Paris - Aug 18

Today's post is going to be one of the shorter ones.  It was my first day of rain since I've been in Paris.  The rain was sorely needed as the humidity has been getting high.  That in combination with the heat I think finally came to a head.  Last night was a tough sleep.  It was still in the 80s when I went to bed.  I had the windows open but there was no breeze whatsoever.

It started raining about 4 which was a welcome relief.  It immediately cooled things off.  It rained on and off til 9 which gave me time to get to the Louvre.  I was planning on spending the rainy day at the Louvre.  But appeared that everyone in Paris was of like mind.  I don't know if it was because of the rain or it is always that crowded.  

My Louvre experience was not a good one.  I think the Museum D'Orsay was so much better.  It started out on the wrong foot right from the start.  I was standing in line and waiting for about 10 minutes when two couples went under a rope and accessed a different route.  They went right in line in front of me.  Incredulously I said to them... you must be Americans.  The one lady looked at me and said, yes how could you tell?  I left that one alone...  Then the one lady said to her husband,  I wonder if these people think it's rude that we just went up in the line?  I couldn't help myself...  I said, yes extremely.  They were startled.  The lady then said,  but we have these priority passes that get us up in line.  I held mine up which was exactly as hers and said, you mean like this one and everyone else in this line has!? 😬

The Louvre is so big and hard to maneuver through.  There are three different branches of it and you have to go through a checkin as you transition between them if you get to certain points.  Their A/C mustn't have been working as well.  As you went through it there were certain areas where the heat inside was oppressive.  That and the crowds...  There were groups consisting of 20-30 people per who were moving through the passages like bowel blockages.  That and the selfies!!!  I cannot begin to imagine how a picture of a masterpiece is going to look good with some of these mugs attached to it!  And they stand there with arm outstretched in a very crowded museum taking multiples of themselves.  For the love of god, enjoy the museum not yourself!!!  Ok, ok, I had to get that out...  I am better now.  😟

I walked through and saw as much as I could and then had to leave.  I spent 4 hours there and that was all I could do.  Of all my wonderful experiences that I have had in Paris this was not in the tops.  I would recommend any of my other experiences before the Louvre.  And the quintessential Louvre moment was the Mona Lisa.  I equate the Mona Lisa to that story of old about the Kings new clothes.  Everyone has been told how fantastic the Mona Lisa painting is.  And everyone has to see it.  I think it is probably the least impressive painting in the museum.  Hence my take on the Mona Lisa...  the king is naked!

So I will book my Louvre experience as been there, done that, no need to go back.  

Alas, I began to lose site of where I am.  I am in Paris and it is fantastique!  I mediated my day with a stop at my favorite patisserie.  And of course... Bonsoir the little shopkeeper said as he reaches for my mille feuille!  And life is good. 😊

That and on my way back from dinner a small church had a sign: Concert Tonight. I was intrigued ...  a Beethoven concerto!  Why not, some of the nicest experiences come from events that present themselves serendipitously.  It was not a disappointment.  It was at Eglise Saint Julien Le Pauvre, the oldest church in Paris.

  It was a small church by the standards of all the other churches I have been in. The small size and the tapestries on the wall all made for great acoustics.  The maestro and the Steinway that he so elegantly played made the music in the church seemed so magical.  They turned the lights out in the church during the recital and the only light was candlelight...  Beautiful!!!

The perfect way to end the day.  😌