Louvre pt. 1

Today was the day to conquer the Louvre Museum, but I managed to only see the first floor before getting ready to leave. I'm glad I have a year to live in Paris because its going to take maybe 3 more visits to see all of it. I also want to go again to count how many times I see Jesus. So far, theres a lot of Jesus painting and sculptures. 

Outside the Louvre

That room was really big with a lot of statues like that. It was amazing

 A lion! I felt like I was at a zoo because I would take pictures of things and then walk away. I wouldn't stare at it or read about it. I just kept walking.

This one was popular

aw cute

Jesus

Jesus

Jesus on a donkey

Jesus, mary, and theres me

That looks familiar. Poseidon or some god? je ne sais pas

 I think that was on the cover of my Humanities book in College. not sure.

Oh I see my favorite!

 Getting closer

Almost there

This is my favorite! Winged Victory. Nike of Samothrace.

 Here it is from the side

 The ceiling

 Too many people

Jesus and neighbors

some chick

Thats my kind of cereal bowl

Jesus

long hallway with paintings

 The ceiling again

Jesus

 The ceiling

 Again

I love it so much I had to see it again.

And get a picture with it!

This is a picture of it with enhanced colors! I'm so crafty. My camera skillz are awesome! sometimes

And I finished the long day by getting a Palmier and a Macaroon at Ladurée! Think if Marie Antoinette had her own pastry shop.

 After that picture, I got told to not take pictures of the pastries. BUT THEY'RE SO PRETTY

I ate my macaroon before I could think about taking a picture of it. I got the salted caramel one. Pretty good.

I could only eat half of my Palmier. So big but so good!

My favorite movies!

My favorite movies include Moulin Rouge! and Amélie.
La Moulin Rouge is famous for inventing the can-can dance! This is a small cafe down the street from it that is famous for being where Amélie works in the movie. One thing these movies have in common other than they are set in Paris is that they both have a little bit of fantasy to them to really understand what emotions the characters are feeling. I have two clips in this blog and at the end of both, you see the fantasy part.

My first stop was to see the Moulin Rouge. This area of Paris is called the Red Light district, and If you know the lyrics to "Roxanne" by the Police, you will understand what kind of area this is.

Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

I went on a Sunday afternoon when I knew I would be safe. I don't plan on going at night for sure, but this is what the movie is kind of about. Prostitution in Paris at the Moulin Rouge. My favorite part is when "Your song" by Elton John is sung by Ewan Mcgregor.

Then for the Cafe, I found a table inside and got an amazing Crème Brûlée! And just like Amélie in the movie, I had fun cracking the hardend caramel layer on the top with my spoon.

Breathtaking!

I had big plans today to go shopping. There was a large shopping center that I had in mind, and I knew how to get there. Plans changed as I was sitting on the train. I was about 3 train stops away from where I planned to get off. I looked on my map and noticed that the next stop we were stopping at was called "Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel", so I thought that the Eiffel tower must be close by. The train was currently in a tunnel so once it got out of the tunnel, I first looked over to the right. I thought it would be on the left for some reason, so I looked across the train to the other side and out the windows. I saw no tower. I turned my head to the window right beside me, and there it was! SO BIG. In plain view. The whole thing from top to bottom! Right there! It was one of those moments where you can't breathe it's so beautiful. I stared at it for a few seconds, and then I couldn't see it anymore. More depressing, I didn't have time to pull out my camera. I promise, my camera will be ready the next time I take that same train.
I am very happy I saw the Eiffel Tower that way. The glamor and excitement kind of died down after being able to see it from a distance. Everywhere you are in paris, you can see it if a large building isn't in your way. I though that seeing the top of the tower every now and then would take away from the magic of it. But my first up close view of it was definitely not the same as seeing it from a distance. You have not seen the Eiffel Tower unless you've been up close to it. Here are my first few pictures.

Do I look like a tourist? I guess I would if I step aside to take a picture of the Eiffel Tower. But after taking that picture, a young girl that looked about my age came up to me and said "Hi, do you speak English?" I thought maybe this poor young girl needed help. Not like I know anything about being in Paris but ok. I said yes and suddenly she was shoving her clip board in my face trying to get me to sign some petition. huh? um no, I'm not going to give you money. Thanks chick for bursting my bubble and ruining the happiest moment of my life.

If you ever go to Paris, always say No to the people asking you to sign something. It's just to take your money. They seek out the tourist. American tourists who are nice enough to listen and dumb enough to sign something just to get people to leave you alone. I had to tell that girl no 3 times.

On the street that is in the last two pictures was a store that sold parfume and handbags and junk. I went in just to look and smell french parfumes. I knew I wanted to buy a small french parfume and use it every day. That way, when I smell the parfume in the future, It will remind me of my time spent living in Paris. So, of course, I got Coco Mademoiselle Chanel. It's pretty nice.