The Accidental Paris Tourist Discovers a Secret About the Louvre
Paris had never been on my 'places to go' list. I believed the stereotypes about snooty French who didn't like Americans. Boy was I wrong.
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.
One of the Reasons to Make Money is to Travel!
My Top Three Reasons for Doing Business
1. Having the time and money to travel. Being able to give you hints about the Louvre
2. Being happy in my work. Being able to make most decisions myself.
3. Being able to help others with top notch products and services and helping others do the same.
Please visit my blog. Join in discussions about business, social consciousness, get inspiration and ideas. I would love to hear from you.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand by"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
I Wish I Had Had This at the Louvre
Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/08/2008)
Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/08/2008)
Flip USB Cables for Flip Camcorders (Pink, Orange, White)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/08/2008)
Flip ASK1CP1 Skins for Flip Classic Camcorders (Pink, Orange, White)
Amazon Price: $14.50 (as of 10/08/2008)
Flip Soft Pouch for Flip Ultra and Mino Camcorders (Orange)
Amazon Price: $13.84 (as of 10/08/2008)
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. I have...
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!
|
annetteghallowell
I love the Louvre! Thanks for reminding me why. Now I want to go back on a Saturday. 5* Posted September 24, 2008 |
|
ShortSaleRealtor
How cool you had nobody by the mona lisa when you went. There were so many people when I was there. Posted September 23, 2008 |
|
OhMe
What a great trip, great tips and great lens. Well done! 5* Posted September 23, 2008 |
|
JaguarJulie
Ah, what a great lens. When we traveled to Paris, the Louvre was on our list of must sees. But, so unfortunate were we that we picked the very day that the Louvre was closed!!! I was really bummed out. I think that's the biggest tip of all -- plan to see when they are open. 5***** Posted September 09, 2008 |
|
capybara
Lovely Lens 5* and welcome to Travelmania Group. Posted August 18, 2008 |
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...
-
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...
-
"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...
-
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. He has also written beautiful poetry, much of it in traditional styles. On a trip to France, I learned of a mode of poetry that he created, one that can be...
The Louvre in Print
The Pocket Louvre: A Visitor's Guide to 500 Works
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/08/2008)
The Louvre
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 10/08/2008)
Paintings in the Louvre
Amazon Price: $47.25 (as of 10/08/2008)
Le Louvre - The Palace & It's Paintings
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
Méhul - Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 / Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/08/2008)
You May Have to Get to New York on Your Way to Paris
The Better the Fair the More Money You Have for Paris!
-
$841 from Washington DC: flight + 2 nights hotel
- $841 from Buffalo: flight + 2 nights hotel
- $841 from Boston: flight + 2 nights hotel
- $857 from Tampa: flight + 2 nights hotel
- $861 from Pittsburgh: flight + 2 nights hotel
- $841 from Buffalo: flight + 2 nights hotel
This Way to Paris!
Fun With Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa Smile
Amazon Price: $10.49 (as of 10/08/2008)
Art Poster Print - Mona Lisa - Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci- Poster Size: 36 X 24
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 10/08/2008)
11-20-79
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
Katina Marie Mona Lisa Casual "Autumn Leaves" 3/4 Sleeve, Rhinestone Studded, Pre-Washed, Printed V-Neck Cotton Top Brown (Small)
Amazon Price: $39.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
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...
Get Serious About Mona
The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 10/08/2008)
Mona Lisa in Camelot: How Jacqueline Kennedy and Da Vinci's Masterpiece Charmed and Captivated a Nation
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 10/08/2008)
Mona Lisa Blossoming (Berkley Sensation)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 10/08/2008)
The Louvre in Film
The Louvre
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 10/08/2008)
Sculptures of the Louvre
Amazon Price: $20.49 (as of 10/08/2008)
Global Treasures LOUVRE Musee Du Louvre Palais Du Louvre France
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
Louvre: The Visit (DVD)
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
More colors
Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/08/2008)
Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/08/2008)
Flip Tripod for Flip Ultra and Mino Camcorders
Amazon Price: $14.36 (as of 10/08/2008)
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!
