We have had the joy of entertaining visitors for the past few days, showing off some hidden corners of Paris and tagging along with them on adventures. We have known Claudia for 30 years, having met her in England when we were there, and she came with her husband Mike and daughter Elsa. Claudia is a neurologist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases---both practicing and doing research---and Mike has recently retired from a long and distinguished career as a statistician at the CDC, the go-to guy for food-borne illnesses. Our conversations have ricocheted between the intellectual history of statistics, the joys and challenges of living abroad, the characteristics of the best dark chocolate bars, age-related neurological changes, and the treatment of women in academia.
On Easter Monday, a holiday here, Glenn and I accompanied our visiting friends to the Jardin des Plantes, which is a large park and complex containing several museums and a zoo. Glenn was familiar with the grounds, having run through there many times. I was aware of the existence of the complex but had never visited. It was a real treat.
The zoo was a small-scale affair with narrow paths and rustic structures and enclosures. It was very quaint and charming, although I wonder if animals would prefer more modern and spacious facilities. We enjoyed seeing the red pandas.
We also visited the Grand Gallery of Evolution, a stunning and spectacular building filled with thousands of taxidermied and preserved specimens. It was dimly lit to protect the specimens, which perhaps added to the beauty of the space. Sometimes it was difficult to focus on the science because the exhibits were so breathtakingly beautiful. These will give you a sense.
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