Two new sites 6-4-15

Today we tried two totally new to us sites and visited a third for a picture.   We decided that we would focus on the 6th arr. for a few days and towards that end we decided that we should finally visit the Pantheon.   We've visited Paris quite a number of times in the past and have passed the Pantheon very many times without going in so today we remedied that situation.
We got an 11:00 start and jumped on the bus down to Gare du Nord, where we transferred over to another bus which goes almost exactly where we want to go.   We decided to have lunch at the Italian restaurant we discovered when Elizabeth was visiting because, frankly, it's too good to pass up. We've been reading that Italian food in Paris is by and large bad, so I guess the restaurant must have a teleport to Italy because it is really good.  It's right next to Boulevard St. Michele, and in the heart of tourist central, but it's down a sort of hidden alley so I think only people who know it's there stop for lunch.   I had pasta with artichokes while Deb had raviolis  with 3 types of mushrooms; a little Sicilian wine and we had Lunch! It's called L'Osteria Del Passe Partout if you're in Paris and want Italian, we'll provide directions.
After lunch we walked over to the Pantheon with a brief stop at the Sorbonne to take a quick picture of the chapel there, containing the remains of Cardinal Richelieu who was a major patron and donor. We finagled our way in by going to the gift shop and then wandering a bit, since it's a university they won't let people in unless they are students.  So a quick pic and on our way.  The public is admitted to the chapel several times during the year on specified days, so we'll angle for the next one.
We got to the Pantheon around 3:00 and spent the next 2 and a half hours going through the building. It is a very interesting building having been alternately a church and site of great French citizens off and on for over 200 years before finally settling as the latter in the late 19th century.  There are many tombs of great French thinkers, writers, and scientists.  Notably for me, were Rousseau, Voltaire, and the Curies, Pierre and Marie, but also there were the writers, Zola, Hugo, and Dumas,
We found murals created by artists that were active in the art education of John Edward Thompson about whom Deb is writing.   Also as predictable politicians but we'll leave them.
After our visit there we headed across the street to the Bibliotheque St. Genevieve, one of the first buildings in Europe built with both stone and cast iron.  It is very beautiful and quite fully utilized by students of the surrounding universities.   Reminded me of the libraries in Madrid, where you must get in early and then set up camp for the day.  To get in to the reading room you must have a membership card and flash it at an automated gate because due to it's size the number of people are strictly limited.
After leaving library we walked to Boul St. Mich and caught busses back to the apartment, the finish of a lovely day.