The Accidental Paris Tourist Discovers a Secret About the Louvre
Now don't get me wrong. They don't, like much of Europe, accommodate Americans by speaking English, but other than that I was pleased by the warm reception. I remember asking one woman for directions to the Seine. I butchered the pronunciation, something that drives the French to drink. She gently tried to help me say it the way she did, but to no avail. I could tell that I was causing her pain, but she remained polite, friendly and well, civil.
I became an accidental tourist in Paris because of a pilgrimage to the South of France. I wanted to do that (a most beautiful part of the world) and thought that it would be a once in a lifetime trip, as I wasn't much interested in that either. Since we landed in Paris, and I just knew I would never return, I thought it would be foolish to be at the airport, just that once, and not spend a few days in Paris. I arranged to go to the city at the end of the trip.
Believe the wonderful things people say about Paris, but question the bad. It wasn't even all that expensive!
I write today to tell you that, and also to share some tips about visiting the Louvre. These tips were counter intuitive to me, but I was lucky enough to stumble upon them. I hope you use them to get the most from this glorious city.
Note: To the right is a picture of me with a statue of Mary Magdalene. She is in a glass case, so there is some glare, but this was one of the wonderful surprises of the day. Try to find her when you are there.
Contents at a Glance
"Pleased to meet you,
Mona Lisa!"
The Hint Is:
Drum Roll:
While intuition might tell you to go to such a tourist and local attraction during the week, when most people are at work, this is a time to ignore that bit of common sense.My friend, Sandy and I had a day together in France before she left for another adventure. We had no plans, but walked from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower. A great experience, but exhausting. We didn't think we could get into many tourist attractions, because of crowds and we were right about a couple of Cathedrals and the Eiffel Tower. (We did that anyway and I am glad we did, just the once)
We just 'knew' there was no point going to to Louvre, not on a Saturday. However, we walked by and went to see the pyramid. What do you know, there wasn't a much of a line getting in. As exhausted as we were, it was Sandy's only day to go, so in we went.
What a place. I could carry on forever about it, but this is about the lack of crowds. There were not only no lines outside, but plenty of room inside. We wondered if the city was evacuated!
The most amazing thing was the Mona Lisa room. There are other paintings there, but this small painting, dwarfed by many of the Louvre's pictures, has its own huge wall. It has a glass casing all around it and a railing about 3 to 5 feet out. But, that day the room was practically empty. So empty that we were able to stand right in front of her, well the railing, anyway. There were no people between 'she and we'. We each took a picture with her. Amazing!
I didn't go back on Sunday, thinking that Monday would be really quiet. When I went on Monday, I should have realized something was up when I saw the line, but went in anyway. What a disappointment! Tons of tourist groups with their leaders and tons of others.
The Mona Lisa room? I could barely get in, let alone stand in front of her.
The hint: Go the to Louvre on Saturday. Avoid it on the weekdays. This was counterintuitive to me, but well, I learned better.
Mona Lisa: Why So Famous?
Vat19.com
But I Promised You Tips, Not Tip
Well, here is #2.
If they took out every piece of art in the entire building, including the Mona Lisa (!) The Louvre is still well worth visiting. It would take one whole day just to see the beautiful architecture, the ceilings, the floors.Try to take your focus from the countless pieces of priceless art and really look at the building. I know I took more pictures of the museum than what the museum holds. The picture here is of a piece of ceiling. Imagine, the very ceilings are worth going to France to see!
Here We Are
#3
Number 1: Was a counterintuitive revelation for me, go on a Saturday.Number 2: I kind of knew about the wonders of the architecture but didn't go looking for it. It was breathtaking!
Number 3: Wow, my basement doesn't look like this. I mean, my house is starting to overflow with art, but I do not have a basement with more art than there is on the walls! Well, the Louvre has that. When you pass an inner window with something that looks just a little junky, stop, look, and see the amazing things in the basement. I am told that there is more in the basement than on display!
Wow!
The Lourve
Louvre
The Louvre Museum, Paris, France. Original soundtrack.
Runtime: 3:40 | 62706 views | 28 Comments
automatically generated by YouTube
I Wish I Had Had This at the Louvre
Flip Video Wool Pouch (Orange)
Amazon Price: $7.75 (as of 11/24/2009) 
Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange) OLD MODEL
Amazon Price: $129.97 (as of 11/24/2009)
Flip Video Skins for Flip Classic Camcorders (Pink, Orange, White)
Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 11/24/2009)
Flip USB Cables for Flip Camcorders (Pink, Orange, White)
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 11/24/2009)
Flip Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White) OLD MODEL
Amazon Price: $199.00 (as of 11/24/2009)
Any Purchase Here Will Contribute to Heifer International: The Pay It Forward Entrepreneurial Charity
Well, Margaret Schaut Has Made Me Add Rome to That List
Better Get to Work, So Many Places to See.
