Day Two

After a traditional Parisian breakfast of café au lait and croissant, make your way to the Musee du Louvre. Enter through the 71-foot-tall I.M. Pei glass pyramid, which is a marvel, even though many of the French detest it.

 

If you would like to take a guided tour, there are some available in English lasting about 90 minutes. They give you a great overview of the museum and allow you to see the major sights. The most famous, of course, is Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. After a major facility renovation, she is now situated in her own private room, encased behind protective glass. The painting was actually stolen in 1911 and lost for two years before it was reclaimed in 1913. Today’s security measures all but ensure that will never happen again.

 

Two other pieces most tourists try to catch are the famous classical Greek sculptures, the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace (also called Nike of Samothrace). Even in their broken states, the statues are an amazing site to behold, given their ancient origin.  

 

The Richelieu Wing houses French paintings, decorative arts, French sculptures, and Asian antiquities. There are also fragments of the Parthenon’s frieze. The Grand Galerie is dedicated to Italian paintings, mostly from the Renaissance years, with works from Raphael and da Vinci. Other collections include Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities.

 

When you are ready for a lunch break, try either Café Richelieu or Café Marly. Fuel up on the lovely sandwiches and pastries and continue your journey through this massive collection of treasures.

 

Try to tear yourself away from the Louvre and make your way over to the Left Bank for an evening stroll. St-Germain-des-Pres and place St-Michel are wonderful for experiencing the old world Rive Gauche Parisian spirit.