The first Sunday of every month, the Pompidou along with all the other national museums in Paris are free. Our plan was to wake up early and get into the Pompidou before the crowds.

Just as we were arriving at the street where the Pompidou is located we noticed that the street had been shut down by the national police. We assumed that it was just for a motorcade of some sort and went around the blocked off street.

Pompidou Photographers

As we arrived at the front of the museum we noticed that no one was being allowed down the hill to the entrance, again blocked off by the national police. I approached one of them and asked what was going on. He replied that it was closed due to a visit from the “American President” (in French of course). I asked when it would be open and he replied in the afternoon.

Front of the Pompidou

Well we had hoped to get in during the morning and I had not planned anything else until lunch time. We decided to wait for a while and have a coffee on one of the cafes out front in Beaubourg. Finally the national police allowed everyone to go to the front of the museum. The crowds rushed to the front and of course there was a big line up. We decided to skip it and come back later in the evening where there would likely be less people.

We had lunch at my favourite falafel restaurant in the Marais, Las Fallafel.

Las Fallafel

After lunch we walked to the Louvre and enjoyed a couple hours there instead.

In the evening we walked back to the Pompidou and were happy to see the crowds had left. We did make the mistake however of not purchasing a ticket for the special exhibitions so we had to go back down to the reception and purchase our tickets. At 12 euros each and headsets at 5 euros each this was no longer a free evening.

We started with the Kandinsky exhibition and while I did like it, I admit I don’t get it! We then moved on to the Calder exhibition and completely enjoyed it.

Alexander Calder is an American sculptor who worked with wire as his medium. Born in 1898 he first trained as an engineer and then as an artist. His career as an artist really took off when he arrived in Paris in 1926. The exhibition at the Pompidou focuses on his work during his time in Paris.

Calder Fish Bowl

Facinating work, really worth a visit. It is truly amazing how realistic Calder can make objects look with a few simple telephone wires.