A Travellerspoint blog

Our 55th Wedding Anniversary and Friendly Paris Bees

Staying over in the Latin Quarter and not wanting a late night Metro ride, we decided to celebrate our anniversary at lunch time. We had reservations at our favorite Paris restaurant, La Bonne Excuse in Saint-Germain.

Sculpture "Les Joies de la Famille" by Horace Daillion in the Luxembourg Gardens

Sculpture "Les Joies de la Famille" by Horace Daillion in the Luxembourg Gardens

June 6, 2019 — Day 28 (Thursday and our 55th wedding anniversary)

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Pavillon Davioud in the Luxembourg Gardens

Pavillon Davioud in the Luxembourg Gardens

Started the day with an e-anniversary card from Peg. We ate breakfast and took the #83 bus to the Guynemer-Vavin stop by the Luxembourg Gardens. If you go in the entry there, you walk past the Pavilion Davioud where the Paris bee keeping museum is. Just a little further on the other side is the Rucher du Luxembourg (rucher means apiary). Each year they produce about 450 pounds of honey which is collected and sold every Autumn at the Orangerie du Luxembourg just a few minutes walk up the path. The hives have a color code on them not just for human benefit but also because the bees will associate with these so that they go back to their specific hive, and although these are the modern beehives, there are historical ones called skeps preserved within the Pavillon Davioud, which is where the beekeepers office, the school and the honey extraction center are located. There is even a little fountain just for the bees to get water. Paris has a policy of not using pesticides within any public gardens or parks to help the friendly Paris bees. After passing the apiary, we walked through the gardens to the Musée du Luxembourg and got tickets to the Les Nabis et le Décor exhibit. Not our favorite style, but interesting and pleasant. The Luxembourg always does a good job with their temporary exhibits. I don't think we've ever been disappointed there. [Musée du Luxembourg, 19 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris; tel: +33 (0)1 4634-3119; Click here for the Luxembourg Museum web site]

Luxembourg Gardens - Paris

Luxembourg Gardens - Paris

Jardins publics by Édouard Vuillard<br />and La Cueillette des pommes by Pierre Bonnard

Jardins publics by Édouard Vuillard
and La Cueillette des pommes by Pierre Bonnard

Le Grand Jardin by Pierre Bonnard

Le Grand Jardin by Pierre Bonnard

Exhibit at Les Nabis in the Luxembourg Museum

Exhibit at Les Nabis in the Luxembourg Museum

La légende de saint Hubert, a series of paintings by Maurice Denis

La légende de saint Hubert, a series of paintings by Maurice Denis

Crowds at Les Nabis at the Luxembourg Museum

Crowds at Les Nabis at the Luxembourg Museum

Eglise Saint Sulpice from rue Férou

Eglise Saint Sulpice from rue Férou


Afterwards we walked over to Place Saint-Sulpice and wandered through the Poésie Festival. One year I was chatting with one of the publishers and got a free book of French poetry, but I didn’t get a free book this year. So sad . . .

Then we slowly walked to La Bonne Excuse Restaurant the way we used to walk home. That was fun. We arrived about ten minutes early but they were ready. She gave us “the table you used the last time” which was perfect. I can’t believe she remembered. We’ve only eaten there twice before, our 50th anniversary and again 18 months later when we happened to be in town. We have had the same table all three times. It seems to now be our table. Ed ordered the cod and I got the filet mignon de porc. We started with a kir royal to celebrate our anniversary, and she did take our picture. I remembered the camera this time! For dessert we both got the chocolate moelleux with ice cream and she and the chef (her husband) brought them out with lighted candles and wished us a Happy Anniversary. It was a wonderful meal. [La Bonne Excuse, 48 Rue de Verneuil, 75007 Paris; tel: +33 (0)1 4261-5021; Click here for La Bonne Excuse web site]

Église Saint Sulpice in Paris

Église Saint Sulpice in Paris

Entrance to the Marché Poésie

Entrance to the Marché Poésie

Booth at the Marché Poésie

Booth at the Marché Poésie

Books available at the Marché Poésie

Books available at the Marché Poésie

Tapestry of the Fontaine Saint-Sulpice covering the Marché Poésie

Tapestry of the Fontaine Saint-Sulpice covering the Marché Poésie

A la Mere de Famille at 70 Rue Bonaparte

A la Mere de Famille at 70 Rue Bonaparte

Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Les Deux Magots additional outdoor seating

