We are in Paris and it's fabulous here!! I totally love it!! I even love the Parisians who correct your French in a way in which I can't tell if they are angry, happy, or ambivalent...
We got in to Paris yesterday night, found our hotel amazingly fast without getting lost and headed out to see Paris at night!! This was my first sight of the Eiffel Tower and I immediately freaked out an took a picture. Even though it isn't a good view of the tower... it was my first!
Today we went to the LOUVRE!! All day long. We got there at 11:30am and left at 7:30pm! And we didn't even see everything! I was getting slightly unimpressed by all of the priceless works of art and artifacts so we knew it was time to go! Here are some of the highlights from our 8 hour day in the Louvre:
It was super overwhelming when we first got inside and the crowds were huge!
Especially around the Mona Lisa!
I thought for sure that I wouldn't be impressed with it because I've seen so many reprints - i mean even my light switch cover is a Mona Lisa - but in real life, the actual painting, it's pretty amazing. There is just something about it and I don't even know what, but I loved it!!
It was so crowded that at one point I lost Brad!! I was getting kinda distressed!! Luckily we found each other! For the record - this time
I wasn't the one who wandered off.
We ate a picnic lunch and then headed for my most anticipated gallery - the Near Eastern Antiquities!!! It was far far less crowded than ... well ... really anywhere else in the museum. Perfect!!
Hammurabi's Code was one of the biggies to see (that the museum said) and I told Brad that it was the oldest example of laws ever. And he said "what.. the 10 commandments!?!" ... NO! This predates biblical times!! So old! Some of the laws are very strange like if any child says that their mother or father is not their mother or father the child's tongue must be cut out.
After that it was over to my most anticipated area of my most anticipated gallery - ASSYRIA!! For those of you who don't know, I took several Near Eastern Studies courses in my undergrad at UBC and fell in love with the Assyrians. They just had it together!! Their artwork is amazing and their imperialism was crazy!! Anyway, if you want to know more... let me know... otherwise check out all these awesome pieces!!
5 legged griffin! Protects the castle.
Fragments of orthostats from Assurnasirpal's castle. Some of the earliest forms of political propaganda!
And finally... the winged genii!!!! Assyria rocks!
Brad also found exactly what he was looking for as well.... the gummy Venus de Milo! (You all saw that episode of the Simpsons). They even let him take a bite:
We ended our day at this painting - it's a little strange and even the audio guide explanation wasn't clear.. but it's interesting none the less and famous for sure:
It was a great day and it's not over yet!! We are heading to the Great Canadian Pub to watch the hockey game LIVE at 2am!! Time for a nap!! Go Canucks Go!!! Tomorrow is Versaille!
I'm loving it here in Paris! Even though my french is sub-par at best! (Credit to Brad for the photo above! Looks like I am sitting on water in front of the Louvre!)
It looks like you are in the Da Vinci Code! You will have to photoshop that random arm out of the side...
ReplyDeleteAnd hey?...The Venus de Milo isn't green?? (Simpsons reference, ha ha)
Glad you are enjoying Paris, can't believe the museum crowds!
Love the history, you'll have to tell me more about the Assyrians when you get home. Sorry to hear that you stayed up late to watch the stinker game. We were at the game last night, Friday, and it was Fantastic! We had so much fun and the crowd went wild for our home team and especially for our great Goalie. We saw Marc Crawford there and gave him a wave.
ReplyDeleteKisses,
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