In the past, I never really loved carnivals. Every year the Bay County Fair would come to my hometown. Every year I would go with my friends, basically because there is nothing else to do when you are 12 years old. Every year I would throw up all over the place, and vow to never go again. I rinsed and repeated so many times I should have a contract with Vidal Sassoon.
For this reason, I was instantly attracted to the Musée des Arts Forains, or museum of carnival attractions, in Paris.
The museum is a collection of vintage carnival rides from 1850 to 1950. Opened in 1996, the Musée des Arts Forains showcases the private collection of Jeal-Paul Favand, and includes wooden carousels, fair stalls, an several carnival attractions that you can actually ride, such as a carousel powered by bicycles.
The museum is only open to private reservations or seasonal tours, but if you are into this kind of shit, or just want to spend a nostalgic Paris afternoon reminiscing about all the times you vomited in your youth, the Musée des Arts Forains might be worth a look.
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