And, no .... I didn't fall into her.

( But given my past history, that may have been your first thought.)

Last year when I was here ... (!)
I couldn't find the Mona Lisa.
Up stairs.
Down stairs.
Sideways.
I was looking for her and following all the signs.

This year, wasn't looking for her and there she was.
How good is that?

I went to the Louvre today.
Had a great day.
Caught the metro from Place D'Italie.
Only went 2 stations the wrong way.
Got off at each station...
Tolbiac... Bit small and quiet, I thought. Could have done with piped music.
Madison Blanche... Bit bigger.... More posters... And music. Nice.

Engaged a few French people in conversation at both stations.
First Lady at Tolbiac ... Said , Yes. You are going the right way....
And directed me onto the train.
Nope.
Still going the wrong way.
Got off.

Next lady .... We had it wired.
She even looked up the Metro on her IPhone to make sure.
Oh... Over the other side of the track.
See, this side was going right and I actually wanted to go left, despite what you may have gathered from the blog title.

(Don't worry about me, Emily. I'm fine.)

So on the train to the Louvre.
Not that hard.

Arrived at the Metro station in the Rue de Rivoli.
The 'secret' entrance to the Louvre.
Wandered the shops in the Carousel de la Louvre.
Bought a ticket at a machine for entrance and a head set, and I was off.

Not looking for anything in particular.
(Because that just makes you very hot and bothered.)
First thing I ran into was Michaelangelo's Slaves.
I just grinned.
(Had a very hard time finding them last year... And this time they just appeared in front of me.)

The audio/visual guide was great.
Thought of you, Brooke.
I just wandered around and heard the history of some amazing pieces of art.
Then, I wandered into a room and there were ( more ) people everywhere.
What are they looking at?
Oh...
There she is.

Sometimes it's wonderful to be by yourself.
I was in no hurry and just gradually made my way to the front.
And looked at the Mona Lisa.
She was bigger than I thought she'd be.
Funny that. I had always heard how small she was. And there she was ... Bigger.
And she is lovely.
I stood there for ages, on the rope, just looking.
It's not every day you stand in front of the Mona Lisa.

There were people everywhere.

It's a very popular place.

I found 'The Winged Victory of Samothrace'.
Now this is absolutely spectacular.
And the positioning at the top of the huge marble staircase is genius.
I just sat and looked... for ages.
She's amazing.
And remembered the pictures I had seen as they evacuated her from the Louvre before the Nazis took Paris.
Ropes and pulleys and lots of men guiding her down those stairs.

Stopped for lunch at a lovely cafe inside the Louvre.
( They give you your check when they deliver your food, Emily.
I think they like to keep people moving.)

Pasta and chicken ... Delicious.
And a nice view into a gallery.

Saw magnificent paintings, marble statues.
Heard amazing histories.
Really enjoyed it.

Then, I did want to see the marble horse statues .... 'Horses of Marly... G. Coustou'.
Looked for these last time.
Not really a good idea to be looking for something.
I went down, up, sideways....
And then did it all again.
Saw wonderful things on my journey...
And stopped to listen and explore.
But it is a very confusing place.

Had decided not to worry about them...
And ran into them.
Love it when that happens!
In a magnificent glass roofed courtyard.
Sat here for ages.
Just a beautiful setting.

So I decided to leave after that.
Back out into the Carousel Shopping Centre.
Explored all the shops.
Bought another wallet, Emily.
For the big notes, just to be pulled out when needed.

Out into the Rue de Rivoli.
There was a market on.
Wandered that.
Saw the most wonderful horse statues.
Wanted to buy one

Then onto the Metro, and home.

An hour on the bed doing the blog and I am off again, into the shopping centre at the Citadines.
Bought a jumper.

Then into the Cafe O Jules for dinner.
The lovely tall waiter said hi and wondered where you were.
And he sent our lovely waitress to serve me.
Rump steak ... Medium.
Delicious.
Watching the passing parade.
I cried when I said goodbye.

Off to Munich tomorrow.
I'll miss this place.

Xxxx