Louvre Museum - Frenchless in France

Another Look

So far our walks are starting in the same place-at the Musee d’Orsay. I was early meeting our friend so I went into the Tuleries Garden again.

A statue with a dog and some pretty clouds.

I’ve never noticed this green scarf behind the sculptures on the Louvre.

Seeing the Pyramid at the Louvre through the arch of the Arch de Triumph built by Napoleon, as was the large one on the Champs Elysees.

An open terrace of a nearby restaurant. We had our first meal out of the house at one the other day.

Into the Garden

A few photos from the first day of the opening of the Tuleries Gardens.

I’ve never noticed this architecture before. I assume it’s original to either Greece or Rome.

We walked through the petite Arch de Triumph.

I’ve always been intrigued with this building from the 1600’s. It is part of a school now. I’m not happy with the puddles and streams of urine in front however. I wondered who picked out that color for the door and shutters. You don’t see hot pink/maroon very often in Paris.

The Seine

We walked along the Seine and enjoyed the view.

There’s the Louvre Museum across the water.

We moved to the other side of the Seine and got some nice views of the bridges as we went along.

Last weekend was the 30th anniversary of the building of the pyramid at the Louvre Museum. An art installation was done by the artist JR which was an optical illusion if seen from above. Down on ground level it was just black and white patterns made of paper. Large crowds of people roamed around having a look.

Here is a photo taken during the building of the pyramid. The architect was IM Pei, an American, chosen by President Mitterrand. There was a lot of controversy about it because it was so modern but it is loved now. I do like how you can see the architecture of the Louvre from inside the lobby.

That’s all paper in the black and white pattern. A couple of the smaller pyramids were covered in black as you can see.

The Light!

There was just incredible light on Sunday. I think Winter can have the best light of the year.

A look at Ile de la Cité from the Post des Arts. Look at the blue sky!

I love this little park and especially the benches shaped like open books.

After crossing the Seine, we were in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum with its famous pyramid.

My favorite view of the pyramid which I’ve taken a photo of sooo many times.

The Louvre and Beyond

I made a quick trip through the Louvre the other day. I am taking friends there next week and it has been so long since I’ve been there that I decided to do a bit of a refresh. It was a Monday which is the day the Orsay is closed so it’s extra crowded. The line in the underground mall leading to the Louvre was extremely long and I almost gave up but tried another entrance and quickly entered. As always, the architecture of the Louvre is as much a work of art as the art it holds.

Winged Victory. I always wonder what she was like with arms and a head. She wasn’t originally on this ship.

A look out a window. As you can see, it was raining and the fountains around the pyramid aren’t working.

I love this staircase. There is a round elevator that goes up in the middle.

The Palais Royal is just across the street so I walked over and saw that some of the columns had been covered in art work.

I like this group the best.