Rodin, Louvre, de L'Orangerie, Cafe Constant
Once arriving back in Paris (Tuesday) in the early afternoon, we take advantage of the time available before our dinner reservation at the Jules Verne to stroll through the Musee Rodin
where the "Thinker" statue is located. And, no, we didn't pose in the "thinker" position although many people did at this sculpture and so many others that it was annoying.
One of the things that we did early and did often in Paris was to find a sidewalk Cafe in which to sit and have a kaffee, a croissant, wine, dessert. There is no shortage of possibilities and we took advantage. Here we are on Tuesday having a spot of wine just outside of the Metro station before heading back to our room.
One more picture from the Jules Verne.
Then it is off to the world famous Louvre museum the next morning (Wednesday). After arriving in good time, we have difficulty finding the right location to queue up with our "priority" (Paris museum pass) tickets and spend a half an hour in line waiting for the museum to open at 9am and about twenty minutes getting to the entrance. Still, it is enormously better than the lines last week without the priority tickets.
We immediately head to the Mona Lisa before the crowds get too big. Here we can actually get into the room without waiting and get within a dozen (or less) rows of the rope that generously guards the picture from viewers.
Then we head downstairs to view the Venus de Milo before crowds again inundate the area arriving just before eight (!) large tour groups fill the space.
Fewer but friendlier visitors at Aphrodites.
The Louvre is simply overwhelming. There is so much great stuff here that it is hard to know where to start, where to go, where to look. At one point we felt lost and didn't know how to get out. This is a place that requires serious study and planning BEFORE visiting. Otherwise, it is sensory overload. Still tons of fun. Just overwhelming.
The throngs of people around the "pyramid" after mid-day when the lines mitigate a bit.
We then stroll through the Toulleries Garden (and light sprinkles) on the way to the delightful Musee de L'Orangerie which contains the wonderful Monet oval three hundred sixty degree murals. (No pictures allowed.)
Dinner this evening was at Cafe Constant, the informal version of a series of restaurants by Chef Christian Constant and which are extremely hard to get into. Cafe Constant doesn't take reservations and opens at 7pm. At 7pm the place is mobbed and it is difficult to get a table. The trick is to show up a little after 6pm and buy a bottle of wine in the bar and sip on it until 7pm when the restaurant opens. They seat people from the bar before anyone from outside! It worked.
Some of the delicious food
including dessert.
One of the things that we did early and did often in Paris was to find a sidewalk Cafe in which to sit and have a kaffee, a croissant, wine, dessert. There is no shortage of possibilities and we took advantage. Here we are on Tuesday having a spot of wine just outside of the Metro station before heading back to our room.
One more picture from the Jules Verne.
Then it is off to the world famous Louvre museum the next morning (Wednesday). After arriving in good time, we have difficulty finding the right location to queue up with our "priority" (Paris museum pass) tickets and spend a half an hour in line waiting for the museum to open at 9am and about twenty minutes getting to the entrance. Still, it is enormously better than the lines last week without the priority tickets.
We immediately head to the Mona Lisa before the crowds get too big. Here we can actually get into the room without waiting and get within a dozen (or less) rows of the rope that generously guards the picture from viewers.
The throngs of people around the "pyramid" after mid-day when the lines mitigate a bit.
Dinner this evening was at Cafe Constant, the informal version of a series of restaurants by Chef Christian Constant and which are extremely hard to get into. Cafe Constant doesn't take reservations and opens at 7pm. At 7pm the place is mobbed and it is difficult to get a table. The trick is to show up a little after 6pm and buy a bottle of wine in the bar and sip on it until 7pm when the restaurant opens. They seat people from the bar before anyone from outside! It worked.
Some of the delicious food
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