The Louvre. Today we tackled the biggie. When I first saw this place I felt like the first time I saw the Grand Canyon. Overwhelmed. I actually teared up. This is one of those places you read about in school that everyone talks about as amazing. They describe it with reverence. And, as a high school sophomore, you're thinking...whatever. Just like the Grand Canyon, you just don't get it till you actually see it!
We walked up to the museum and got in the immense line. It was a three hour wait from where we were. We didn't realize that the first Sunday of every month is free admission. Oh, boy.
After standing there for a few minutes a lady came up to me and said, "You speak english right? " I was worried she was some sort of scam artist, so I just kind of nodded and played dumb. She said, "I promised myself when I came out of the museum that the next English person I saw I would tell that there is another entrance from the underground mall with no line!"
Riggghhhhttt. Well, we decided to check it out and not ten minutes later we were in the Louvre. Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas all rolled into one!
The end of the line. Three hours.
Inside, ten minutes after the Line Fairy showed up. Even the staircase is a work of art.
Statues in the first gallery we went into. The lighting and way they were displayed was fantastic.
The hallways as we were walking to see the biggies: Venus de Milo and The Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Real. And Huge. Winged Victory.
The ceiling in the Grand Hall. This is where you walk and see every painting you saw in any art history book having to do with European paintings from the 13th century on. And they really do exist!
That little dark square at the end of the pic is the Mona Lisa. I loved the crowd around it. People were taking pictures like nobody's business. People were so busy photographing and trying to get their pictures with it that I'm not sure they even saw it. I've heard that she can be disappointing. I wasn't. It's the MONA LISA, people.
My absolute favorites. These are two of four by Guiseppe Arcimboldo. I was so excited to see these in person. I've shared these with my students so many times and they always love them. And I saw them in person. So cool.
In a very loooonnnngggg hallway of 'Madonna and child-type' paintings, here was the one we voted ugliest baby. Check out that baby's face. The poor kid looks like he's sixty -five with sideburns. Unfortunate. Kev did like that he was giving the peace sign.
I'm you Venus.
Early book? But, of course.
And, finally, if you get to the louvre you should know a few rules.
If you use flash photography, your camera will explode.
If you you run in the gallery, you will be speared in the head.
If you touch another's boob, your hand will be severed.
If you talk loudly in the gallery, you will be speared in the head.
Just FYI.
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