mastodon 4.8.0-nightly.2026-10-06Designs things | Mostly for the web | Co-Founder http://haptiq.studio & http://picu.io
Today was a good day.
First, we received some good news at work and I had a very productive morning overall, working from our apartment.
Then, I joined the family and we visited Les Machines de l’île in the afternoon — an exhibition of huge mechanical animals built of wood and steel, in the former shipyards in Nantes. Of course, we also did all of the things, including riding the 12m tall elephant pictured here.
Another one from today’s visit at the aquarium.
Kind of liked this shot with my family sitting in the middle, the other people around them, and the sharks and other fish swimming around.
Back in Paris.
Everyone’s energy was fading today, but we made it to our hotel room, kids are asleep and we’re looking forward to a good night’s sleep now.
Today we rented bicycles to ride to the Île de Ré, crossing this 3 km bridge that connects the island to the mainland.
Liked this shot and how the black & white conversion gave it this almost infrared feel.
We took the family to La Rochelle Aquarium today, one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
The full beauty of these jellyfish was impossible to capture on camera. But if you looked at them long enough, they started to look like little galaxies forming in front of your eyes.
There’s this tidal swimming pool at the plage de Bon-Secours in Saint-Malo.
On high tide, you can only see the diving platform looking out of the water, and when the tide is low it keeps the water in and you see the full pool like this.
Wonderful day today. Celebrated the birthday of our younger one, went on a hike up to the “Chrüz” (2195 meters above sea) together and then had a nice dinner at the Berghaus zum See.
Short walk to the Stelsersee today. Tomorrow, slightly bigger hike up to the “Chrüz”.
These penguins felt a little out of place in 35°+ Paris.
We arrived back home yesterday evening, but only for a few nights before we head to our friends’ Maiensäss again.
The ride home was unnecessarily stressful – note to myself: always reserve your seats as early as possible!
Spent our last day in Paris visiting Jardin des Plantes (same as in Nantes, I just now remembered), its accompanying zoo, and walking along the Seine.
We walked past this huge building of the former Faculté des Sciences. Couldn’t tell if still in use today, looked kind of abandoned to me, but made for a good photo with its massive concrete facade.
Tomorrow: train back home to Zurich!
Wasn't there an ocean here somewhere, yesterday?
Tide is a funny thing.
Street art in La Rochelle.
In other news, the fire near Bordeaux is still going but at least it didn’t grow today.
Arrived in La Rochelle today. This long and dramatic corridor leads to our place for the next few days. Apartment is very nice though.
Looking forward to some more days by the sea.
Went to Wildnispark Langenberg with the kids today. Saw wolves, lots of wild boars, and various deer. All of them way too far away for my 27mm lens, though, so here’s a nice forest scene.
I turned 40 yesterday and got this beauty of a cutting board as a present.
Also, felt like writing down some of the things I learned in those 40 years.
Reading List #113
Spring is back. Went on a little hike yesterday to explore the Küsnachter Tobel with the family.
Happy Easter, everyone.
Last week sucked, big time.
Spent a lot of time this weekend at the 1st of May festivities, seeing friends, planting our balcony, and doodling around to clear my head.
Another one from yesterday’s trip around the airport. It’s actually a rather nice area, if you don’t mind the flight noise, of course.
Went for a bike ride (it was Bicycle Day today, after all) around the Zurich Airport with the family and caught this jet coming in overhead.
This week started off rough. Didn’t feel like working at all today, skipped the office and went to the Üetliberg with the family instead.
Spent our last day in Nantes visiting the Château des ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany), pictured here, and then walking through the Jardin des plantes de Nantes.
Tomorrow we take another short train to La Rochelle, back to the sea for another week — and hoping the wildfires further down the coast near Bordeaux keep their distance.