Marc's Public Blog


All | Aquariums | Arduino | Btrfs | Cars | Cats | Clubbing | Computers | Dining | Diving | Electronics | Exercising | Festivals | Flying | Halloween | Hiking | Linux | Linuxha | Monuments | Museums | Outings | Public | Rc | Sciencemuseums | Solar | Tfsf | Trips




More pages: March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 October 2003 August 2003 July 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 January 2003 November 2002 October 2002 July 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 April 1999 March 1999 September 1997 August 1997 July 1996 September 1993 July 1991 December 1988 December 1985 January 1980



2017/12/30 Paris' Cluny Museum and remains of Roman Baths
π 2017-12-30 01:01 in Museums, Paris
So, Cluny aka the medieval museum, has quite a good collection of medieval artifacts, including exquisite books. However, it's known specifically for the "dame á la licorne" and other beautiful tapestries. We had done a quick tour in the past, but it was worth going back for a better look, and a special guided visit to the roman baths in that same building.

















just like the Bayeux Tapestry, they have a long colorful tapestry telling a full story
just like the Bayeux Tapestry, they have a long colorful tapestry telling a full story







The museum's building has a colorful history, but its older parts go all the way back to much bigger roman baths that were 3 times bigger than the footprint that is left, as well as an old castle/hotel that was build next to what was left, re-using some of the walls. However, underground, you can still see what is left of the baths, and while it doesn't rival Bath, UK, or Baden Baden, Germany, it's still interesting to see that in the middle of Paris:










some bits were clearly built later
some bits were clearly built later

Cool little visit.

2017/12/29 Opera Bastille Backstage
π 2017-12-29 01:01 in Museums, Paris
Paris has 2 Opéras. The newer one, bastille, doesn't look as fancy from the outside, but has a one of a kind stage moving system that allows them to have multiple stages ready and they can be moved from center stage to underground for building or rehearsals. This allows them to play different operas on different nights.

While it may seem overkill (no other theatre in the world has this capability to that scale, this theatre can almost host a couple of 747s hidden underground), it was super cool to see this on their backstage tour. Most of the pictures were underground up to 22m (many stories) below ground level:













The tour finally ended up in the main stage that was going to be used that evening after our tour:







See more images for Opera Bastille Backstage
2017/12/28 Paris' Citée de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine
π 2017-12-28 01:01 in Museums, Paris
La citée de l'architecture et du patrimoine is an interesting museum just across fom the eiffel tower. They have one floor dedicated to architecture and modern building design, while the other one has a good collection of replicas of famous buildings for study and backup.

A few pictures:















2017/12/28 Les Invalides Monuments and Museums in Paris
π 2017-12-28 01:01 in Museums, Paris
Les Invalides is actually a museum complex, including a church and tombs for Napoleon and related people. Last time I went with Jennifer, we didn't have a lot of time, and we breezed through it quickly. This time, we spent almost 5h and had to hurry a little bit at the end.






















inflatable decoy tank, awesome
inflatable decoy tank, awesome













2017/12/28 Quai Branli Museum in Paris
π 2017-12-28 01:01 in Museums, Paris
The Quai Branly Museum collects first nations art from around the world, and it's a pretty thorough collection that is worth multiple hours, although I'll be honest that I overdozed a bit after a while, probably because I was getting tired...

A few pictures:














nice lighting outside the building
nice lighting outside the building

See more images for Quai Branli Museum in Paris
2017/12/28 Paris Rodin Museum
π 2017-12-28 01:01 in Museums, Paris
The Rodin Museum is not huge, but once you add the tour of the gardens with statues, it's worth a good 1.5 to 2h, especially with the movies that show how the bronze statues are made.

Turns out Rodin actually made the plaster models and others went through the complicated process of making the bronze statues:

A few pictures:













See more images for Paris Rodin Museum
2017/12/27 A few pictures from Paris
π 2017-12-27 01:01 in France, Ntrips, Paris, Trips
Every year, I try to go see a few things in Paris, and we didn't run out of museums yet: Paris Rodin Museum Quai Branli Museum in Paris Citée de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine Opera Bastille Backstage Cluny Museum and remains of Roman Baths

Otherwise, I also have a few pictures of Paris proper:





the street that used to be for cars to get out of Paris more quickly is now pedestrian. Not everyone loves this...
the street that used to be for cars to get out of Paris more quickly is now pedestrian. Not everyone loves this...



the worst part is how the effeil tower is now behind airport gates and bad looking temporary roof covers as gates :(
the worst part is how the effeil tower is now behind airport gates and bad looking temporary roof covers as gates :(





