Day 2
Friday, April 19
It’s Louvre Day, visiting the famous Mona Lisa and the hallways filled with other precious artworks from history! It felt like a cattle chute to see the main attraction. I bet Leonardo would be in tears at the sight of so many eyeballs straining to get up close (but not too close) to the portrait of Lisa Gherardini.
Painted on wood rather than the expected canvas, the surface has warped over time, resulting in cracks in the artwork. Not to mention her kidnapping in 1911. Now, she sits cozily, gazing at her fans from behind protective, temperature-controlled glass.
We started the day with breakfast in the hotel lobby. Zach and Erin brought savory pies from a nearby café. Check out that mini Mona in the background—I’m accidentally pointing at her!
Photo credit: Andrew Cameron
Louvre Entrance
Stories high arches to walk through to get to the pertruding glass pyramid.
Curved Bathroom Hallway
Even the hallway to get to the loo is incredible.
Fortress Bricks
12th century medieval fortress walls that are now covered to be indoors.
Statue Room
Huge room of priceless marbel statues.
Out of all the museums in the world, Musée du Louvre is the most visited. Its 800 years of existence helps with its popularity.
Before being the famous place where Mona Lisa lives, it was originally a fortress to protect the citizens of Paris from invasions. Then it became a palace for the king and queen of France.
Mona Lisa Selfie
Selfie attempt with the famous little Lisa painting
Mona Picture
A much better picture of us and the famous Lisa. Photo credit: Zach Skemp
Mirror Group Selfie
Beheading mirror for a group selfie with all of these natural materials around us!
Other Statue Hallway
Noseless, armless, or bodiless statues in an arched room.
Ornate Ceiling
Life-sized sculptures and gold leaf details cover the ceiling.
Looks Through Looking Glass
Everyone admirring a work of art.
Europe Homies
Taking a photo of travel buddies while everyone checks out Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Marble Statue on Pedistool
Nothing says you have money like putting your chiseled marble statue on a marble pedistool in front of your marble pillared wall.
Sphinxters
Great Sphinx of Tanis Photo credit: Erin Skemp
Pottery
I thought I saw some animated kittens on these tea plates. Professor Umbridge would love to add it to her collection.
Cell Service Pose
Zach posing Andrew holding up his phone. Good stuff.
Rifles
Something Andrew is interested in.
Historical Louvre Diorama
Erin points at the diorama. An audito plays with corrdinated spotlights to show the history of the Louvre.
Sardine Museum Face
A rare sighting of Andrew in a museum with me.
L’Olympisme
The creation of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens.
Man’s Best Friend
I’m amazed at how intact this statue is. The only parts that broke away was the doggy ears.
Underneath the Louvre’s glass pyramid.
Boy posing next to the inverse pyramid.
Winged Victory of Samothrace
Famous Hellenistic art from 2nd century BC. The left side is her best angle.
AMAZING display—I could have licked the glass. But not really, because the Louvre gets about 30,000 visitors every day. That’s a lot of germs.
Some French Fountain
He doesn’t want to take another picture.
Grand Bassin Rond
Seating around the basin after hours of museum walking.
Taking a Break
Sitting by the Tuileries Garden’s basin.
Subway Poster
Standing next to an anime poster because I like Spy x Family! Photo credit: Andrew Cameron
Lunch Sandwich
Tuna, tomato, and lettuce on esame bread.
Fancy Building
Cold and rainy walk to the Arc de Triomphe.
Av. des Champs-Élysées
Walking through the high fashion steet.
Harry Wall
Maybe Newt Scamander can tell me about Fantastic Beasts and where to find them.
Rack of Paris Postcards
If I had another collection it’d be postcards.
I ate Paul’s nametag.
Arc de Triomphe
Photo credit: Kind stranger
Panorama of the underbelly.
The flame was first lit on November 11, 1923 at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Great Graffiti
Walking back to the hotel I was blown away by the precision you can get from a skilled spraycan artist.
Links
- Mona Lisa – Louvre
- Great Sphinx of Tanis – Louvre
- Jardin des Tuileries – Paris je t’aime
- Spy X Family – Crunchyroll
