On the Seine

After applying suncream we set off east (a new direction for us) to see the Place de la Republique.  On the way we passed two smaller (but still huge) variations on the Arc de Triomphe.  The Place de la Republique was largely a busy construction site, so we turned south-west and moved on to the Museum of Arts et Metiers ("Arts and Trades").  This is really a museum of technology, with dozens of working exhibits demonstrating all sorts of machines and gadgets from over the centuries.  I was keen to see the Focault Pendulum, which swings on a long wire from the ceiling of the church.  The swing of a Focault Pendulum appears to slowly rotate during the day, an effect caused by the rotation of the earth beneath it.

We next decided to go with a relaxing ride on the river, on the "bus boat" which allows you to get on and off whenever you like.  We just stayed on it, for over an hour, until it had gone right down to the Eiffel Tower and back up again to where we started.  The main challenge was the heat of the sun beating down, which we countered with a supply of drinking water.  There is quite a lot of traffic on the river, and many narrow boats moored along its banks.  The current seemed quite strong which made the master's job quite tricky at times.  I think the river may have been running higher than usual - there was flooding not far away in Germany about the same time.