Another day, close to Opéra Bastille







don't get conned, that's a different church, I don't like lines :)
don't get conned, that's a different church, I don't like lines :)


After arriving at Les Halles we went to see the small Xmas market, given that the big one at Champs Elysées was cancelled this year due to suckage of the new Paris mayor:







After too long, Les Halles was finally re-opened:





Nearby St Sulpice Church:




Quick stop at Google and the grand magasins and their displays:



























See more images for A few pictures from Paris
2017/12/24 Xmas with my Dad
π 2017-12-24 01:01 in Family
We started with Xmas Eve:

the Chapon was refusing to have its head come off, so it took a powertool :)
the Chapon was refusing to have its head come off, so it took a powertool :)






Random other picts:


For Xmas eve, we went to a seafood restaurant:


Then came New Year:




the famous saucisson richeulieu
the famous saucisson richeulieu

And we ended the last day with a gallette des rois, and Jennifer won :)

2017/12/16 Great December Drive
π 2017-12-16 01:01 in Cars, Ncars
Great weather, good temperature, good roads, great cars. Thanks all.

























See more images for Great December Drive
2017/12/12 Half a day in Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos
π 2017-12-12 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips
After arriving back in San Jose from our dive trip, we booked a transport to go to Los Cabos, check out the arch, climb Solmar, and walk around town a bit before we had to head to the airport for our 14:10 flight.

We left San Jose at 07:00 sharp and drove to Cabo San Lucas to get an early boat trip to the arch:








We arrived at the pier just before 08:00 when everything was still kind of dead, but thankfully Arturo found us one boat that was able to give us a private ride just before everyone else started doing the same and totally crowding the area later, afer we had left:



this beach connects the gulf of mexico to the pacific ocean
this beach connects the gulf of mexico to the pacific ocean


you can also swim to the pacific ocean through this hole, but it's not recommended :)
you can also swim to the pacific ocean through this hole, but it's not recommended :)


he famous arch, it's not actually that big
he famous arch, it's not actually that big


a colony of sea lions was happy fighting over a piece of rock :)
a colony of sea lions was happy fighting over a piece of rock :)

the losing sea lions got thrown back in the water
the losing sea lions got thrown back in the water


needle inside the arch
needle inside the arch

After the boat ride, we went to hike up Solmar. A bit rocky and uncertain trail, but nice views from the top:





yes, well done :)
yes, well done :)

We then walked back through town before catching our ride back to the airport for our flight:










In the end, it was only half a day, but it felt enough :)

2017/12/04 Diving around Socorro Islands on Valentina
π 2017-12-04 01:01 in Diving

All the pictures below are geotagged, so you can click on them to see where they were taken

Arturo, Regis, Jennifer and I went to San Jose, Mexico, the southmost tip of Baja, California, to board a 9 day liveaboard (which really only has 6 days of diving due to the time lost in travel), to Socorro Islands, Mexico's Cocos Island. Socorro Islands just became a national park where fishing is totally prohibited, and likely better enforced than in Cocos.
There were 2 boats that could have gotten us there for 9 days (they advertise 10 but it's really 9): Solmar V and Valentina. We ended up picking up Valentina as it was more reasonably priced and more inclusive. I think the boat and cabins were also a bit larger (although I'm not positive on that).

We arrived the day before to visit San Jose and try some ATV'ing, and the next day, we took a long day tour to LaPaz to go snorkel with whale sharks, and finally got onto our diving boat that evening:



This trip was about diving. Just like Cocos, it's a long way there, over 24H each way, so we had time to read, sort pictures, and pass the time in other ways :) The folks on the boat were all great, so it made the trip much better.
The diving was spectacular, especially the first 3 days (out of 6, with a total of 22 dives): Hammerhead sharks, Manta Rays (more than I remember), many friendly and curious dolphins, and then 3 different whale sharks! We also got lucky that the water was much warmer than planned (26 to 29C, mostly 27-28, when it was supposed to be in the 22-26C range).

