All The Art You Can Handle 7/15/09

So, I knew that the Louvre was big- but I had no concept how big. It is huge! And there is so much to see, that it is impossible to do in one trip- at least with being in a sane state of mind. So we divided it up into 3 sessions over 2 days. In between we got out and saw other cool things. This picture if of the Great Hall in the Louvre- where some of the most famous pieces of art of all time are located.

The famous pyramids of the Lourvre- can't help but think of DaVinvi Code

Rick holding up the Louvre

This was the most empty we ever saw it- first thing in the AM and on the very top floor

The Louvre was the former royal palace- so it is extremely ornate. This was the living area of Napoleon III

Lisa in Babylon

Code of Hammurabi- the first written legal code

Both of our favorite parts of the Louvre was the beautiful Greek and Roman statues

First lunch break- eating out in the Jardin

Notre Dame- the most visited attraction in Paris. It was absolutely awesome.

The Rose Window

Those famous flying buttresses

The Conciergrie- a former palace that was converted into the main prison during the French Revolution- many famous prisoners, including Marie Antoinette and Robespierre

Marie Antoinette's cell- recreated with a tapestry that supposedly originally hung in her cell

Chapelle Church- the former private church of the King- wall to wall stained glass. Each section of the windows represents a different book in the Bible- telling the stories through the picture. It was the most beautiful church we saw by far.

Rick in front of Pont Nuef- the oldest bridge in Paris

Hello Louis XIV- nice tights

Back to the Louvre, in the Ancient Egyptian section

One of the most famous residents of the Louvre- the Venus de Milo

My absolute favorite sculpture- Winged Victor. It was awesome to see these priceless pieces of art in real life.

Rick with his favorite artist and scientist- DaVinci

The most visited, and most disappointing, pieces- the Mona Lisa. I say disappointing because there is all this anticipation in seeing it, then it is behind 4 feet of glass, and you have to stand about 15 feet away- a little anti-climactic

But we at least got to see that famous smile

A View From the Top 7/16/09

So we head back to the Louvre first thing in the morning, to catch some of the pieces before the crowds. Most of these you should recognize from your high school history class.

This is what a lot of the original Louvre looks like, since it was previously the royal palace. Super ornate- the ceilings were just remarkable.

Felt like being in a Roman temple

Rick and Ceasar

Another of our favourite sculptures

Sorry to have so many pictures of marble sculptures (we have tons more)- but they are just so soft and realistic, it is amazing.

The obelisk and fountain is a big center at the other end of the Champs-Elysees. The center is called La Concorde- it is the mark for the main guillotine from the French Revolution. Where all the famous people got there heads loped off. Yippy!

La Madeline- a church that was built in the Greek/Roman style

View of the city from the steps of la Madeline

Next stop- The Grand Parisian Opera House. Cool unto itself, but I am a nerd, and was all giddy thinking of Phantom of the Opera

The grand staircase- so incredibly detailed

Just holding myself back from singing 'Masquerade'

Inside a box seat looking at the stage

The Grand Foyer- where all the ritzy people would strut inbetween acts

Classic view of a Parisian street

The Pantheon- originally a very ornate church commissioned right before the beginning of the French Revolution- bad timing. So it was taken over during the Revolution and turned into a secular center- so religious art on the walls, with statues of the revolution. We also got to go in the crypt where the great men of the France are buried- Voltaire, Hugo, Dumas, Rousseau...to name a few

Statue to the Revolution- the inscription in the middle says "Live free or die"

Quick stop at the Sorbonne- the oldest university of France

Went to La Cluney to a medieval museum- had original ruines of Roman baths and beautiful tapestries (unfortunately not able to get pictures)

The Luxemburg Palace. A palace originally built for Marie deMedici, is now the Senate. But it is surrounded by a huge beautiful garden, which is a favorite hang out place of Parisians. One small observation- they are really big on planting trees in straight rows (as seen above)- I don't know how in the world they get them sooo straight.

Sailing toy boats in the pond

Last stop of the day- the Eiffel Tower! The lines to get up are ridiculously long (took about 2 hours)- but you got to do it once, right?

View halfway up

View from the top- we took a picnic with us and enjoyed a wonderful dinner on top of Paris