tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493556920707083758.post1002643725968613883..comments2023-12-26T17:07:06.724+08:00Comments on Avon Napoleonic Fellowship: Still No News Of La PĂ©rouseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493556920707083758.post-41509160662014271512012-07-06T09:42:57.355+08:002012-07-06T09:42:57.355+08:00I was truly astounded to see the exhibition given ...I was truly astounded to see the exhibition given such prominence. It was like being in another world to see huge banners of Napoleon crossing the Alps all over central Melbourne. What was really pleasing was the good number of fellow visitors at each session that I went to and the range of ages of them.James Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17897755636246185173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493556920707083758.post-21300766852566775222012-07-05T09:20:28.485+08:002012-07-05T09:20:28.485+08:00You beat me to it! I'm hoping to get there nex...You beat me to it! I'm hoping to get there next week.<br /><br />I've heard great things about the exhibition from those who've been, including your reviewBen Gilmourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548280904041987733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493556920707083758.post-39602324830458900722012-07-04T21:48:30.833+08:002012-07-04T21:48:30.833+08:00Love the picture with Boney himself, BTW!Love the picture with Boney himself, BTW!Gonsalvohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531623280789478092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493556920707083758.post-29087670703802921232012-07-04T21:47:07.366+08:002012-07-04T21:47:07.366+08:00Sounds like a very worthwhile exhibition, James - ...Sounds like a very worthwhile exhibition, James - about a s fine as you're likely to get outside of France itself!<br /><br />The Storming of Ratsibon painting reminded me of a story (oh dear...) I've only been to Europe once (so far), and that was way back in the spring of 1978, at the end of my Freshman year of college (Unversity to you). Nope, I wasn't hiking around and staying in hostels, I was on tour for 3 weeks with the Unversity's Marching Band (itself a uniquely American institution). Our uniforms were very pleasantly Napoleonic in flavor, BTW - Royal Blue coats with white collars, cuffs, and lapels, silver buttons, black pants with a royal blue stripe piped white down the outer seam, and topped off by short bearskins of dark blue fur with a scarlet plume. Quite snazzy, although the plume had to be kept dry as it would definitely "run" if it got wet. Oh, and in definite Napoleonic style, the bearskin was tall enough to accommodate a bottle of brandy, which it did for Football games in November, although not quite tall enough for a bottle of wine, LOL) <br /><br />Anyway, one day when we were in Bavaria and weren't performing, we had a choice of several side trips for sightseeing. None were of any particular historical interest to me, so I chose one that toured a famous monastery with impressive murals painted on the walls, ceiling, etc. From there, it proceeded on to Regensburg.... which I had forgotten is the German name for Ratisbon! As we aopproaced the city, I saw the famous bridge and recognized it immediately. It was more enlightening than any picture could possibly be as to why destroying this bridge was almost impossible... it is massive, and the "ice shield" footings that the arches of the bridge rests upon are huge as well, so even if the bridge were blown up, it would take almost no time to construct a temporary one from footing to footing. I acquired a ceramic plate depicting the bridge and city which I still have. The saddest thing about the trip was that at this stage, we were based in Ingolstadt... and it wasn't until about 2 hours before we left that I learned that the Bavarian Army Museum was located there! I hurried 1 hour whirlwind tour in no way did the exhibits there justice, I'm afraid!<br /><br />PeterGonsalvohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16531623280789478092noreply@blogger.com