Ok, I think I must start with Whale Sharks, 3 different ones on 4 different dives. We were so lucky...





even small whale sharks were big
even small whale sharks were big


I found a few octopii, although only 3 of them:



Got lucky to find a small octopus that continued hunting after I found it:

We saw some hammerheads:





Plenty of other sharks:





Plenty of sharks at Roca Partida:

Plenty of friendly dolphins:




Look at how many dolphins came to see us:

One site had dolphins that actually came to us and wanted to be pet. We tried to tell them that maybe wasn't maybe legal, but they didn't care, and kept saying "pet me, pet me please", we had to pretend to pet them to appease them :)



So many lobsters, too bad we couldn't help cull them :)


So many manta rays:










Mantas love bubbles
Mantas love bubbles

Lots of different Manta Rays at one site:

While at Punta Tosca, a ray followed us during almost our entire dive:

Also mobula rays:




And electric rays we hadn't seen anywhere else:




Plus other rays:


Other highlights:






fun to see those swmimming in pairs
fun to see those swmimming in pairs








Boat pictures:









We picked up a few tired birds on the way:



Sunrise/Sunset:






Other pictures from the boat:





navy base on Socorro Island
navy base on Socorro Island


It was a middle class liveaboard with reasonable pricing, so it was a good deal in the end. The last days of diving were not as good due to the weather changing, but we had seen so many awesome things in the first days, that it didn't really matter.
It took another 30H or so to get back to San Jose, and the next morning we left soon after sunrise for a private transport to Cabo San Lucas before having to take our flight in the afternoon:



2017/12/03 Snorkeling with whale sharks in La Paz, Mexico
π 2017-12-03 01:01 in Diving

Since we were going to San Jose Del Cabo for our diving boat, after a bit of research, I figured out that La Paz had swim with whale shark tours, and that our time to visit was the right season. Woohoo!
So, we arrived the previous day from our boat departure, got picked up at 06:40 for the 2H+ drive to La Paz, and joined the tour. Sadly, they just introduce a reservation system where only 2 or 3 boats are allowed in the area at a time. While this makes sense since you don't want all the boats dropping people at the same time on top of a few poor whale sharks trying to feed, sadly the current system works by having boats leave the harbour, and then wait in the middle of the water, burning gas, for their turn to enter the area. For us, that was a 1h30 wait before we were allowed to finally enter the area, which was annoying given that we had gotten up at 06:00.



But once we got there, finally, it was great. Several juvenile whale sharks were feeding at surface level, and our boat sent people 3 at a time with a guide just next to a whale shark feeding. Sadly, the first 2 we got dropped by, were way too fast for me to keep up with just the small fins they gave us (apparently bigger fins don't help at the surface). You could barely keep up with them if you swam with your hands, but with a camera with each hand, that was not possible for me, so I had to let them go.
Thankfully they picked a slower one for us for the 3rd and last one, and I was able to keep up with it just with my fins and get some good shots.

Here is a summary video:

And here are some shots:













one had fish attached to its tail
one had fish attached to its tail

So, while the first 2 times in the water were frustrating, because I couldn't keep up with the whale shark due to the small fins and inability to swim with my hands while holding a camera and a video camera, the last encounter was awesome since we got a slower whale shark and could keep up with it for a long time.

2017/12/02 1.5 days in San Jose, Mexico and LaPaz
π 2017-12-02 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips

We arrived the day before our dive trip in San Jose, Mexico, and took an ATV tour that day. The next day we went to La Paz before boarding our diving boat to go snorkel with whale sharks.

Before the ATV tour, I walked around downtown San Jose a bit. Apparently, there were some drug lord issues not long before we came, so the police was in force, patrolling the main tourist areas:


We were in a nice hotel next to town square:




I then had 1.5h to walk around town square and the so called art presinct (which was not to Aspen level let's just say):







I had a quick local lunch, including dried grasshoppers
I had a quick local lunch, including dried grasshoppers

We then took our tour to the dunes north of Cabo San Lucas for ATV'ing

they had a small aviary with friendly small birds
they had a small aviary with friendly small birds


it wasn't cheap, but they had the nicest ATVs I had seen so far
it wasn't cheap, but they had the nicest ATVs I had seen so far

we had a big ass ATV, even though it was indeed not cheap
we had a big ass ATV, even though it was indeed not cheap


we eventually made it to the beach
we eventually made it to the beach

and we got so lucky, some baby turtles just hatched
and we got so lucky, some baby turtles just hatched

we watched them and helped the few that got lost
we watched them and helped the few that got lost

go turtles, go...
go turtles, go...

then back on the tour
then back on the tour






sunset was a miss, sadly
sunset was a miss, sadly

After the ATV tour, we met with Arturo and had a nice dinner in a good restaurant he picked:


The next morning, we left early for La Paz to get on a small boat and snorkel with Whale Sharks:









On the way back, we stopped at the famous hotel California:








We then finally arrived back to San Jose and boarded our diving boat for the Socorro Islands for the 9 day diving trip.


More pages: March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 October 2003 August 2003 July 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 January 2003 November 2002 October 2002 July 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 April 1999 March 1999 September 1997 August 1997 July 1996 September 1993 July 1991 December 1988 December 1985 January 1980

Contact Email