Le Louvre….C’est Magnifique!

We got up early today and walked to the Louvre. It is about 1 mile from our hotel. Not a bad walk but it was lightly raining the whole way there. We arrived at the perfect time. It had only been open for about 30 minutes and we think the rain scared some people away. We went straight for the big one….Mona Lisa. It really was neat to see in person. The painting is about 2×3 feet but she hangs on a HUGE wall all by herself. Definitely a highlight.

We spent about 8 hours in and outside of the Louvre. We arrived just before 10am and we were still taking photos outside at 6pm. There is so much to see and no way to see it all in one day…probalby not in one week! We did an abridged self-guided tour, focusing on what we really wanted to see. The Egyptian art was fascinating, as well as many of the sculptures. It amazes me how someone can work with a medium so hard and cold like stone or marble and produce such a soft result. We had a great day. Jack took a couple of naps; we ate lunch. The exterior of the building may be as impressive as the contents inside. It is such a massive structure and the addition of I.M. Pei’s modern glass pyramid definitely contrasts with the French Renaissance architecture of the Louvre’s original building. I wish I had worn a pedometer….we probably walked miles today. There was an older French couple in an elevator with us and they were talking to Jack in French telling him he is “a future Leonardo Da Vinci”. Who knows….maybe this first trip to the Louvre will be significant for him.

We returned to the hotel and the concierge kindly made us a reservation at a restaurant near the Eiffel Tower. It is surprising how hard it is to find a place that can accommodate children. Even the one that they sent us to that is “child friendly” didn’t have a high chair and was so small that there was nowhere to put the stroller. We took turns passing Jack back and forth while attempting to feed him and ourselves. Our dinner was divine: a typical French meal: frog legs (I know! So gross!…they were really good though), coq au vin, excellent bread and butter and a bottle of Bordeaux. It was delicious.

The Eiffel Tower is lit up at night and glitters ever hour. We caught the 10pm “show” after dinner. It was freezing and raining and did I mention freezing? Neither of us had a true desire to go to the top…the top of the Arch satisfied our desire to see the city from above. But we took the lift up to the first level of the Tower just to get out of the rain and cold. It provided shelter long enough for John to get some photos and then we headed to the hotel. Such a long day…..I’m sure we’ll sleep like rocks tonight. All three of us! Jusque demain, bonne nuit!