Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace

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There is a Disneyland in Paris, in case you are as ignorant as me. Since we came here, Daddy has been eager to get the annual pass to the park. We assumed that Disneyland will be the perfect fun place to bring my 3 year old, since he was once a crazy fan of Mickey Mouse and friends. (he even had a Mickey Mouse and Friends birthday party last year) We could have been so wrong if not for the other night.

We popped the question the other night over dinner, asking Mal whether he would prefer going to disneyland or an airforce museum. He answered with a straight face, the latter was his choice. He certainly made it easier for us as it is definitely cheaper to visit the airforce museum than to visit the Disneyland, in fact, it is FREE till June this year to visit the museum. At the back of my mind, I was however concern over my son’s lost of interest in the fairytales and make belief world. Will he turn out to be a science nerd? Should we have fed him with more disney stories and fairy tales? Should we have let him watch more disney cartoons? Should we limit the number of aviation and space books he read? The questions are endless.

Anyway, he had his wish. We visited the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, which is situated just outside Paris. It was quite a long way from where we stay, around an hour 10 minutes by Metro and bus to a more run down neighbourhood. A sense of uneasiness crept into me as I took the public bus. The bus was packed and I felt like we were the few odd ones out. I tried my best not to look like a tourist and deep inside me I was already regretting our choice in coming. It was not our first time traveling in a less peaceful town but we always have our own transport when we were in the States and I felt safe even when we were lost in New Orleans downtown late at night. The car gives a sense of security, maybe a false one, but at least I felt that I could just speed off in the car if someone tries to assault, unlike in a public bus, where I felt totally exposed and vulnerable. Maybe I am over sensitive and worries too much. After a long journey that seem to last forever, we finally reached our destination. I told myself that it better be good, as we had brave the cold, the wind and risk our lives, just to get there!

The view of the 2 Ariane rockets at the entrance of the museum speaks for everything. You should have heard how Mal squealed and jumped with joy and excitement. It’s like a dream comes true for him, seeing the REAL thing. Even I myself went a bit crazy and hysterical after being fed so much of his books on space. I seriously think my 1994 trip to NASA Johnson space center at Houston was a total waste. My 3 year old now would have been more appreciative.

We saw Concordes, the 1st and the last that flew, lots of fighter planes, including the Mirage 2000, rockets and satellites. I totally forgot about my initial doubt about visiting. It was a worthwhile trip.

at the entrance with some planes painted with the colours of the France national flag

and the rocket heads that greet us at the entranceThe Ariane 5 rockets at close up

Ariane is a series of a European civilian expendable launch vehicles for space launch useThe very last concorde that flew

the inside of the concorde. It was quite narrowwe saw lots of fighter planes

and old historic planeseven the display planes at the souvenir shop made Mal very delightedmore rockets and satellite at the indoor display
Finally a picture with the rockets before we go. It was actually very windy and freezing cold for me!

we found a Japanese restaurant in 1st Arrondissment at Rue Saint Anne that serves really good udon and ramen at reasonable price! The soup tastes so good as it doesn’t taste like msg loaded.

Mal enjoying his Tempura Udon after a long day

what better way to end a cold rainy evening…hot soupy noodles with piping hot gyoza