Eiffel Tower taken from near the Place de la Concorde

We started today with a tour of the Musee d’Orsay.  A fabulous museum with three floors of Art Nouveau objects d’art, furniture and design (an entire room) that I didn’t even know were there, and rooms of master piece paintings, it was a great way to spend a birthday.  The building was reopened as a museum 47 years after it had been closed as a train station and was almost demolished in the 1970s.  It has been put to a very good use.

Morning along the Seine

Sculptures outside the Musee d’Orsay

The Musee d’Orsay was among the few places that had the ‘no photo’ sign everywhere.  However, there was one spot in the museum that allowed photos to be taken, and I confirmed that before snapping these two photos, the second being my favorite shot of the day.

Inside the Musee d’Orsay looking out the clock

Sacre Coure from inside the Musee d’Orsay

Postcard of the Vue de l’allee centrale, Musee d’Orsay

Postcard of some of the chairs of the 1900

A book I purchased at the museum

After about 2 1/2 hours in the Musee d’Orsay, we walked back along the Seine and towards the Place de la Concorde.

A pedestrian bridge that links the Musee d’Orsay to the Jardin des Tuileries.

The bridge was covered with the ‘love locks’ so popular with tourists.  At least on this newer more modern bridge it seemed ok, but not on the historic bridges, where we also saw the locks and they are causing problems.  There was a man selling locks on the bridge, and they even engrave them.

Engraved locks on the bridge

In the Jardin des Tuileries.

On our way back to the apartment to rest before going back out for the evening, we stopped at a magazine stand to buy a Charlie Hebdo.  The local French man seemed quite happy about my inquiries into Je Suis Charlie, but we haven’t seen much use of the phrase so far.  I was hoping to get a sticker or t-shirt or something, but there has been nothing to purchase.

The latest issue of Charlie Hebdo.

a page inside the issue of Charlie Hebdo. Drones partout justice nullepart; using images of political and historical figures, such as the Catholic Church and al-quaida to illustrate the futility of making people behave

Our lunch today in the apartment, tarts, and bread and cheese from the local bakery, and wine

Birthday pastries served as cake.

Birthday pastries

We rested the afternoon in preparation for our big night out, dinner reservations at Le Jules Verne restaurant.  We took a cab to Place du Trocadero for the best location for Eiffel Tower photos.  It was cold but it was a good spot for photos.

Me with the EIffel Tower from the Trocadero

Le Jules Verne restaurant has a private lift, and a gorgeous view.

View from Le Jules Verne

We enjoyed the 5 course dinner with the 5 wine pairings.

Started with champagne

smoked salmon, gold caviar, mimosa garnish

sauteed scallop, potatoes with Mont d’Or cheese, cooking jus

Le Jules Verne

Crispy ‘Tower nut’, chocolate from their Paris factory and praline.  With two dessert wines;  2009 Sauternes Chateau Haut-Bergeron, and 15 ans Maury Hors d’age Domaine Pouderoux