Paris 2: The Louvre

 First thing on the morning of day two, I lost ONE contact lens (which I later found dried up on the counter). Of course I didn't bring backups or glasses. So I get to be half blind for the next six days? HALF BLIND IN PARIS?

Dad and I headed for one of many Parisian pharmacies. The lady at the pharmacy was really nice but spoke hardly a word of English. That plus the fact that I lost all command of the three words I know in French, equals I have no idea where to go. But she whipped out a pen and wrote down the cross streets and name of a store that might be able to help. 

False stereotype: Parisians are rude and hate Americans. They spoke English readily, if they could, and were nice and helpful even if they couldn't.

The optician tried to tell me that I needed a prescription, and I tried to tell her I don't have the paper but I know my prescription. I'm pretty sure she wasn't supposed to dole out lenses without prescriptions, but I wrote down what I needed and she handed us a box. PHEW!

After that little detour, we started our second day in Paris with a proper Parisian breakfast: pastries! I had a croissant and/or baguette every morning, and Caitlin had everyone eating these delicious strawberry tarts by the end of the trip.

True stereotype: Parisians literally walk around eating baguettes. I couldn't tell you where a single bakery is in Charlottesville, but we saw dozens in Paris. Also, Parisians seem to eat very few vegetables.

Our apartment was just a block from the Arc de Triomphe, and we had to walk down the Champs Élysées to get to the Louvre. The Champs reminded me a lot of Chicago's "Magnificent Mile." They call it "the most beautiful avenue of the world," but it's basically just a shopping center, with everything from luxury labels to the always exotic GAP (those were everywhere).

But at the end of the shopping are the Trocadéro Gardens. (Where we saw two more true stereotypes: an organ grinder and an old guy feeding the birds!) 

 

I thought this area was so beautiful. The French really know how to make their manicured and be-sculptured gardens beautiful in all seasons. I can only imagine how they look in Spring! I would like to go back and just wander the gardens and the exterior all day.

You probably shouldn't ask me for museum recommendations--it turns out I am just not interested in walking around looking at paintings. But you don't go to Paris and skip the Louvre. Turns out I loved it! The interiors were so beautiful and varied and ornate, not to mention the courtyards... and the windows... and the exterior... sigh. Even after seeing Versailles, I think the Louvre is the most beautiful building we saw. 

PS The Louvre is massive. You'll notice how I have no pictures of the entire building, but this one gets 2/3. The Louvre is a big U shape, with Napoleon's Gate at the front and the glass pyramid in the center of the courtyard.

 

 

Of course we saw the Mona Lisa, which was totally unremarkable, yet people swarmed it. Like anything, it's more beautiful in person... but why is it famous?

My favorite exhibit was Napoleon's Apartment. I think Todd may have liked it just as much as I did, I think he gets a kick out of my ooooing and aaahhhing. The luxury and ornamentation of it all killed me. Such excess!