George and Josie went to the Louvre – Dickie and Liz slept in.
Met at L’Affriole for lunch. Our second visit to one of the most creative, good tasting and fun restaurants on our trip to date
Dickie opened with their original variant on fish and chips
And Liz chose a scrumptious velvety fish chowder
George’s selection was one of those we’d never opt for – blood pudding in a potato crust. He was enthused and rated it as appropriate for a two star like yesterday’s Taillevent
Three of us chose Calamari as a main (Josie opted for the Bar that Richard had enjoyed on our previous visit). Precisely slit and quite tender (although South Africa wins that prize)
We do like this restaurant – expect its popularity to grow.
Window shopped for more food as we walked to Musee Rodin (our favourite Paris Museum). Truffles, cheese, wild mushrooms and more chocolate
Next a walk by Les Invalides where Napoleon’s Tomb resides
Musee Rodin is in Rodin’s house – the interior is filled with smaller pieces – the iconic Kiss, the Hand of God squeezing Adam and Eve from the primordial ooze, and others
As well as Rodin’s own sculpture, the Musee also displays his personal art collection, including this well known Van Gogh. Always surprising to see a $40 million (more?) portrait casually mounted like a wall calendar. We did check. It is very securely screwed to the wall and covered with thick glass
It is the large pieces in the garden that have captivated us for years.
The Balzac – in his bathrobe – that prefigured modern sculpture. The group who commissioned the piece hated it; Rodin gave them their money back and kept it for himself.
The iconic Thinker – arguably the most famous sculpture ever
The Burghers of Calais – six figures expecting to be killed by Edward III … they were saved by his merciful Queen
And our favourite – The Gates of Hell – a pair of doors (never actually mounted) writhing with figures abandoning all hope, based on Dante’s Inferno. The detail rewards up close examination
Walking home we were charmed by the smallest scooter rider in Paris
Classic Paris cityscapes
… 2 amusing mysteries.
Why display clothes with fast good?
And why change the street name on opposite sides of the road? Is there something we are missing?
L’Affriole
Neighborhood: Palais-Bourbon
17, rue Malar, Paris, France
01 44 18 31 33
Metro – Invalides or Alma
Lunch – 24E for entree/plat or plat/dessert
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