Grand Palais and more rain

Week two of April school break and the rain continues to fall.  This weekend we hurried back to Parc d'Acclimatation during a break in the weather.  The girls got to climb and bounce and get some energy out before it began pouring.

Today it is raining so we went to the Grand Palais for the Beaute Animale exposition.  http://www.grandpalais.fr/grandformat/exposition/beaute-animale/  The exhibit is all sorts of art depicting animals.  It is a great show for kids and it was busy with parents and kids looking for something to do on a rainy vacation day.  The girls really enjoyed the exhibit.  They spent some time sketching and they especially enjoyed the tactile area.  Blindfolds were provided and there were lots of little sculptures to touch. 

The Grand Palais was builtfor the 1900 World Fair

 Photos were not allowed.  Here are the postcards I bought:

Tete de Lionne, Theodore Gericault (vers 1819)
There was a whole area that talked about how  it used to be the rage for artists to go to the Jardin des Plantes zoo to draw and paint the animals.  Many of these animals had never been seen before.  When the first Giraffe was brought to France in 1826 it was a huge event.  The giraffe was a gift from Egypt and was shipped to Marseille and then walked to Paris.

Lievre entoure de plantes, Hans Hoffmann (vers 1591)
Will cousins Miki and Ida be allowed to get a rabbit??

People kept peeking over these artists' shoulders to see what they were up to
Etoile, Sylvia's puppy, came along for the show

Les Oiseaux, Anonyme Allenmand--? (vers 1619)


 

My plan was to take these artists across the street to the Petit Palais for a treat, but apparently it is closed on Monday.  To get to the cafe inside the Petit Palais, you have to ask for a free ticket.  It is a great secret.  The Petit Palais, which was built as the same time as the Grand Palais, is a museum.  The permanent exhibitions are free.

I once had a lovely cappucino inside--today it was not to be

Locked  out in the rain

We headed home for lunch and dried off.  The girls are now painting with watercolors.  You will never guess the theme they have chosen.