T-minus 3 days to Canada

August 5th

This morning we took our time getting out of the house. We decided to try again for the Musee des Arts & Metiers. We took the metro so as to ensure we would not be sidetracked on the way. The name of this museum is very misleading - in fact, there are no arts and crafts at all. It's a museum of scientific inventions starting with instruments for tracking the stars in the sky all the way to the Cray2 Super Computer. We got the audio guide for Jacqui because she loves it and she happily entertained herself.  It was all a little over Charlotte's head but she did seem intereted in the French version of the Mars Rover they had, as well as Adler's Avion III - the worlds first working airplane. She thought it looked like a bird robot and named it Titi. 

 After getting busted for drinking water in the museum and then running in the museum - we decided we'd better take our leave before they decided to kick out the rowdy Americans.

Instead of our usual baguette avec fromage and jambon,  Jack and I opted for a late and civilized lunch at La Galerie des Gobelins in the Hotel Plaza Athenee.  It is featured in our book as being one of the best places for afternoon tea complete with your choice of an exquisite pastry that you can choose from their pastry cart.  You can’t dally though – they only have a few of each item and if you miss it, it’s gone.  Jack was not going to suffer this fate – we were there at 3:00 on the nose, had a light bite and, when our time came to step up to the cart, chose the caramel religieuse and the fig mille-feuille.  Both were lovely and the whole experience was a highlight – what a peaceful respite from the madding crowds and noise of the city.  

We then spun through the standing collection of the Musée des Beaux-arts de la Ville de Paris housed in the Petit Palais.  The highlight is certainly the beauty and opulence of the building itself - never actually palace but a building built for a world’s fair.  We took a leisurely stroll toward St. Chapelle for a concert: Masterworks of Sacred Music featuring a classic ensemble and mezzo-soprano Ghislaine Roux but got caught in a deluge about half way there.  We managed to find a little spot to stay dry and wait out the storm.  We were able to dry off in the concert but got caught again on the way to our dinner rez at the Mini Palais restaurant.  This time we were not so lucky and had to sit through our 2-hour meal with soaking wet pants and shoes on.  Wet denim is not a pleasant accompaniment to any meal!