Thibaut saw a Museum.. Finally!

This morning I had full intentions of visiting Yves Saint Laurent's exhibition at the Petit Palais this morning, but I could not justify a two hour wait on Thibaut's last day in Paris. Instead we met up around noon and headed toward the science museum: Cité des Sciences et Industrie. The museum is in a large park, and, as the name implies, is quite like a city in itself.

courtyard with fountain. building to the left is housing an exhibit on South Africa.

"Cite de la Musica"

me in front of the Science Museum. it is HUGE.

this reminded us of the bean in Chicago!

Here we joined school children, ages 4 to 15, in discovering science with interactive tools and games. We had a great time! In the several hours we spent wandering the museum, we learned about genetics, mathematics, sound and hearing, dirt, tectonics, astronomy, and energy. After a refreshing picnic, we rode the metro for what seemed like ages (probably thirty minutes) and found a zoo. (We were going to tour the National History Museum.) Why wouldn't you tour a zoo that popped up in the middle of the city?

Actually, this zoo is one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1794!

squirrel-like animal. called a black-rumped agouti.

mongoose?

leopard.

white leopard.

orangoutang.

smaller monkey.

chillin' kanga.

flamingos. the ULTIMATE yoga masters. (one-leg balancers.)

frog.

funny dog-pig-boar animals.

After the zoo, we decided to continue the child-like day: I got sorbet! Lemon and raspberry. Yum. Yum.

Walking from sorbet to my apartment, I found an undiscovered angle of Notre Dame.

back of Notre Dame and the Seine.

It got a bit chilly tonight, so we ran to grab my jacket from the apartment, and I unfortunately forgot my camera there. I hate that I did not get a picture with Thibaut. ugh. And I didn't get photos of my amazing meal tonight. We met Thibaut's friend Anthony tonight for dinner. I had the "classic French meal" of beef bourguignon. Although it is more of a winter meal, I had to have the most French thing possible. After that (which was delicious), the three of us each got a café gourmand. This tray included a cup of espresso; mango sorbet; chocolate, mint and nut brownies; a piece of chocolate lava cake; and whipped cream. What a perfect dessert for a great meal with excellent French company. Over these past days, Thibaut's English has improved and mine has declined. He has even taught me a few English words! I'm not sure why I am having such a tough time, but I am constantly forgetting words for objects. For example, the word "scooter" for the little toy that children ride, and "log cabin" which I was calling a log-house-thing. Who knows what is going on with that. I have a lot of work on English to do before moving up to my new job.

We had a great day. One thing that Thibaut and I do well together is wake up way late, eat at odd hours, and walk more than necessary. We did all of the above today, and I am very sad to know he is leaving me tomorrow. What a great week we have had!