Today, marks the start of my 4th week in Paris, and I felt ready to venture out of my « quartier. » So, I walked to le musée du Louvre.

I left the apartment late morning, heading down my street in the opposite direction from my usual path. According the the city mapper app, the walk was supposed to take 25 minutes, but it was longer because there was much to stop and see along the way. Beautiful streets filled with beautiful shops and cafés kept distracting me from my walk. I even passed the renowned « Les Deux Magots café. »

There were blue skies above as I crossed Pont des Arts, watching couples take selfies of themselves. Once on the grounds of the Louvre, all you see are people taking selfies and randomly jumping in the air for those trick shots you see on social media. There are sturdy blocks strategically positioned all around – encouraging people to stand on them and pose for photos wherein they look like they’re touching the top of the I.M. Pei glass pyramid. Berets and striped sweaters were everywhere too, as lots of people seem to like to dress up like the stereotypical Frenchman/woman wearing « La marinière pull » complete with beret.

My first stop inside was of course, the Venus de Milo. I lingered. How can you not. The Nintendo audio tour device took awhile to figure out, but soon I was able to enjoy the lengthy essays.

I peeked in on my namesake, of course, along with the rest of the Européen continent. It was crowded but not awful. The Mona Lisa room is by far the most popular destination in the museum. She’s behind layers of glass, so it’s impossible to get a clear view/shot, but she’s lovely as ever.

There are actual photo-signs everywhere with arrows indicating where she is, I guess because the docents are weary of answering the same question. Someone drew a moustache on one of these photocopies, and I had to laugh. Banksy style. IN THE LOUVRE! Blasphème! Lol

The third piece I wanted to see was « La Liberté Guidant le peuple » by Delacroix, or « Marianne » as she is known and adored as, in France. And of course, Winged Victory of Samothrace, which is dramatically situated at the top of marble stairs at the end of this grand hall.

In between these popular pieces, are a million other gems – literally and figuratively. I toured as much as I could today, from the seemingly endless Egyptian rooms to the few modern clothing pieces, now on exhibit, by Yves St. Laurent.

It’s fun to see the interaction and engagement by the young people with art, but then I did notice most of these visitors were TAKING pictures with the paintings, not LOOKING at the paintings. For some, it was all about posing and posting. A new art form, I guess.

It’s always a good idea to leave a museum of this size BEFORE you’re tired because it can take awhile to find the exit. I can’t say I did that, but I had enough energy, and my phone had enough battery power left, to get home – though we both were close to running out.