d'Ardèche
'The cave of Saint Marcel d'Ardèche contains a vast network of underground galleries, amazing basins, eccentric formations, immense rooms with evocative names such as "the Fontain of the Virgin", "the hall of Kings", the "Painters Gallery". The natural entrance to the cave was discovered in 1838 by a hunter Aiguèze in pursuit of his game, using the technique of ferrets. It would take 50 years for a first thorough study, done by Edouard-Alfred Martel, considered the founder of modern caving. He devoted an entire chapter to the cave of Saint-Marcel in his book "The Abyss" published in 1894, where he provided a complete and detailed description of the known parts of the cavity.' -- collaged
___________________
Haribo Bon Bon Museum, Uzès
'In May 1996 HARIBO opened the Musée du Bonbon at its Uzès production site. Since then, more than 100 000 visitors, both large and small, have visited the small town in the South of France to find out about the history of liquorice, fruit gum and sweet manufacturing. With its hundreds of old exhibits and documents, the Musée du Bonbon is unique of its kind. Admirers of old promotional items dating from the period around the turn of the century can enjoy a wide variety of historical posters and packaging of all types. Old machines and workshops are used to provide the visitor with a vivid depiction of the history of sweets. These machines and workshops have been rebuilt in a manner faithful to the original. It goes without saying that HARIBO is also an important part of this history.' -- collaged
____________________
Miscellaneous *
* found photos
Clermont Ferrand's Black Gothic Cathedral
Gorges de l'Ardèche
Tricastin Nuclear Plant, Pierrelatte
The Margeride region
St. Etienne
____________________
"Les Verres" Loft, St. Etienne *
* found photos
Where we stayed and worked.
*
p.s. RIP: Les Blank. Hey. There's a distinct possibility that there won't be a p.s. tomorrow. Basically, if it's pouring rain when I wake up in the morning, as it so often is here in Paris, you might well get a p.s., but, if it's not raining, and non-rain is what my weather widget is currently predicting, I'll be heading off early on an adventure sort of a la the ones in the post today, in which case I'll catch up with the comments from today and tomorrow on Thursday. ** Thomas Moronic, Hi. Your birthday is Saturday? Nice. How are you celebrating IRL? ** Misanthrope, Little dude needs to break that consumerist and capitalist bent before it's too late. Although an Xbox is an awfully nice gift. Undertaker won! Yes! Man, so so many veterans are still in the ring. Never could stand Cena myself. Ha ha, that dream sounds totally plausible to me. I don't even know why exactly. ** Scunnard, Oh, shit, you're bringing that game back to me in all of its ... whatever. Exactly my experience. When I go back to LA, and when I notice that game lying there on its shelf, I always want to plug it in and see how hellish and arid the town has become after eight, nine years without a sign of me, but I'm too terrified. I thought the guilt-tripping thing was kind of innovative or something. A lot of room to move there for developers. ** David Ehrenstein, High five on Melville, and thanks for all the Ehrensteinian scoop and insight. I'll check around for that Nogueira book. I don't know it. Yeah, wow, Margaret Thatcher, how about that? That is not the most flattering picture of God I've ever seen. You might be the only other person I know who's read 'Pierre, or The Ambiguities', if you have. ** Alan, Hi, man! Oh, cool, exciting, about that mysterious good news. I'll await. I've never seen Melville's 'Enfant Terrible' film either. I read the Cocteau novel way back when. I loved it a lot at the time. I wonder how it holds up? You know/like it? Yeah, I finally saw 'Spring Breakers' last night. I loved it, of course, and it's so interesting that you mention Malick in relationship to it because I did have these moments of thinking 'That's so Malick', and I wondered if I was crazy. Huh. ** Wolf, Yeah, she dead. I haven't read around too much this morning, but I have seen an unusual amount of criticism and slamming of her, relatively speaking vis-a-vis newly dead 'giants'. Enjoy! ** Cobaltfram, Hi, John. Oh, did I seem upset? I wasn't at all. Must have been some accidental tone problem in that sentence's construction or something. The only midnight-ish activity I remember in 'AC' was when the town gathered around the lake for a New Years Fireworks show. If I can go to bed when I most want to, it's at 11 pm. That seems to be my body's favored falling asleep time. Thanks about the scrapbook. I think it helped a lot. I want to try to do in the novel what I did in the scrapbook, which is kind of an ideal result. I think I might have figured out the novel's purpose and way of getting there. We'll see. I'm working on it, and we'll see. A super-surreal novel, interesting. I hear you about the main character and the overarching trajectory. Anyway, sounds fruitful if that idea stays interesting. Me? I'm doing really, really good, thank you. ** Steevee, Hi, S. Man, well, if it's no trouble, that would be really kind and great of you. Thank you so much for wanting to do that! ** Tosh, Hi, T. Cool, I managed to sync into your passions again, awesome. What were the odds? Thanks a lot for the tip on the Vincendeau book. I'll look for it too. ** Sypha, Hi, James. Well, soon you'll have legs like a long distance bicyclist maybe. And of course it's great to hear that you're in a good mood. ** Bill, Thanks about the post/stills. You might try 'Army of Shadows' next, if you want a Melville recommendation. I don't think I've seen 'Flocons d'Or', unless I'm forgetting. It's a good one, eh? You as a proto-Goth teen ... now that's something I wish I had seen. Any photos? ** Un Cœur Blanc, Hi! Really nice to see you! I'm very happy to hear that you're surviving and happily. Thank you or your subconscious for dreaming such a curious, nice dream about me. What's weird is that I did get confused about my romantic bent at just about that age, and I did date a girl for about a year, although she only had a classically gorgeous body if a girl having a body like a skinny boy is classical. Anyway, nice. Blanchot and Barthes are a cool couple. Hm, maybe Barthes happened during Blanchot's barely writing phase? I don't know the timeline well at all, though. You sound good! That's so good to know! ** Okay. There's some of the stuff that went on during my friend Zac's and my recent work trip/ vacation for those of you who are interested. If you are, enjoy, and, if not, uh ... I don't know. The blog will see you tomorrow, and I might or might not see you as well.