Meeting Mona Lisa

We spent our day at the Louvre yesterday! We got there bright and early, to try and avoid most of the crowds. As soon as we got in, we made a B-line to the Mona Lisa. But we couldn't pass up some other important works of art before seeing the highlight of the museum.

"Winged Victory of Samothrace" (aka Nike)

And then we saw this!

The Mona Lisa is small. That was my first impression when I first saw it 10 years ago, and it's still my impression. Not only that, but they block people off very far away from the painting, so you can't get very close to it. AND! There's always a lot of people in the room, so you have to wait to get. To be honest, I think there were other works of art that are way more impressive, and tell a more interesting story than the Mona Lisa. Like these ones for example...

Four Seasons by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix

Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault

Coronation of Napoleon I by Jacques-Louis David

But Adam on the other hand, thought it was a nice painting. He pointed out that he thinks that it's probably because of the history and the artist is what makes it so popular (even though there are 5 other Da Vinci's in the museum). He doesn't think it's too small for a portrait either.

Da Vinci's

More Da Vinci's

We stayed at the museum for about 6 hours, and we didn't even see all of the art! The museum is broken up into 3 different sections, most of which have 4 floors worth of art. It's insane how much stuff this museum has, and it makes you wonder how they were able to cumulate so much art.

Michelangelo statue - unfinished work because he stopped working on this project and started to work on the Sistine Chapel

Another unfinished Michelangelo statue

Venus de Milo (aka Aphrodite of Milos) 

Box where King Louis XIV kept his jewels

Gallery of Medici

One major disappointment was that half of the Dutch Golden Age part of the museum was closed, and there was a Vermeer that both Adam and I really wanted to see. They close this part of the museum on Thursdays because the museum is just too big to make sure everything is running smoothly (I guess they close one different part of the museum every day??) Major disappointment! But hey, maybe we can come back later in the month, and at least we got to see a van Eyck!

After the museum, we were beat! So we all went back to our apartment so my parents could see where we are staying, and rest (aka take naps...have you seen the infamous photo yet?).

Later on, we met up with one of my mom's cousins, Cecilia, from Mexico (but she is currently living in France with her husband) for drinks and dinner. It was truly a great evening, and Cecilia is so sweet! Getting to know a new relative over drinks/food and good conversation is always so special.

Another conversation of: Wait...how are we related?

Mussels mania!

Delicious dinner and good company