Rained all night and it was rather cold, so slept well, temperature regulation not required. Bitten by something though. Probably scabies!
I wasn't looking forward to the walk to the Louvre in the rain and standing about.
Nevertheless, I headed off after the breakfast, if you could call it that.
It was overcast, thought not raining and I found my way to the Louvre easily, I have now done it a couple of times, with variations.
Today is free at all Paris museums, it is the first Sunday of the month, so I am early, 8.15AM for a 9.00AM opening, and I am 100 metres from the start. Within 30 minutes the queue is 300 metres long, and by the time we start to move it has snaked out of sight.
As soon as it opens and we are past security there is a rush for the Mona Lisa.
In spite of being in the first 100 or so, there seem to be people coming from every orifice of the building, so by the time I get there, the crowd is about 5-6 deep.
I must say I am not sure quite what the fuss is all about, though you are kept back some way.
I am sure her enigmatic smile is due the the two layers of glass that shield her from the seething masses.
She is bigger than I imagine, most people seem to think she is small.
After doing the obligatory Mona, cruise the various halls bathing in the culture of it all.
The second favourite exhibit, is that lump of marble, know as the Venus de Milo.
Now there's a beauty for you, far outshines that old moaning Mona.
Probably a bit chunky for our modern tastes, she is quite divine.
In fact, I really like all the greco-roman sculpture, it has a certain something. It must be all that marble.
Nothing to do with the half naked bodies, I should hasten to add. I only look at them for the articles.
So four hours and many footsteps later I have negotiated much of the Louvre.
The Louvre is shaped like a flat topped letter A with long legs. It is on 4 levels yet not all the levels connect, so sometimes you back-track, or go up, then down a level to get from A to B.
It's easy to get bamboozled, as I did quite often.
The saving grace is the "Sortie" signs with a pyramid shape that designate the Pyramid that is the entry and exit point.
If in Paris the Louvre is a must. An audioguide is a must, yet don't expect to see all the famous paintings as many are not here, or in some cases, hard to find.
From the Louvre off the the marshes of Paris, or the Marais, as they are now known.
There we meet Chris, of Paris Walks. I say we, as by the time I get there about 20 others are waiting.
Initially, I am not sure that Chris will keep up yesterday's standard. How wrong I am. He is excellent, full of facts, anecdotes and some quite quirky humour, with some Monty Pythonesque features
The Marais is an area quite close to what was the Royal Palaces so quite a good place to be if seeking the kings favours.
Consequently, many fine houses or Hotel Particuleir (town houses) were built close by in the Marais. Some elements persist, one currently on the market for EU 31 million, as the Marais is now quite a well sought after area. It was also the Jewish quarter, and still is though gradually prices are forcing them out-from 17 down to 7 synagogues.
There is also the story of betrayal of the Jews of Paris by the Vichy French government in WW2 collaborating with the Gestapo, leading to 75,000 French Jews being sent to Auschwitz (3000 survived).
It is an area of narrow back streets and shops and restaurants, and is packed-it's Sunday.
Over two hours later it is time to head back to base, where I shower, and after some cogitation, I head out to the bar on the corner for tea.
It is here I get an education in French politics as the bar erupts in cheer when they hear that Sarkozy has been defeated by the socialist candidate Hollande.
Picasa web albums
I wasn't looking forward to the walk to the Louvre in the rain and standing about.
Nevertheless, I headed off after the breakfast, if you could call it that.
It was overcast, thought not raining and I found my way to the Louvre easily, I have now done it a couple of times, with variations.
As soon as it opens and we are past security there is a rush for the Mona Lisa.
In spite of being in the first 100 or so, there seem to be people coming from every orifice of the building, so by the time I get there, the crowd is about 5-6 deep.
I must say I am not sure quite what the fuss is all about, though you are kept back some way.
I am sure her enigmatic smile is due the the two layers of glass that shield her from the seething masses.
She is bigger than I imagine, most people seem to think she is small.
After doing the obligatory Mona, cruise the various halls bathing in the culture of it all.
The second favourite exhibit, is that lump of marble, know as the Venus de Milo.
Now there's a beauty for you, far outshines that old moaning Mona.
Probably a bit chunky for our modern tastes, she is quite divine.
In fact, I really like all the greco-roman sculpture, it has a certain something. It must be all that marble.
Nothing to do with the half naked bodies, I should hasten to add. I only look at them for the articles.
So four hours and many footsteps later I have negotiated much of the Louvre.
The Louvre is shaped like a flat topped letter A with long legs. It is on 4 levels yet not all the levels connect, so sometimes you back-track, or go up, then down a level to get from A to B.
It's easy to get bamboozled, as I did quite often.
The saving grace is the "Sortie" signs with a pyramid shape that designate the Pyramid that is the entry and exit point.
If in Paris the Louvre is a must. An audioguide is a must, yet don't expect to see all the famous paintings as many are not here, or in some cases, hard to find.
From the Louvre off the the marshes of Paris, or the Marais, as they are now known.
There we meet Chris, of Paris Walks. I say we, as by the time I get there about 20 others are waiting.
Initially, I am not sure that Chris will keep up yesterday's standard. How wrong I am. He is excellent, full of facts, anecdotes and some quite quirky humour, with some Monty Pythonesque features
The Marais is an area quite close to what was the Royal Palaces so quite a good place to be if seeking the kings favours.
Consequently, many fine houses or Hotel Particuleir (town houses) were built close by in the Marais. Some elements persist, one currently on the market for EU 31 million, as the Marais is now quite a well sought after area. It was also the Jewish quarter, and still is though gradually prices are forcing them out-from 17 down to 7 synagogues.
There is also the story of betrayal of the Jews of Paris by the Vichy French government in WW2 collaborating with the Gestapo, leading to 75,000 French Jews being sent to Auschwitz (3000 survived).
It is an area of narrow back streets and shops and restaurants, and is packed-it's Sunday.
Over two hours later it is time to head back to base, where I shower, and after some cogitation, I head out to the bar on the corner for tea.
It is here I get an education in French politics as the bar erupts in cheer when they hear that Sarkozy has been defeated by the socialist candidate Hollande.
Picasa web albums
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