Louvre

When Marc's sister Lisa and her son Sam were in town, we took them to the Louvre.

 

There is just so much to see. The tour guide on the Bateaux Mouches told us that, if you spent two months, day and night, walking through the Louvre, you would only be able to look at each work of art for 5 seconds!

 

We figured they would want to see the Mona Lisa, so we started in that direction.

 

Because Max had already been to the Louvre twice this visit - including a guided tour - and also because he is a great big brother, he played games with Eva and generally kept her occupied so that I could enjoy the visit more.

The Mona Lisa is always surrounded by huge crowds with their cameras, phones, and tablets. And people taking self-portraits with her. It's crazy. Lisa tried to talk Marc into having his picture taken with her and Mona, but he wasn't having it. I took a picture of her and Sam instead.

This room is filled with paintings that I love. A sample:

I love this whole painting, but this time I was struck by the waves around the falling-apart raft.

Of course, we saw a field trip. I cannot imagine being in charge of a group of kids in the Louvre!

I love the artist's hand and paintbrushes. Not pictured: he had his ear pierced! Several of us noticed this and thought it seemed anachronistic.

an inner courtyard

cousins discussing art

We all agreed this statue looks like he's taking a selfie with his phone. I don't know what he's really doing.

But he does have reason to be pleased with himself.

I enjoy watching people studying the art. I wondered what they were seeing.

They were seeing this couple examing a butterfly together.

It was raining really hard! I was glad we were inside.

I remember seeing this statue before, but I didn't remember her holding her foot like she was in pain.

Then Max pointed out that she had probably just been bitten by this scorpion! Ohhhhh. I hadn't approached that side before.

I know I. M. Pei's pyramid has been the subject of controversy, but I love it.

misc. from Mom, Dad, & Jessie's visit

One day we walked over to Les Invalides.

We found a door just big enough for my mom.

Jessie brought Telestrations for Eva's birthday. It was highly entertaining.

Jessie was sketching the term "jailbird." Eva, unfamiliar with that term, guessed "person imprisoned by chick." Hilarity ensued.

Three of my favorite people.

Eva wanted to ride the carousel, but she didn't want to go by herself.

Jessie accommodated, but requested that we not take any photos. I made no promises.

street crêpes for lunch

.....aaaaand creepy clowns at the Champ de Mars.

le Bon Marché

I took Mom and Jess to le Bon Marché to do a little shopping.

Not le Bon Marché. The building across the street.

Jessie and I went to the toy department so she could find painfully cute gifts for her girls.

Check out this darling modern dollhouse!

I thought it was fun to see familiar games with French names.

Seriously pleasing rainbow of cups.

I love the displays of accessories in giant confectionery boxes!

Strange and very expensive necklaces.

The interior is not as glamorous as Galeries Lafayette, but it has its charms.

We found these gold glitter condiments at La Grande Epicerie!

And, of course, some beautiful pastries.

Versailles

Jessie wanted to see Versailles, so we all went for an excursion one day when Marc was teaching.

The gardens are just immense. I could have easily spent another couple of hours wandering outside.

Mom and Jess

Eva was right in front of a French school group! Quite a field trip.

We found a snail in the path and Jessie picked it up to move it to safety, but not before Eva took a photo.

I love these bushes trimmed into urn shapes!

Quelle drame!

We had my mom stand next to one of these urns to show the scale.

The thing about Versailles is that it is so over the top. So much gilding everywhere that you just kind of burn out. At least I do. But it is still interesting to imagine thousands of people living there, milling around the grounds, the king holding court, the secret trysts, the servants, the parties...

the chapel

the Hall of Mirrors

This ceiling was in a far more sedate area of the château as we were exiting. I would rather see carved stone any day over all the crazy gilded excess.

The grounds were more to my liking.

As well as these cool graphics in the ticketing office!