Realizations

Since I last left you, I was talking about the French city of love, Paris, and how it was such a life changing experience for me. I say this because not only did I travel alone for the first time in my life but I also realized certain things about myself that I have not recognized in a very long time.

So what were the realizations that occurred, you ask? I'll tell you. I realized that I like escargot and foie gras whereas most people cringe at just the words being spoken. I realized that I am very good with directions even with a map turned upside down. I realized that I could walk into just about any restaurant, sit down and order a nice meal...by myself. I realized I could smile and start up conversations with just about anyone I encounter. And of course, I realized that you simply just cannot see all of the Musée du Louvre in one day. It is just impossible. I have heard people mention this before and thought, we'll just have to see about that. So, I put it to the test and well, I have to say...they're right. No....just kidding. I didn't put it to the test because I booked a tour for myself prior to my arrival in Paris and knew I was going to get completely lost in there. I mean, how does one get lost in a museum? My Dad used to say to us with his Brooklyn accent, "gettt lost", so if he said that to us when we were little kids and while in the Louvre, we literally would have gotten lost. They might have had to send a search team in there to find us because it's just that big. Holy smokes! I'll say it again, this place is MASSIVE. I could probably spend a week in there and still not see everything there is to see. How is it that there is so much artwork in one place? It makes my head spin just thinking about it.

Now, mind you, I didn't too much research beforehand for this trip so I was almost completely in the dark and basically did everything spur of the moment (which I also realized I like doing). I say "almost" and "basically" because except for this tour and the Paris city tour, which I booked for myself prior to travelling to Paris, I did everything else spur of the moment. Not bad for not planning. So anyway, while I am at the Louvre, I learn that it was originally built as a fortress. That's right, the Louvre was originally constructed on the banks of the Siene in the 12th century as a fortress by King Philippe Auguste (French for Philip II Augustus) to help protect Paris from Northern invaders. And then later, a couple hundred years later, part of it was built as a royal residence. But, can you believe that the Louvre was opened as a museum of art in the year 1793? Who would have thought? Pretty interesting right? Ok, so, I see Egyptian art, I see Roman art, I see Italian art, I see beautiful sculptures everywhere such as the famous Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace , aaaand I see what everyone wants to see while visiting the Louvre, the piece de resistance (said with a French accent) - the Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, otherwise known as.........wait for it........the Mona Lisa. This visit to the Louvre can be summed up in one word - stunning.

I can go on and on and on about all of the artwork I have seen at the Louvre but what about the artwork I haven't seen yet? Does this mean that I ought to plan another trip back to Paris?