California Livin' Series: Musée du Louvre (Paris)
We're back in Paris! This edition of Calfornia Livin' will give you a tour of the world-famous Louvre Museum. Click here for my previous posts in the series.
A day at the Louvre.
Arrive from metro, get in long-ass line with a guy at the end holding up a sign saying "1 hour wait from here." Get book out. Fifteen minutes later, at the front of the line. (Guess they want to weed out the uninterested.) While waiting, we witness an impromptu air show, in preparation for Bastille Day (July 14th - French Independence Day). Slightly exciting but a little terrifying in a terrorist-y way. We put our bags through a scanner and arrive inside.
Hugeness. We get a map, proceed to the ticket stand and print out one ticket, me being young enough to pass for a sixteen-year-old. No one questions. We go up the stairs to the paintings section, having only a couple hours on our hands. Ten Euro total admission, two people, Louvre Museum. Can't complain.
First: sculptures. More hugeness. Greek gods and goddesses make me wish I had read up on my mythology in high school. One interesting display of a man staring at his penis from four different directions. Definitely wasn't the only one to notice that.
Next: paintings. Waaaay too many to stop and look at so we skim. People taking pictures, everywhere. Annoying. Why come to a museum if you're just going to take photos. Those are available online. Be nice if folks would just learn to appreciate being in the presence of hundreds of epic pieces of history without having to quantify their experience. Did spot one girl sitting on the floor in front of a Renaissance-era piece, chilling out with her iPod and staring. Awesome.
Then: Mona Lisa. Mob. Ultimate disgusting. People crowded around like it's Beyonce, taking photos, even spotted one girl sticking her fucking head in a photo next to the painting. The painting is barricaded only by a glass frame and velvet ropes, and one or two security guards. Did anyone happen to notice that little thing on the brochure saying "no photographs" or the signs posted everywhere? Apparently not.
Frustrated, feet aching, tired of looking for the exit, I politely ask a couple employees in French. Having cut off their conversation, one of them barks the answer to me, and I barely make out the answer she spits at me. I quickly and gladly vacate the building, into the Jardin des Tuileries.
Ahhhh, nap time.
After a short nap, we finally retreat to the Carrousel du Louvre to do a bit of eating and a lot of shopping.
P.S. If you ever do make it here, check out the store Pylones. It's got a ton of cool, bright and shiny colorful knickknacks that make awesome souvenirs.
Having had a full day, we leave on the metro and bid adieu to the Louvre, never to be seen again.
A day at the Louvre.
Arrive from metro, get in long-ass line with a guy at the end holding up a sign saying "1 hour wait from here." Get book out. Fifteen minutes later, at the front of the line. (Guess they want to weed out the uninterested.) While waiting, we witness an impromptu air show, in preparation for Bastille Day (July 14th - French Independence Day). Slightly exciting but a little terrifying in a terrorist-y way. We put our bags through a scanner and arrive inside.
Hugeness. We get a map, proceed to the ticket stand and print out one ticket, me being young enough to pass for a sixteen-year-old. No one questions. We go up the stairs to the paintings section, having only a couple hours on our hands. Ten Euro total admission, two people, Louvre Museum. Can't complain.
First: sculptures. More hugeness. Greek gods and goddesses make me wish I had read up on my mythology in high school. One interesting display of a man staring at his penis from four different directions. Definitely wasn't the only one to notice that.
Next: paintings. Waaaay too many to stop and look at so we skim. People taking pictures, everywhere. Annoying. Why come to a museum if you're just going to take photos. Those are available online. Be nice if folks would just learn to appreciate being in the presence of hundreds of epic pieces of history without having to quantify their experience. Did spot one girl sitting on the floor in front of a Renaissance-era piece, chilling out with her iPod and staring. Awesome.
Then: Mona Lisa. Mob. Ultimate disgusting. People crowded around like it's Beyonce, taking photos, even spotted one girl sticking her fucking head in a photo next to the painting. The painting is barricaded only by a glass frame and velvet ropes, and one or two security guards. Did anyone happen to notice that little thing on the brochure saying "no photographs" or the signs posted everywhere? Apparently not.
Frustrated, feet aching, tired of looking for the exit, I politely ask a couple employees in French. Having cut off their conversation, one of them barks the answer to me, and I barely make out the answer she spits at me. I quickly and gladly vacate the building, into the Jardin des Tuileries.
Ahhhh, nap time.
After a short nap, we finally retreat to the Carrousel du Louvre to do a bit of eating and a lot of shopping.
P.S. If you ever do make it here, check out the store Pylones. It's got a ton of cool, bright and shiny colorful knickknacks that make awesome souvenirs.
Having had a full day, we leave on the metro and bid adieu to the Louvre, never to be seen again.
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