Paris, je t'aime

We got back to Paris just after New Year's, and just in time for me to spend an entire day at the Louvre Museum. Happily for my wallet, the first Sunday of each month is free for everyone at the Louvre! I saw the Mona Lisa and was completely underwhelmed. They covered the painting with a reflective glass case (which I can understand, to control humidity and such, but still), then cordoned off the floor in front of it in about 20 feet in each direction. And it's already such a small painting, in comparison to the others in the same room! Oh well. There was still an enormous crowd gathered in front of it and snapping pictures, though.

I really enjoyed the next gallery over, of large-scale French Romanticism paintings. I recognized Raft of the Medusa, The Coronation of Napoleon, Liberty Leading the People, and Napoleon Crossing the Alps, among so many others. And of course, the Nike of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and my favorite statue ever, Psyche Revived by Cupid. It was like walking through my AP Art History textbook all over again!

Some dudes practicing their rollerblading skillz outside the Louvre.

This was where the line to see the Venus de Milo usually started. Ridiculously long lines.

After the museum closed I hung out in the lobby under the Pyramid for a while.

The glass and metal grid makes for some interesting effects on pictures!

I played around with the timer setting on my camera for a bit.

The pyramids and the pools also made for some cool pictures.


The Seine is beautiful at night.

The Eiffel Tower lit up at night.