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Graham & Jane
Today we joined the Silk and market tour, something for Jane following all the trains, museums and old churches etc. It was still a museum but one aimed at showing how silk was produced from the 18th century.
Silk had traditionally only been made by the Chinese until French monks went to China and stole the technique and a number of cocoons which were hidden in bamboo walking sticks. Silk then started to be woven by hand in Lyon, with many families passing the skills down through the generations. This was all done using the skills of the weavers, however Jacquard believed the repetitive nature of the weaving could be done better. He is credited with inventing a loom which uses paper patterns with punch holes in the paper to mechanically change the loom for the weaver. It is this paper pattern system which it is then believed was the basis of the early computer programming punch cards used in the 50's to 70's.
From the Silk museum we made our way to the famous food market "les Halles Paul Bocuse", named after Paul Bocuse, who is now over 90yrs old and renowed for having 3 (the max) Michelin stars for over 50yrs. As our guide was want to point out, you wont find any rubbish in this market, but you will pay top dollar for everything you get. I was a foodies heaven, and one we should have spent more time wandering about in.
Silk had traditionally only been made by the Chinese until French monks went to China and stole the technique and a number of cocoons which were hidden in bamboo walking sticks. Silk then started to be woven by hand in Lyon, with many families passing the skills down through the generations. This was all done using the skills of the weavers, however Jacquard believed the repetitive nature of the weaving could be done better. He is credited with inventing a loom which uses paper patterns with punch holes in the paper to mechanically change the loom for the weaver. It is this paper pattern system which it is then believed was the basis of the early computer programming punch cards used in the 50's to 70's.
From the Silk museum we made our way to the famous food market "les Halles Paul Bocuse", named after Paul Bocuse, who is now over 90yrs old and renowed for having 3 (the max) Michelin stars for over 50yrs. As our guide was want to point out, you wont find any rubbish in this market, but you will pay top dollar for everything you get. I was a foodies heaven, and one we should have spent more time wandering about in.
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Jen Which one did you have?
Bruce and Anne successful too!