You have probably seen this lens before, but go back and study it. It is truly amazing as is the David.-
Michelangelo's David
-
The stature and prominence, the importance and influence of Michelangelo's David statue may surprise you! The David statue tells a story, yes, and that story is here. But the statue has his OWN story to tell, one that not many people know. Here i...
Read More about My Travel Experiences
And Other Lenses
-
My Greek Odyssey
-
Greece is the birth place of much of what we consider to be Western Civilization. The Roman God's are shadows of the Greek Pantheon; Paul did much of his early Christian ministry in Greece. Every where you go and every where you look there are physic...
-
Iona, Scotland: A Thin Place
-
"There is a Celtic saying that heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in the thin places that distance is even smaller. A thin place is where the veil that separates heaven and earth is lifted and one is able to receive a glimpse of the glor...
-
An Ode to Squidoo: Thanks to Victor Hugo
-
Hugo is known for novels and plays. This is as it should be, because he is a master at both. One of the meaningful things I did in Paris was to read the Hunchback of Norte Dame in the park just across from the cathedral, with the cathedral in view....
-
"A" is for "Arrowsmith"
-
I began this journey as a lens master on June 21, 2008. I started with the story of how my parents began their first small business. That first lens reached a top rank of 188 overall and 14 in business, and then started back down, getting as low as...
-
Staffa, The Scotish Island with a Wonderful Surprize! If You Know When to Go...
-
I almost didn't get to Staffa. My trip was to Iona and I didn't think I had enough time there. On top of that, my neck was broken and in a brace, so climbing wasn't easy, not that I wasn't doing plenty of that on Iona! But, I heard about the boat ri...
Margo on Art
-
Auguste Rodin in Raleigh, North Carolina
-
There are many reasons why Raleigh is on the short list of "Best Places to Live" lists. The plethora of great universities, best medical care in the country, the climate, the beauty of it all, and then there is the North Carolina Museum of Arts with...
I Look Forward to Hearing From You
I would love to hear your tips about visiting the Louvre, to share them with everyone.
Stars always welcome!
-
Reply
- 7Suze7 7Suze7 Oct 24, 2009 @ 11:53 am
- I want to go so bad...thanks
-
Reply
- PleasantValley PleasantValley Nov 28, 2008 @ 9:16 am
- I was at the Louvre several years ago when there were very long lines at the pyramid entrance. Instead of waiting for hours, we walked over to a side entrance and got in immediately.
-
Reply
- Stazjia Stazjia Oct 22, 2008 @ 7:23 am
- I've been to the Louvre but only once and was able to see so little. I think you have to decide if there is something you must see and make that a priority. What a great lens. Welcome to the Art & Design Group.
-
Reply
- annetteghallowell annetteghallowell Sep 24, 2008 @ 9:35 am
- I love the Louvre! Thanks for reminding me why. Now I want to go back on a Saturday. 5*
-
Reply
- ShortSaleRealtor ShortSaleRealtor Sep 23, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
- How cool you had nobody by the mona lisa when you went. There were so many people when I was there.
- Load More
The Louvre in Print
Louvre Up Close
Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 11/24/2009)
The Pocket Louvre
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/24/2009)
Paintings in the Louvre
Amazon Price: $47.25 (as of 11/24/2009)
Inventing the Louvre: Art, Politics, and the Origins of the Modern Museum in Eighteenth-Century Paris
Amazon Price: $23.18 (as of 11/24/2009)
Belphegor: Phantom of the Louvre
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 11/24/2009)
You May Have to Get to New York on Your Way to Paris
The Better the Fair the More Money You Have for Paris!
This Way to Paris!
Fun With Mona Lisa
Leonardo Da Vinci (Mona Lisa) Art Poster Print - 24" X 36"
Amazon Price: $1.30 (as of 11/24/2009)
The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 11/24/2009)
Raza The Mona Lisa tee,T-shirts for Men, Large,Black/Yellow
Amazon Price: $32.00 (as of 11/24/2009)
Mona Lisa Smile
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 11/24/2009)
Kikkerland Mona Lisa Clock
Amazon Price: $26.34 (as of 11/24/2009)
Really Fun Mona Lisa Lens
-
Mona Lisa - Da Vinci's Magnum Opus
-
Few are not familiar with Leonardo da Vinci's magnum opus, the Mona Lisa, also known by some as the La Gioconda. Debatably the most famous painting in the world, the 16th century work of art depicts a woman clad in the Florentine fashion of her day...
