Arty Farty

On our first day, we arrived at 6am and couldn't access our apartment until 5pm. This after a 22 hour flight meant that we had to fill in a day, not stop long enough to fall asleep and entertain ourselves until we could muster the strength to carry our sorry tired arses up 100 winding spiral steps to our fifth floor apartment. 

We did this by gulping tiny cups of addictive and delicious espresso, eating croissants and wondering around town to check out the lay of the land.  We walked across to Notre Dame of course, through the backstreets and emerged on a bridge which we crossed and into a courtyard of a rather impressive building before realising that the glympse of a glass pyramid through an arched entrance meant we had wondered into the courtyard of the Louvre. 

Upon reflection, we were idiots, the building is massive, how could we not have known what it was. Characteristically French with it's gorgeous towers, wide open spaces and that Pyramid. I know the French didn't like it but you know exactly where you are when it emerges. 

We didn't go in first day of course but did eventually walk its hallowed corridors and thousands of steps. We barely touched the surface and after a while it became exhausting. I'm sorry I couldn't find the sarcophagus with the 10 Muses on it but Nike was stupendous in her headless glory and greeted us atop the first flight of stairs. The Mona Lisa is, well the Mona Lisa and it's hard not to become rather bored with the size of the collection so here's a few little known pieces that simply took my breath away:

 The building itself is a work of art

 

Fabulous sculptures rescued from Paris Parks

 

Very Frenchy, very chic

 Napoleon's Apartments, opulent to the core 

 

Even the escalator are impressive but few and far between

 

Walls and floors go unnoticed but are breathtaking

 

Now that's a welcome at a very ostentatious door

 

Don't forget to look UP!

 

Corridors of masterpieces, hard to imagine that they become monotonous. At this point I'm feeling rather embarrassed about my squeaky Dunlop Volleys.

 

Nike is huge and splendid and pathetic. I loved this thing so much

 

Wheres Langdon?

Ancient and moving, each monk is unique

Almost too big to photograph, it took my breath away

 

 

And the highlight. Tiny sparrows fed from our hands in the park outside, just lovely.