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Woolly says – My plan for the day was to be a little different, I ignored the girls sighs and raised eyebrows telling them that they would enjoy it! Our map had told me that our first port of call was out of the city although a five minute tram ride didn’t really feel that out of it and as I stared up at the large wooden buildings I rubbed my paws in glee. It’s not that we didn’t want to go but I just knew there would be problems..... well with my small companion and the opportunity to press buttons anything could happen! Woolly says – Hopefully there would be lots of buttons for my paws to engage with! My information had said ‘The Technical Museum, established in 1954 in Zagreb, follows in the tradition of the great science and technology museums of the world. Since 1958 it has occupied the protected wooden buildings designed by architect Marijan Haberle. The buildings were erected initially to house the Zagreb Fair’. A fair sounded good, It also told me that there were interactive displays dealing with Tesla’s work.... what’s not to like!
By the time I had obtained our tickets the mammoth had vanished, entering the building I was just in time to stop him climbing onto a lovely old fire engine. Woolly says – I was being interactive! As I strolled past the history of the Croatian fire service it appeared that it was very similar to that in the UK with horse drawn engines and uniforms we could have been in either country. Next came the areas dedicated to mining, geology and the oil industry, a large group of school children were being shown the many spades that had been used, I stood listening to their very enthusiastic teacher and looking at the bored expressions on the faces of the young, he was going to have his work cut out for him by the looks of it! The next section was filled to over flowing with engines of all sizes, I had yet to see a button to press and the ability to make something work. I spied Jo heading into the area set aside for Tesla and hurried to catch her up. This part was the first that had translations and it was interesting to read more about the great man’s life and works as well as his links to Edison.
Woolly says – the Tesla Coils were most impressive and far bigger than I expected but I failed to see how it was interactive with a glass barrier stopping me from getting anywhere near them. I heard his sighs of exasperation and suggested that we move into the transport hall. Woolly says – the children had arrived, screaming and running everywhere, I attempted to admire a rather dinky car as they raced around me, as the noise subsided I moved towards a group of planes and spotted a mammoth sized tank, my excitement increased..... could I drive it? Would it squash small noisy children? Would Jo notice it in the apartment? I climbed up and just as I was settling in for a test drive I found myself being forcefully removed, some people just have to spoil my fun! Ignoring his glares I pointed out the rather odd looking submarine, looking like a cross between the Nautilus from the League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen and The Beatles Yellow Submarine....but not yellow!
Woolly says – it was rather splendid and with the intention of getting a better view I trotted up the stairs to the second floor. Wooden ploughs were everywhere and as I hurried past them I found that Croatia’s technology through the ages was identical to Britain’s, I’m sure Jo still has a dansette record player somewhere! The view of the 1943 sub was much better from the balcony and having spied a bridge leading onto it I dashed round the gallery to inspect it in greater detail....foiled again the bridge was closed and even Jo couldn’t open it. I tried to suppress my disappointment and wandered over to look over the small rockets and satellites on display, the planetarium was closed and so far I had pressed not a single button and not a think was moving. I felt his sadness, the whole place was reminiscent of the old Birmingham Science Museum (but with less buttons) which closed many years ago but was a firm favourite with my Dad and I for wet Sundays. I tried to cheer him up with the promise of a snack as we headed towards the stairs passing the children’s play area.......
Woolly says – Lots of buttons to press and as Zoe joined me we played in the shop, the bank and then took it in turns to print our own money....I was rich (I’m sure the shops won’t notice the difference!) as Jo sat and waited patiently smiling happily at my delight. With the furry fiend happy once more we left the museum and took the short tram ride back into the centre. A short walk from the stop found us at our next museum and one that should satisfy his need to touch and be a part of. Woolly says – Opened just over a year ago the Museum of Illusions should be something very different. As I ran into the first room I was confronted by pictures that appeared 3d but weren’t, lots of puzzles and illusions that allowed me to test my perception..... I seemed to be going cross eyed! A door opened behind me as I was attempting to fit a wooden puzzle back together and as I turned I saw hundreds of MAMMOTHS! I trotted in to investigate further, they went on and on for miles and strangely all looked just like me, as Jo entered I heard her gulp......
One mammoth to deal with is quite enough! I had to chuckle as he turned round and round and could only see himself reflected as far as the eye could see, before he became dizzy I suggested that he take a look at Zoe with no legs! Woolly says – Zoe appeared to have lost her body and was just a head in the middle of the table, I checked in the corner for her body parts and wondered if we would be arrested for carrying a head on the route home! As Zoe vanished completely from view Jo appeared to lose herself from the neck down.....what on earth was going on? He looked perplexed but being as short as he is it wouldn’t work with him so we left him to work it out. Woolly says – as they both appeared to have regained their bodies and having wondered why there were plants growing from the ceiling my senses were reeling, time for lunch anyone!
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