Going to the Louvre?; Take Your Walking Shoes October 16, 2006

We left the hotel at 8 this morning in hopes of getting a forward spot in the queue at the Musee du Louvre. We had read and heard that the crowds and the queues at the Louvre are among the worst you will encounter anywhere. Our guide book stated that the museum opened at 9 AM so we were second in line at the Carousel du Louvre shopping entrance as we were told this is less crowded than the Pyramid entrance. The museum did not open until 9:30 so we ended up standing in line for an hour, but with the advantage of being at the front we would be able to get to the prime exhibits before the crowds. After getting our tickets at the automated machines (I would suggest pre-buying tickets from one of several locations around Paris) we headed straight for the Mona Lisa where we were able to view the famous work with only 30 or 40 other viewers. This made a huge difference as we passed this way an hour or so later when there were several hundred people crowding to get a quick glimpse. Seeing the original Mona Lisa is a memorable experience not only because of the fame of this piece but it also gives you some insight into Da Vinci’s genius. (Tip 2 is to get there before opening time) We had breezed passed the Winged Victory while on our way to see Da Vinci’s master piece but now took time to stop and admire this work before proceeding to the Venus de Milo. These were three exhibits that we wanted to see before the Louvre became too crowded but the price we paid is to cover a lot of ground while bypassing thousands of other works. We then back tracked and started a more orderly tour concentrating on French, Italian and Dutch paintings. The Louvre is a huge museum and it is said that it would take nine months just to glance at every piece of art displayed here. Selection is the key unless you have unlimited time, interest and energy. When we started our tour Holly and I each picked up an electronic audio tour. This enables you to key in a corresponding number for certain pieces of art and listen to a brief history and a commentary on the object. This was extremely helpful and made the experience much more enjoyable. The museum has also placed seating wherever feasible which again makes the experience less painful. I won’t, and couldn’t, name all the artist or paintings that we saw today but it was a day that we won’t soon forget.

Mid-afternoon found us physically exhausted and mentally overloaded so we left the museum and walked through a nearby neighborhood to find a café where we had another excellent lunch.

After lunch we strolled through the streets and came to Place de la Concorde. In the center of the large traffic round-about stands a gilded top Egyptian obelisk that was given to France in 1831 but is probably best known for where Louis XVI lost his head in 1793 after the Revolution. It is also the starting point for the Avenue Des Champs Elysees with a magnificent view up the avenue to the Arc De Triomphe. We walked the avenue which reminded us of the crowds on Hong Kong’s busy streets on this sunny afternoon.

We arrived back at our hotel totally exhausted but filled with the wonders of what we had seen today. I would like to go back and tour more of the Louvre sometime, but think I need some marathon training before tackling the Everest of museums again.