Paris-The Louvre

Sunday, April 27, 2008



After our picnic in the Latin Quarter we headed for the Musee du Lourve. The palace that houses so many great masterpieces of art is a masterpiece itself. The official website of the Louvre is full of info-too bad I didn't look at it before we went. Here is the link directly to the history of the palace. http://www.louvre.fr/llv/musee/histoire_louvre.jsp?bmLocale=en Be sure to look at the virtual tours on the site. It is a free art history course.

Above is the view from the third floor of the museum out into the courtyard where the pyramid entrance to the palace is located.

It would take days to carefully examine every piece of art, artifact and sculpture in the massive palace. The few hours we had were just not adequate to see much. We did see the Mona Lisa. All of the Biblical related art was the most beautiful. Especially the Wedding Feast at Cana by Paolo Veronese from 1533.

Paris- Latin Quarter

Sunday, April 27, 2008

In the center of the Latin Quarter in Paris stands the Fountiane Saint Michael. It was created by French sculptor Davioud in 1860 and shows Michael the Archangel, considered the protector of France, slaying the evil one.

The Latin Quarter is filled with narrow winding streets, restaurants and small shops. The area got its name from the university students who would congregate in the area and speak Latin in their academic discussions.

Robert and Olivia napping after our picnic lunch.

This guy was part of the entertainment at an African themed restaurant. Two others dressed in ethnic clothing were playing music on the side.

These four young men had obviously spent hours and hours developing their street routine. The crowd they drew was huge. Not sure how much money was put in their hat when all was said and done, but they were very talented. Keaton said that it was unnatural for people to move their bodies in the way these guys did, especially the one white guy in the group.

Dinner in the Latin Quarter. As dinner time approached all of the restaurant owners in the quarter stood in the door ways of their restaurants trying to lure tourists inside. We decided on gyros-the Greek version of the Israeli schwarma and the Turkish donar kabop. The twist on the gyros here was the yogurt sauce and the french fries! And of course the Greek decor.