The Grand Palais, the Petit Palais and an Ingres Exhibit

June 5, 2019 — Day 27 (Wednesday)

Another rainy day! We took the #83 bus to the end of the line both to find the Invalides bus stop that has eluded us and to get to the Petit Palais. As we walked from the bus stop, an older French gentleman stopped us to ask directions to the Petit Palais and we had no trouble directing him. We snapped pictures in the rain across Pont Alexandre III and walked to the Petit Palais where we entered the ground level entrance. Security was friendly and fast and the regular collection which included the temporary Ingres exhibit was free so we were quickly inside. [Petit Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill, tel: +33 (0)1 5343-4000; Click here for the Petit Palais web site]

We wandered through the collection until we were too hungry to continue. We left and decided to walk back to Le Bourbon on Place du Palais Bourbon not far from Invalides. It was quite full but we got seats in a very elegant basement room full of chatting French people. We both got the chicken as our meal and chocolate mousse for dessert. It was all very French and very nice. We were a bit surprised when, after a very long discussion, the two French young women beside us ordered hamburgers that they proceeded to eat with knife and fork . . . as all good French people do. This French fascination with hamburgers has left us a little bewildered. They are cookout food to us and yet we’ve seen them on nearly every menu in Paris this trip. [Brasserie Le Bourbon, 1 Place du Palais Bourbon, 75007 Paris; tel: +33 (0)1 4551-5827; Click here for Brasserie Le Bourbon web site]

Then we went back out into the rain and walked back to the Grand Palais where we had to do a bit of searching to find the entrance for the "La Lune” exhibit. It was around the corner on the side. I’d read a review suggesting the audio guides so we got them and were glad we did because most of the information was only French. It was a combination of art, NASA photos, documentaries and equipment about the moon in history and especially the moon landing fifty years ago. Very interesting. [Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées, 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower; tel: +33 (0)1 4413-1717; Click here for the Grand Palais web site]

Knowing where the #83 Invalides bus stop is, we walked over and our bus was waiting. We got on and claimed two seats on the empty bus and enjoyed the ride home. We got a tiny Rocamadour cheese and wine. Ed walked down to the bakery for our daily bread and also got two Religieuse for dessert. He does know how to spoil me. Wet day, but very nice.