One of my favorite things to do in Paris (or anywhere) is to spend time at smaller, more focused museums. Don’t misunderstand, I could live at the Met or the Louvre or the Tate, but sometimes an hour or two viewing a smaller, concentrated collection leads to deeper insights and appreciation.

So it was for me on my recent trip to Paris. The Musee Rodin has always been a favorite place for many reasons. The hotel particulier itself is beautiful and elegant and the gardens are stunning. It’s all tucked away in a courtyard off a very busy intersection. When I was there, lots of police cars were whizzing by because of a union protest (and the yellow vests were out too).

Seeing The Thinker in a small, manicured garden corner with the dome of Les Invalides rising in the background was spectacular.