Last Update:01/06/00 About This Site About the Author

Today we planned to go to the Louvre and made it about 11:15. We had a late start, catching up on sleep from the train trip Friday night. We wandered around for a while trying to figure out where to go in, hoping that we wouldn't have to stand in the 100 M long line. We started out knowing nothing except that we were going to the Louvre. We couldn't even spell it. After arguing and complaining about standing in the cold for a long time, we got in line. There were some British folks behind us and we spoke to them a little. After the line stopped moving, we were standing there and this old man came up to us and said 'you look like Americans'. We didn't know what he was after, so we said 'so do you'. He spoke to the folks behind us also and pegged them as Brits. Then came his proposal. For 50 francs each, he would get us in (no waiting) and give us a 1 hour tour. We jumped at the offer and followed him in the group entrance. When we got down under the pyramid (that's where most people have to go in, he collected our money and also collected money for tickets. On Sunday the rate is reduced from 45 FRF to 26 FRF. There was a big line for tickets also, but Hans went right to the front and got ours.

Our tour actually lasted about an hour and a half. Hans gave an excellent tour and taught us a lot of history at the same time. We got along fine with the Brits. I took a picture and e-mailed it to them. They promised to send a picture they took.

Before telling more about the Louvre, I want to mention something we noticed riding the Metro (subway). On several occasions, musicians (accordian player or accordian player and guitarist) would board the train and play until the next stop. Then they would circulate and take donation, after which they would move to the next car. We gave them a couple of francs for the entertainment.

We spent 5 hours at the Louvre, but only saw a fraction of it. It is a HUGE museum that would take literally days and days to go through. I took some pictures which turned out pretty well. I could have taken hundreds. I guess that's what you buy books on the Louvre for - to see the art and paintings inside. Of course we saw the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. We thought many of the other paintings were as impressive or more so. Take a look at the pictures we took if you haven't already to get a tiny idea of what we saw.

After the Louvre, we walked west towards the big Arch. We didn't make it because of time and tired feet. We made it back to the hotel to retrieve our bags, had some excellent pizza and wine, and boarded the train for Milan.

Walking next to the river on the way back from the Louvre, there was one street that was like pet shop row. They didn't just have dogs and cats and rabbits. We saw goats, ducks, chickens, hens, peacocks - you name it. I guess they were for sale as pets?

We vow to return to Paris and spend more time next trip!