Today is Monday, March 31. After a good night’s rest, we wake up to coffee, pastries, and leftovers from last night’s dinner. I ventured to Notre Dame early in the morning to light a candle, pray, and visit the inside of the magnificent church.
We are excited to use our museum pass for the first time and head to the Louvre. Buy the pass! It is worth it if you stay for a while and visit multiple museums. Not only do you get to skip some of the lines, but you can also use the pass to hop into a museum to rest and use the restroom. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in Paris. We agreed to not invest in many group tours but to use Rick Steve’s audio downloads. This saved money, time, and head space. I adore a tour guide, but there is such a thing as museum overload. If you want a group tour or personal tour, try some of these companies.
Local tour guides will appear on your web search as you explore an area. The above companies are ones I’ve used with ease and found to be top-notch. Read reviews and the fine print before you purchase. For example, if you want to go inside a building, make sure it says “tour of inside” rather than “walking tour” and “you will pass by the building.”
Louvre Museum Tour
Listen or Download | Download map
When you arrive at the Louvre, find your designated time (signage) and get in line. Although you have a museum pass, some museums require you to schedule a time due to their popularity. The pass website will let you know which ones require reservations. We scheduled our time at 10:00 so we could sleep in a little. The earlier you arrive, the fewer the crowds. You must show your pass along with your ticket, which designates the time you ordered for free. All bags will be checked, and you must go through security, which is true for all museums.
We enjoy Rick’s humor and simplicity. We concentrated on the Greek Antiquities and, of course, the Mona Lisa. I was overwhelmed by the history and discussion of the Greek Antiquities. Before the written language, how humans expressed themselves and communicated was awe-inspiring. The fact that we have folks dedicated to exploring and finding these artifacts and taking the time to study and honor their work brings gratitude.
“Together with the Mona Lisa and The Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo is one of the three most famous female figures in the Louvre. Her name comes from the Greek island of Melos (now called Milos), where she was found in 1820 and acquired almost immediately by the Marquis de Rivière, the French ambassador to Greece at that time. He then presented her to King Louis XVIII, who donated her to the Louvre in March 1821. In barely two years, the Venus had moved from the shadows to the light.” (https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/ideal-greek-beauty)
On the opposite side of Venus de Milo is the Greek god of wisdom, Athena.
Rick commented on the uniqueness of the women facing each other on opposite ends. One showcasing wisdom and the other sensuality. He discussed the artistic expression of sculptures displaying a foot forward. The perfect symmetry and angle.
The museum has a variety of lovely cafes where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, sandwiches, or pastries. We enjoyed a cafe inside the museum just before we went down the stairs to exit into the gardens. I loved the window looking out to this building with the French flag waving.
There is much more to the Louvre; you could spend days exploring. After we visited our two areas, we left through the Tuileries Gardens. Don’t miss the gardens!
“The play areas and activities offered by the Tuileries Garden have long formed part of its picturesque Parisian image. Where the young princes Louis XIII and Louis XV once enjoyed time outdoors, families and children now fill the air with laughter and joy. Most of these activities are located to the north of the garden, on the Rue de Rivoli side.” (https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-gardens)
We walked from the gardens to the Opera Garnier. You can book a 2-hour tour of the Opera House. We had an engaging tour guide who shared the history of the Opera House and fascinating stories. You felt like you were back in time when you sat in the Opera House and imagined the people attending. The Opera House was a place of wealth and standing, and who had the tickets to the designated secluded boxes. Get tickets ahead of time. They sell out fast!
My next post will highlight our walk, lunch spot, Opera Garnier, and the Eiffel Tower—all on the same day. However, I would love to break them up into separate posts.
ARRESTED BY GRACE 