Les Deux Magots additional outdoor seating

Le Prométhée by Ossip Zadkine

Le Prométhée by Ossip Zadkine

Statues in niches at 46 rue Jacob

Statues in niches at 46 rue Jacob

Door Knocker at 20 rue de l’Université

Door Knocker at 20 rue de l’Université

A Kir Royale to Celebrate our 55th Anniversary

A Kir Royale to Celebrate our 55th Anniversary

Filet Mignon de Porc at La Bonne Excuse

Filet Mignon de Porc at La Bonne Excuse

Ed's Cod at La Bonne Excuse

Ed's Cod at La Bonne Excuse

Tourist boat from the Pont Royal

Tourist boat from the Pont Royal


After lunch we walked over to the Tuileries Gardens and claimed a couple chairs near the café and duck pond. Gorgeous day and we enjoyed people and duck watching. The world walks by when you are in the Tuileries. We finally walked down to Place de la Concorde, up around the Jeu de Paume and back to the top of the garden and claimed two more chairs.

Grand Palais, Berges of the Seine and a Bateau Parisien

Grand Palais, Berges of the Seine and a Bateau Parisien

Both sides of Pont Royal, choose your museum . . .

Both sides of Pont Royal, choose your museum . . .

Relaxing in the Tuileries

Relaxing in the Tuileries

Wedding Photos in the Tuileries

Wedding Photos in the Tuileries

Many People - Many Monuments

Many People - Many Monuments

Relaxing in the Tuileries

Relaxing in the Tuileries

Taking Care of Us on Horseback

Taking Care of Us on Horseback

Feeding the Birds in the Tuileries

Feeding the Birds in the Tuileries

Sculpture in the Tuileries with pigeon

Sculpture in the Tuileries with pigeon

Eiffel Tower from the Tuileries and overlooking Place de la Concorde

Eiffel Tower from the Tuileries and overlooking Place de la Concorde

Le Bel Costumé by Jean Dubuffet in The Tuileries

Le Bel Costumé by Jean Dubuffet in The Tuileries

Terrasse des Feuillants along rue de Rivoli

Terrasse des Feuillants along rue de Rivoli

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel near the Louvre

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel near the Louvre

Chasing bubble in front of the Louvre

Chasing bubble in front of the Louvre

Passing the Louvre going to our Metro station

Passing the Louvre going to our Metro station



We finally walked over to the very odd-looking Louvre-Palais-Royal Metro station and hopped the #7 home. Our bakery is closed on Thursday so we walked up rue Mouffetard looking for a sandwich to take home. We couldn’t find one so got a piece of pizza to share and that worked well because it was excellent pizza . . . in France! French pizza has really improved over the years. Hooray.

Got home to e-cards from all the kids. That was fun. One more day . . .

Posted by Beausoleil 15:04 Archived in France Tagged paris france tuileries saint_sulpice la_bonne_excuse poésie_festival musée_du_luxembourg

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Comments

Looks like a wonderful day. I'm impressed with that restaurant remembering you when you've only been there three times. Wonderful service. Let's hope you can celebrate many more anniversaries there.

by irenevt

What a nice way to celebrate your anniversary. Let's hope that the restaurant will survive the confinement and be able to re-open soon.

by Nemorino

Thanks Irene. I hope we can too. We're still hoping we can make out Fall trip.

Hi Don. The last time I checked they were still in business and things are starting to open up a little. It's a small space and no outdoor seating so that may be a problem for them. We're hoping!

by Beausoleil

Sounds like the perfect way to spend an anniversary. As always I am making mental notes as I read to come back to your blog ahead of our next visit to Paris, whenever that might be :)

by ToonSarah

Thanks for sharing this, Sally. I am glad you went when you did, as I think it will be a long time before we can travel like we have been. We celebrated our 60th here at home at our favorite Alsatian Cafe with about 60 guests. Hope you can do something exciting for your next one.

by Rex Vaughan

Hi Rex. Thanks for visiting. We have a fall trip planned and haven't completely given up hope. It's not to Paris but out in the country so chances are a bit better. Strange times these . . .

by Beausoleil

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