THE LOUVRE:
today we did our second day through the Louvre. we took on the second half of the museum. and i must confess, if it were a contest to see who could see it all at once...I'd lose. there is no possible way. you'd need a whole week! we got through about a 1/2 of the 1/2 we didn't see last time. you might ask, why it took so long? there seems to be no end to the rooms that are rooms within rooms. steps that you think lead out, actually lead to another room. it's a maze of corridors and steps and rooms. and each room has an endless collection of absolutely beautiful artwork. i'm telling you...it's crazy overwhelming! they give you a map of the 4 floors but i think you need a university degree in how to get out.
anyways, as i said in a previous post, they allow people to sketch and paint and take photos. you can see most people sitting on benches or on steps with sketch pads in hand doing their best to capture a quick likeness of a favored painting or sculpture. today we happened upon an artist who brought his whole studio with him to paint. as you can see in the photo...he wasn't afraid to bring a large easle and all his paints and supplies. and there he went to work recreating a masterpiece. unbelievable!
okay, this American is still in shock. i have had security guards practically acost me for chewing gum in a local small city art museum in the States...and here in the most famous art museum in the world with the most priceless paintings of all time...one can just walk right up to a masterpiece and only inches away, pull out supplies and start slapping paint on a canvas. inconceivable!
i love Paris!
