I visited Branly yesterday, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Indoor non-flash photography has been allowed there since about 2009, and the staff is abundant, and very friendly and helpful to visitors... not just sitting on stools at the entrance to each section like in other museums. Also, the installation of "The River" by Charles Sandison on the ramp leading from the ground level to the second level is captivating.

On Friday, November 28, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., visitors can enjoy free entry to Paris' Musée du Quai Branly for one day only to mark the centenary of the birth of Levi Strauss, the original benefactor of the museum.

Also, during school vacation the museum will be open exceptionally on Monday, October 27, and Monday, November 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Additionally, the museum will be open on the holidays of Saturday, November 1 (11 a.m.-9 p.m.) and Tuesday, November 11 (11 a.m.-7 p.m.).

I went to the Musée du Quai Branly last spring. Afraid that there would be long lines, I purchased my ticket at FNAC beforehand, which entailed making a trip over to the FNAC and then standing for a good 20 minutes in line to pick it up. The friends I met up with at the museum hadn't bothered to buy their tickets in advance, so they spent maybe 5 minutes in line and less money for their tickets!

One member of our group had brought a list of questions for us to find the answers to as we were going through the exhibit. Struggling with one of the answers, we enlisted the help of a couple of the guards who were good-humored about participating in our little project. As we were only there for a couple of hours, needless to say we touched just the tip of the iceberg. What I did see was interesting enough to make me want to go back and see more, and I enjoyed the diversity of the exhibits. I prefer museums in small doses, and Quai Branly is certainly amenable to that.

Looking at the front of the museum, it doesn't seem all that out of place architecturally, but when inside the grounds looking at the traditional French stone buildings behind, the effect is a little bizarre.

Sam: thank you for your comprehensive report.

Question - there are times when I head to a museum's book store before entering the museum itself. That way, I have an idea of what's housed in the building. Am I the only one who does this?

Thanks for the tip on the headsets.

Another question: Are the French acclimating to the museum's architecture? It caused quite a stir when it opened.

We had our first visit to the new Musee du Quai Branly last week and we were thrilled. The interior design creates darkened exhibition areas, which emphasize the art displayed. As mentioned in other posts, the art itself itself is tucked into many side areas arranged in a non-linear pattern, so you never have that museum feeling of following the crowd from one place to another. We quickly became engaged with the art, and most of what we saw was just top rate. But then you look up at a window, and there's the Seine or the Eiffel Tower, peering in at you.

I was amazed at how accessible they have made all that the museum offers, a tough task when dealing with civilizations perhaps lesser known to many. I found the information provided for most items was good, and it is provided in most cases in English, as well as everyday French (unlike the Louvre where some item descriptions seem to have been written by Corneille). They don't seem to have white-washed history, mentioning, for example, the colonization and relocation and its detrimental impact on the American Indian (something I did not see much of at the American Indian Museum in Washington).

You can approach this museum on every level from a two hour quick visit, on to longer repeat visits, then to the reading room which provides information on the art and history of the areas exhibited, on yet further to the multi-media area with seated areas in front of wide-screen TVs with individual controls. I've only had a quick look at the museum website but it looks like they've put a lot of the very extensive visual information offered at the museum on the website too-and again much of it available in English. But there's even more-downstairs in the museum is an area with films, conferences and lectures-we walked into one in English just by chance. The bookstore is well stocked, including travel journals and literature. They've not only put together a great museum here but a serious cultural education center.

As St. Germain said, the lines can be long. Like the Orsay, the wait is to buy tickets so get them in advance (direct on the museum's website or at FNAC-10 E for a one day admission) and walk right in. I would highly recommend the audioguide, which in English is very good, if a little wordy. The audioguides are priced best for couples-it's 5E each or 7E for a "duo"-two audio guides. For those with real interest and a long stay in Paris, the annual pass for 45E or 70E for two is a steal and gets you into the lectures and other special events that have seperate admission.

After our visit I reread Alan Riding's NY Times piece written as the musee opened last summer. Rather than wondering what these civilizations had to do with one another, during our visit, I found myself wondering why some developed in ways so different from others. On displaying as art objects not made as art, I don't have much to add, except to note that I don't think that debate started here. The other objections seem like carping-the Musee de l'Homme is on our bus line and every time it would catch my eye I'd think "I gotta go in there sometime". Well, at least now I have seen some of its art.