Foire du Trone Vincennes

The Foire du Trone dates back at least to 1131 and Louis VI ("the Fat"...too many corny dogs) and claims to be Europe's largest "funfair," that is, "amusement park." (We distinguish, of course, between amusement parks and theme parks...). It is comparable in size to Vienna's Prater, but, unlike the Prater, the Trone is a temporary affair, occurring in the spring only. Both offer a variety of extreme thrill rides, midway attractions, carnival food, and the rest. Despite its very old origins, the Trone appears less well known among the world's amusement parks than the Prater. (Our visits to the Prater are here and here and here.) Somehow, incredibly, we'd not known of the Trone in previous visits, so this was our first experience. The Trone takes place in Vincennes, in the 12th, adjoining the Bois de Vincennes, Paris' largest park. 

Some interesting architecture in Bercy, Reuilly

Among the thrill rides

What goes up...

Lots of shoot-em-ups, not all identified as American

More plastic food than in Tokyo

The ribs looking pretty tasty

Trying to get several of the big rides in one shot

Never seen Grand Marnier at an American fair...maybe Coors

Some rides are advertised as going even faster...150kph

Another shoot-em-up, but here you can compete for an i-Phone,
a motorcycle, and more

Where's Elon?

Gave her winnings to some kids

More interesting buildings in the 13th, the Tour Duo

The Tour Duo as more conventionally seen...

And more

Vide Grenier In the 14th

The closest vide grenier (street sale) Saturday morning was in the 14th, a nice walk along the Luxembourg Garden and its panhandle toward the observatory...many buildings and monuments of interest, plus a decent collection of curiosities and wonders at the street sale.

The area is mixed residential and University of Paris campus...here,
greenhouses for pharmacology, health sciences; note the background
building, also U of P, and its array of chimneys...

Known as the most curious building in Paris, the University's Institute of
Art and Archaeology, designed by Paul Bigot in 1920, has been compared
to a synagogue, a hammam, a kasbah, the Alhambra, the Baths of
Diocletian...all probably welcomed by the architect and faculty; the brick
one sees in Paris is usually ornamental; here it entirely clads a concrete
structure; a terra cotta frieze runs the base of the building, depicting a 
variety of famous art/archaeological scenes 

Physical therapy for your pet

Much assorted sculpture along the way...hey, it's France!

Pin traders at the street sale

Why don't they do smart phones like this?

Vincent himself might have been fooled...even the original, at the
Getty, lacks the characteristic "Vincent" signature

Reminder to do this with my (father's) cane...

All over London, and in any touristic spot in the UK, one
sees the "look right" signs...everywhere; this is the first 
relevantly similar sign we have seen in France...since 1979

More to see on the way back home...including this Belle Epoche/
Pompidou curiosity...the contortions you have go through to get
central AC?