Mare Nostrum Aquarium – Montpellier, France

While we were in the south of France in the summer we got together with Xander’s brother in Montpellier to see his new house and visit the Mare Nostrum Aquarium.  I’d seen some info on the aquarium online and really wanted to check it out, so he offered to come along and spend the day with us.

I also wanted to get some photos while I was in there, but have you ever seen how much fish move around? Is it really too much to ask that they stop and pose now and then? I don’t think so.

Don’t be fooled, this guy didn’t pose, I was just quick enough to catch him on his way by.

One of my favorite parts was the ship simulator.  You walk into what looks like the body of a ship and into the wheel room which moves up and down as though it was actually on the sea.  You can turn the wheel and flick the buttons, which the kids who were in there really enjoyed.  There is a real front of a boat with a giant screen in the background which displays the scene you are supposedly sailing in.

After a few minutes the boat starts rocking as it heads into a storm.  The waves get bigger and splash over the front of the boat, the window wipers start and you honestly feel like you are on a ship that is about to go down.  It gives you just a small taste of what it must really be like.

Honestly, I felt like I was on my very own episode of Deadliest Catch, only I looked and couldn’t seem to find Captain Sig anywhere!

Another favorite part of mine was this area towards the end with bleacher style seating where you could look into a huge aquarium full of loads of different kinds of fish. There were screens with information on all the different fish, as well as earphones with information in different languages.

There were also sharks.  Big sharks, which seemed to always look like they were coming for me.  It’s something about those rays of light coming through the water making them glow that reminded me of every scary shark show I’ve ever seen.

DAH NUH… DAH NUH… DAH NUH….

This little girl didn’t seem scared though, she loved when the shark came up close to her.  It probably isn’t as pleasant for the shark though, you just know he was dying to take a bite out of her.

If you are ever in Montpellier, it’s worth making a trip to Mare Nostrum.  Not just because it’s a nice aquarium, but also because it’s in a really fabulous area.  There is a huge mall, restaurants, a planetarium, ice rink, restaurants and loads of other attractions.  It’s definitely worth checking out!  I plan on visiting again next time I am in the area, as it was so hot the last time that all we could think of was getting out of the heat. We left the aquarium, had a bite to eat and then made tracks for the car.  Seriously, it was so hot that a lot of the restaurants had MIST machines on the terrace to keep people cool. True story!

If I am there in the summer and you happen to be there at the same time, come say hello!  I’ll be the one laying on the ice at the rink!