The Thinker and The Kiss(es)

You probably won't need to to be told that our destination on the first full day in Paris was the Musée Rodin. The Thinker and The Kiss are two of the most well-known sculptures in the world, but you're probably wondering about the other kiss. We walked to the Musée from our apartment near Rue Cler, following the banks of the Seine and taking lots of photos. Along the way I checked off one of the most important items on my bucket list by kissing C on Pont Alexandre III -- the most beautiful bridge in Paris. That's a memory I will always cherish.

The Musée Rodin, which opened in 1919 at the Hôtel Biron* where the artist had lived, holds the world's largest Rodin collection, with more than 6,000 sculptures and 7,000 works on paper. I had no idea he was such a prolific artist. It was wonderful to be able to walk right up to the sculptures and take photographs at will. The lighting was bright enough that the ban on flash use was not a problem.

The exterior view of the building from the gardens was marred by ongoing construction of large platforms for a fashion show. No doubt it generated a significant amount of money to help pay for the upkeep of the museum.

On the way back to the apartment we shopped for groceries in Rue Cler and enjoyed a drink at one of the outdoor cafes. We were tired but contented.

If you're interested, I've posted more photos on Flickr.

*C pointed out that the original meaning of "hôtel" was "mansion".