The Eternal Museum in Paris

Ok so I am trying this French key board again. We will see how it goes.

I went to the Louve today. So that is why my legs are sore and my eyes are tired. I have decided. I am officially not a museum person. Or a big city person. 4 hours of walking around looking at art is a once in a lifetime experience...both in terms of the incredible things I saw in person which I have only up until today read about and in terms of "I do not care to do it again". I have heard the Louve was big but I did not realize it is eternal! Really I think people go in and never come out. There were moments today when I thought I would never see blue sky again. It twists and turns, goes up stairs and down stairs eternally. After today I have a whole new concept of eternal life. I am so glad mine or yours will not be in a Museum; Yes, I am silly.


After waiting in the line to pay and get in I went straight to the Mona Lisa. I was thinking as I walked there, "What is all the hype about this painting?" I have seen posters of it and I do not get it. But then I stood in front of it and decided quickly that the posters and the pictures in history and art books just do not do justice to the real thing. I think besides her hair-due Mona Lisa is\was a beautiful woman. For someone who is not a museum person, the Mona Lisa was really incredible. Another highlight for me was Hammurabi Code in the Egyptian section; I remember learning about it in school and to see it in front of me was surreal. I liked the Renaissance rooms the best. Oh and Napoleon 3's apartment.

I walked to the Arc De Triumph today and splurged on a crepe with Nutella and Banana. I felt like I was really in Paris as I walked with my crepe in hand, with the Louve behind me and the Arc in front of me and the Eifel tower in the distance to the left. Ah... am I really walking alone in Paris? Yep. Never would have thought I could experience a city like this. I do think Paris is better experienced with someone although I really do not get all the romance associated with the city.

When I reached the Arc I sat down near a gate to finish my crepe. Um, I think a dog had used this area for a toilette earlier on or was it a cat? Before I could move a nicely dressed girl who looked like a gypsy, approached me and asked, "Do you speak English?" This was not the first time this trip for this to happen. As I am alone I have tried to be hyper aware of my surroundings. The girl was going to ask me for money. So I just looked at her as if I did not understand, I did not speak a word and I waved her away. Probably not the most Christian thing to do but definately the safest thing. I sat there and watched as she solicited funds from the whole crowd. There were two of them today. I wonder if they go to the same place everyday? I wonder what their lives are really like? I wish I could know without the fear and frustration of being solicited for money in a tourist area.

I went to a normal and non tourist area of Paris today and I must say it was the highlight after the Mona Lisa. I was amazed by all the cultures or ethnic backgrounds in the area--blcks, olive, red, white with the whole spectrim of hair yet no Asian. Beside the tourist places Paris has had the fewist number of Asians of my trip in weeks. It could just be where I have been. At the market area today there was an Indian musical group. They looked American Indian but that could mean Northern or Southern.

Tomorrow I am praying I find the little Nazarene Church in Versailles. Another adventure awaits in the morning. If nothing else I will go to the Palace of Versailles tomorrow. I really hope to worship with Nazarenes tomorrow.