Night of the Museums

Overall, the Night of Museums was a fantastic experience for me. The Musée Ratteau city museum was fascinating and definitely worth a return visit. The atmosphere of the city was also unparalleled, with the new pedestrianised streets and interesting discoveries all contributing to a memorable evening. I think Arles is a really special place and I would love to explore more of it.

It’s European Museum Night today; in Arles too. By the way, I was working today. (I’m not talking about feeling useless, because I’ve had very little to do in the kitchen today. Maybe, I can’t find my place.)
After work I set off on my scooter, arriving at the Musée Ratteau at eleven o’clock. They take the closing hours seriously here, no matter how many people are there, they close the gates at midnight. For me – someone who likes to see and observe everything in detail – a museum in an hour is a rush. Interestingly, all the events on Museum Night are free. As I rushed through the halls and then stood around the city for a while, I dictated some notes on my phone:

Well, this is what a room in a hotel looks like, like this museum showroom.
It’s great that the boards are digital, full of extra information; in some cases, extra games for the kids.
How did they do it so well, by the way? It’s like seeing Jesus Christ surrounded by flowers. These brilliant stones are brightly coloured and well-crafted.
At Christmas time I saw such models in churches and in the market squares. It seems to be a hobby around here.
Everyday clothes; it’s interesting that we don’t see them in contemporary ceremonies, but they are interesting too. They are very similar in design, but the apron is a little different, and the headgear; but that is part of the tradition. They tie their headscarves differently, I don’t know how and how long they learn to dress. These cloaks and aprons are more practical. Men’s clothes are similar to the tailcoat look. This is what the old military uniforms were like; few buttons in the front, the material left long in the back.
Uncle Sixty with turquoise hair; that’s a bit avant-garde. I like that you have a style.
This serving cabinet is just like the one we have in our dining room. The builders of the hotel have really arranged the spaces from a flea market.
These wedding dresses, I think, are still cool today.
This museum is a pretty cool place. For example, they’ve invented these murals in glass; there are posters behind the glass decorations; there’s a huge big staircase of glass and steel, so the ceiling is glass, sometimes there are mirrors in the ceiling and the floor. Well done.
This is another pretty cool room, light painting on the thatched hut with moving pictures.
They seem to be familiar with the quote, “What you understand, you don’t get angry about. Because they also showcase the local gypsy culture: for example, they have very nice folk costumes and festive dresses.
This museum was an experience, I would like to come back again. I walked around in forty minutes, so I could comfortably do it in, say, two hours.
So, it’s a very good museum. As for the building itself, the Romanesque architectural elements (otherwise beautifully presented) have been overlaid with a palace, which I estimate to be neoclassical in style, with some Renaissance walls, opening onto a former church, now used (like a few others in the city) as a spectacular exhibition and event space. In between, a modern staircase made of steel and glass, the glass parts of which are coloured in such a way as to link the different parts in a way that creates a homogeneous whole.
Special praise goes to the curators, who added lighting to the spectacle and managed to combine digital technology into a pleasing balance.

A small detour out onto the street; there are no election posters plastered all around the walls, but 10 huge metal signs are placed side by side in the main square-like areas and you can advertise on them. Everyone has a defined single place.

I even ended up running into the end of a concert at the outdoor theatre. There is no point in going in, because the lights will be switched off in ten minutes. This open-air theatre was also built by the Romans and is still regularly used today.

This red colour suits the disco-lit arena. This is a beautiful city. The new pedestrian street is nice, with these little trees, this new concrete and stone pavement.

So, what did I find on the way home? On the street is a regular vending machine where you can buy cannabis. Available around the clock, for anyone.

Now I understand why there are two railway bridges over the main street. Because one of them is very old and no one uses it anymore, but they kept it. Perhaps, they could find some new function for it, if they really wanted to.