Mona Lisa (new) & Dalmatian BBQ Apron
Price: 20.99
Mona Lisa (new) & Dalmatian Baseball Jersey
Price: 22.99
Mona Lisa (new) & Dalmatian Sweatshirt
Price: 38.99
Get Serious About Mona Lisa
The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 11/24/2009)
The Intuitive Advisor: A Psychic Doctor Teaches You How to Solve Your Most Pressing Health Problems
Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 11/24/2009)
Mona Lisa Awakening (Monere: Children of the Moon, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/24/2009)
The Louvre in Film
Belphegor: Phantom of the Louvre
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 11/24/2009)
The Louvre
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 11/24/2009)
Sculptures of the Louvre
Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 11/24/2009)
Louvre: The Visit
Amazon Price: (as of 11/24/2009)
More colors
Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (Black)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/24/2009)
Flip Tripod for Flip Ultra and Mino Camcorders
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 11/24/2009)
Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Black)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/24/2009)
Mona Lisa and Leonardo
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
A Grand Tour
One I Could Have Videoed
The guys from Duran Duran were amazed that they got to get so close to the Mona Lisa the night of their concert.
I could have told them to just go on a Saturday!
Feed Your Cells Pure Food
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAbout Margo Arrowsmith
Lensmaster Margo_Arrowsmith has been a member since June 21 2008, has rated 2,010 lenses, favorited 120, and has created 129 lenses from scratch. Margo Arrowsmith donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Debbie Wasserman Schultz?". See all my lenses
My Bio
For Arrowsmith Printing 9/22/08
I was born into a small business, I believe that small business and entrepreneurs are the backbone of America and what has made us great. They are what made us great and will save us in these unsure times. I have never wanted to have a great job. Well, better a great one, than a boring dead end one, and I have had both. But I have never really wanted a job at all.
Don't get me wrong, I am a hard worker. I have worked a full-time job, a part time job and a private practice all at the same time for a lot of years in my past. It isn't the work, its the working for someone else. Never wanted to do that, and I don't understand those who want to do that.
When I was six months old my parents bought their first small town weekly newspaper in Iowa. This was back in the day, back when small town newspapers were not just advertising sheets. Perhaps there are still some of them that are real, I hope so.
So I came by this perverse nature naturally. My path to self employment has been different than theirs, but it has always been my path, my direction.
Growing up in Iowa, in the fifties, I also grew up politically conservative. By the time I was 30 I was radically left. Today? I am proudly liberal and what that means will be clearer as we progress.
However, I have had conflicts about 'taking advantage of people'. I now know that employing people is not automatically taking advantage of them, but it took a while for me to learn that nothing is intrinsically good or bad. Well, almost nothing.
I have educated myself in business, I have a small business and I have used EFT and other energy clearing methods to help me clarify the old conflicts and move forward.
My mission here is to provide a forum for people who want to work independently through one person businesses or through employing others and for whom the betterment of human kind is an important value. My lenses are about offering good products, teaching people about betting their lives, and using the money they make for their pleasure and the benefit of others.
That is how I see business and if you have a similar vision I invite you to my blog www.creatingbusinessenergy.com
Margo Arrowsmith
Raleigh, North Carolina
Mother and Grandmother
Clinincal Social Worker, Coach and Internet Marketer
Interfaith Contemplative Minister
Student of life, business, the human spirit that motivates us to be our best in all circumstances.
Check out these great lenses...
by Margo_Arrowsmith
For Arrowsmith Printing 9/22/08
I was born into a small business, I believe that small business and entrepreneurs are the backbone of America and w... (more)
Explore related pages
Top 10 Things To Do in Paris- Oui Oui Paree! You'll fall in love with this romantic city more and more the lon...
Top 10 Chateaux of the Loire Valley- The Loire River divides France into its Northern and Southern parts as the clima...
Paris, France- We took the boat trip on the Seine that stops at the Eiffel Tower and at Notre D...
The Louvre - Resources for Art Lovers- The Louvre is a very large and famous museum in Paris. In 2008, 8.5 million peop...
My Greek Odyssey- Greece is the birth place of much of what we consider to be Western Civilization...
An Ode to Squidoo: Thanks to Victor Hugo- Hugo is known for novels and plays. This is as it should be, because he is a mas...
