The National Marine Museum of Paris

June 3, 2024 — Day 18 (Monday)

Ed decided we needed to get up at six AM so we were up bright and early today. I checked on a blister that won’t go away and used my last bandage on it. We had breakfast and plotted our trip to Trocadero. Because of Olympic construction, the bus #63 that we wanted to use is not going through so we resorted to the Metro and all the stairs. Fortunately it was not raining. We took Metro #4 to Raspail and then #6 on to Trocadero. It was way too early for lunch so we wandered around to make sure we knew where to find the entrance to the Musée National de la Marine at the Palais de Chaillot on the Trocadero. We found it with no problem. There is a huge bleacher going up for the Olympics in the Place, but the area around the Palais is clear with the usual wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower. There were two surveyors working with a Total Station and I took a picture for Jean. We took some photos of the famous tower and then decided to go for a walk.

Workers setting up the stands for spectators at the 2024 Olympics in Paris

Two surveyors on the Trocadero esplanade setting up their Total Station

We walked northeast on Av. du President Wilson until stopped by construction so we turned northwest on rue Magdebourg up to Av. Kléber when we found a pharmacy so stopped to get some more bandages for blisters. That done, we started up and down the street checking menus looking for lunch. There are an amazing number of Chinese and Italian restaurants in the area. We wound our way back to the Trocadero and checked out the restaurants there. A view of the Eiffel Tower seems to double prices. It was getting very crowded and there was a long line building up at one of the restaurants . . . for no reason that we could see. We found a bench and sat down to watch people being people. Lots of Americans here right now. The line to the restaurant finally reached us so we moved and finally decided to go back to Le Wilson [2 Place du Trocadero; tel: +33(0)1 45 53 76 61] which had a reasonable menu and something we could enjoy eating. We had earlier seen the local police who were patrolling the area eating their lunch there. We both ordered the special of roasted chicken and were sorry later because it was so large we couldn’t finish it and were absolutely stuffed. It was delicious so we can’t complain but way too much food. I think they are used to American tourists . . . or hungry policemen. It was a three course special and we never eat three courses, and as Ed pointed out, his chicken alone would have fed the three of us at home.

Walking near the Eiffel Tower

Restaurant Le Wilson near the Trocadero

Lunch finished, we waddled over to the Marine Museum, paid and entered. It is arranged so you can visit in any order and many exhibits are interactive which is great fun. There are also a lot of excellent marine paintings displayed, quite a few on loan from the Louvre. There were marvelous models of ships, sculptures, equipment and anything having to do with the French navy and fishing industry. It was starting to get crowded by the time we finished so we were happy to leave for peace and quiet.

Musée National de la Marine de Paris - ticket office

Musée National de la Marine de Paris - model ship

Musée National de la Marine de Paris - Sail to Steam exhibit

Musée National de la Marine de Paris - “Argenteuil” by Gaston Bruelle

Musée National de la Marine de Paris - “ Incendie du Kent” by Théodore Gudin on loan from the Louvre

Musée National de la Marine de Paris

Musée National de la Marine - Representing Power

Musée National de la Marine - Ship Figureheads

Musée National de la Marine - Joseph Vernet, "Vue du Port de Dieppe"

Musée National de la Marine - “Combat de ‘la Bayonnaise’ contre ‘l'Embuscade’” by Louis-Philippe Crépin

Musée National de la Marine - The band on deck . . .

Musée National de la Marine - Officers quarters

Musée National de la Marine - Enlisted quarters

Musée National de la Marine - aircraft carrier

The Metro entrance is right outside the museum door so we walked out and down and reversed our trip this morning. It’s quite a long ride but much of it is above ground so you can enjoy the view as you ride.

No supper tonight. We’re still stuffed from lunch.