To understand this post, you’ll have to go through my 1st boring post “My trip to Paris Pt 1 - At KLIA Airport”, “My trip to Paris Pt 2 - Touchdown Paris”, “My trip to Paris Pt 2.5 - Touchdown Paris”, “My trip to Paris Pt 3 - Grevin’s and Paris Central” , “My trip to Paris Pt 3.5 - Grevin’s and Paris Central” & “My trip to Paris Pt 3.5.5 - Grevin’s and Paris Central”

The River Seine

19th January 2007

• 7am

SoGua’s super stress. Not even bother me and kept on mumbling to himself why he can’t go back home. Confirm he had to stay on for another week. Broke my heart seriously but I decided not to stay on. Afraid I would give him unnecessary worries as well but at the same time, wished I could be there for him for the following week. At least, if I’m around, I could make him laugh or something. I know he must be so stress because he’s not himself. Poor Guy! Ate breakfast with him again. Yah, its the 7 Euros buffet breakfast. Had croissant again!

• 10am

After seeing him off to work, I went my own way back to St Lazare. This time, I’m heading to the Musee Louvre (pronounced as mu-sue-luv). Heard you need to take the whole day to walk that place so thought of going early. But then again, knowing me, I’ll probably take about an hour

• 10.30am

Bus came and drove around Montmartre (yellow line) again. Feeling a little drowsy already on the way there. Got a glimpse of the white chapel and thought if I have time, I’ll stop by there. Have to go all the way to Auber again (the green line). If there’s time, I’ll probably visit the Bastille-Bercy (blue line) and Montparnasse-St Germain (green line).

L Open Tour’s bus map

• 12pm

Finally reached the Louvre. Yesterday passed by only didn’t realize how huge the place was. When I stepped out of the bus only I realized why people tell me why you need the whole day! Its hugeeeee! Afterall, its a castle.

The ever famous Louvre Pyramid. You know you’ve reached the Louvre when you see this!

View of the pyramid from Louvre’s Lobby

One end of Louvre’s building

Luckily, there wasn’t really a crowd in buying the tickets. Entrance fee to the arts costs 8.50 Euros. It was really huge and I got lost first. They divide the building into types of art and which era. Not familiar with arts at all, I was lost in the sculptures section.

After a while, I decided to head to get a glimpse of the Monalisa. Actually, I wanted to see more of the Last Supper but mission failed! I just couldn’t find it. Finding the Monalisa was easier because they had all the posters showing the way to the Monalisa. Too bad I couldn’t get a picture of it because its wrong to take any photographs at the Painting’s section. In fact, I was surprised that all the paintings were to protected or should I say boarded up behind a glass or something. They were all exposed that you can actually touch them but of course, being very civilized people, no one touches the precious paintings.

I’m not much of an art lover so I couldn’t really understand what the paintings were about (plus all the labels are in French!) but some of the paintings, you just have to admire because of the intricate details and the shades of light. When I finally found Monalisa, I finally understood why everyone’s so into the painting. Its undescribable and believe me, Leonardo did a really good job because its as if the painting itself was alive. The facial expressions and the way the eye was painted gave life to Monalisa herself. Its not the same feeling you get when you look at the picture from the TV or a photograph. I’ll never forget the feeling Monalisa gave when I stared into her eyes

• 2pm

I left after 2 hours of arts exposure. I think if I tell you this, you’ll laugh but the thing about The Louvre at the paintings section is the musty smell to my sensitive nose. Maybe that day I was being unlucky but hanging around at The Louvre gave me stomach pain and caused me to visit the toilet twice! And as soon as I left, my tummy was ok again.

I again waited for the bus and this time, I want to visit the Blue and Orange lines.