We loaded up the USS Humvee and walked again to Jardin des Plantes but this time to visit the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Our first observation is just how gigantic it is. And this is one of many, many gigantic museums. Most major cities have a handful of huge museums and a bunch of smaller ones. Paris does not mess around when it comes to museums. And they're cheap. Often times, anyone under 26 is free and adults are between 8 and 12 euros. The other benefit of this particular museum is that it had a Galerie des Enfants! Combine that with a croissant in the stroller on the way and you have a guaranteed winner!
The museum did not disappoint. In addition, we were happy to see the captions also in english - albeit in a much smaller font and at the bottom but still! This is a big step for the French and we were grateful for it!
After lunch at the cafe, we toured the Grande Gallerie De l'Evolution which was of equal interest to us and the kids. No hint of intelligent design here - the French take their science seriously and, unlike similar museums we've been to, don't dumb it down for the Discovery Channel set.
We dodged the raindrops to the nearest metro station and on the way home made one stop so we could check another patisserie off the list. Pierre Herme - a pastry superstar who has taken the traditional French macaroon to new heights - going beyond the familiar flavor combinations to include pairings like asparagus and hazelnut oil. We instead opted for rose (which Charlotte loved), chocolate and passionfruit (which Jacqui summarily rejected) and violet and licorice (a hit). After that, we headed home for a quiet couple of hours of emails, admin and a tea party.
Our evening started with a little window shopping in the up-scale boutiques on our street. Considering how thoroughly the Fed has debased our currency, it is unlikely I will be buying anything! The shop windows are so artfully done and all of the people striding down these boulevards are so chic and polished, I can see how easy it would be to become addicted to fashion here. In Ross, not so much!
Our next stop was the Great Canadian Pub where we had hoped to score a Sleeman's Honey Brown and steaming plate of poutine. What we ended up with was a Moosehead and a donut. We had also hoped to share a pint with some fellow anglophones but *everyone* at the Great Canadian Pub was speaking French. Maybe next time!
Our last stop was dinner at a classic French bistro near the Sorbonne called Balzar. The food was passable but the wait staff were like caricatures. Fun!
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