Le Bustronome, A move-able feast

During my April visit to Paris I had the chance to check out Le Bustronome, a new 'voyage gourmand'.  This is a clever concept that delivers!  The Bustronome is a large two level bus with panoramic windows on the upper level, a level which has been designed as a comfortable, sleek restaurant on wheels.  The 2.5 hour tour offered by Bustronome is a slow glide through the beautiful buildings, squares and sites of central Paris accompanied by a multi-course lunch or dinner with wine. It was fun and the food was very good. 

The dinner tour departs from 2 Avenue Kleber at 7:45.  This location is just off Etoile and the Arc de Triomphe.  The friendly and efficient servers present you with a glass of Champagne and off you go.  The courses appear on a good pace permitting you to be enjoying a coffee just as the bus arrives at the Eiffel Tower at 9:55 in time for the 10:00 light show on the tower. The dinner menu the night that I took the tour included six courses of food I would call very high gourmet-bistro quality (the menus are online).  The Champagne is followed by a glass of nice quality Chablis and then a good red.  Still or sparkling water is included. The food was served in attractive china and was plated nicely.

All in all, I was surprised by how enjoyable this evening was.  Seeing central Paris by night, including the Eiffel Tower sparkling with its thousands of lights, was fun and the food was delicious. This is an experience worth checking out. Google Le Bustronome and see if a lunch (slightly less elaborate food and less expensive) or dinner tour fits within your plans for Paris. Singles, couples or small groups can book this experience.

Notable Art Shows in Paris this Spring

As usual there is an abundance of great choice for art in Paris this spring season.  The Orsay is hosting a Bonnard Show, the Grand Palais has a major Velasquez show (the Painter's Painter) and the Pinacotheque has a very interesting show focused on Klimt and the Vienna Secession movement. 

Paris Magnum, the very popular show of images from noted Magnum photographers at the Hotel de Ville (free and well worth a visit) has been extended until April 28.  This show begins with images of Paris at the time of liberation and moves through the subsequent decades until the 1960's.  The images of Paris after WWII are particularly interesting and moving... one forgets the impoverishment and deprivation the citizens experienced as the city and the economy slowly strengthened. 

Of course, this is just a taste of all the art scene in Paris offers.. but a good start!