Paris Feb 2019 Saturday

With an 11am timed booking for the Louvre, we headed out quite early for a walk down through the city. 

Doors, fantastic doors everywhere you look.

Just a few tourists around and not much traffic. We found the traffic here surprisingly polite and considerate. Being more accustomed to the madness of London traffic, this came as a bit of a surprise. There were lots of electric vehicles and electric scooters - apparently quite new to the city and so far pretty unregulated. I've just read an on-line article reporting that there have been dozens of accidents and even a fatality, so that's going to change.

The Gallerie Vivienne, built in 1823 with worn but still beautiful mosaic floors.

 

Roman Equestrian Statue of Louis XIV in the center of the Place des Victoires.

With gorgeous shops. Look at this wedding dress ...

This was a bit of a surprise, but a welcome resting place on what was going to be a hot day.

The Church Saint-Eustache, built in 1532, overlooking the park with this amazing sandstone scuplture of  a head being cupped in a hand. It's called "L'Écoute" which means 'listen'.  (Henri de Miller 1986)

Then down into this enormous underground shopping centre complete with shops, gym, cinemas and it's own entrance into the Louvre.

As anyone who has ever been to the Louvre will tell you, it's enormous. So, on a first visit it's all you can do to see the highlights.  It's also crazy busy with people. I rather liked the scuplture garden.

And the Rubens room with 24 paintings commissioned by Marie de'Medici (widow of Henri IV) in 1622. 

Having recently re-read 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring' (which is in a collection in The Hague) I was keen to see 'The Lacemaker' but that was out on loan. 'The Astronomer' had to do, and it did quite well. 

A quick stop for tea and sublime patisserie at Angelina's

Having made further plans for the afternoon, we had to do some race walking down the corridors to find the most famous - yes, the 'Mona Lisa', but with quick stops to see the Apollo Gallery,

Venus and the Three Graces by Botticelli

and more ...

We almost missed it!

Having impulsively booked theatre tickets for the afternoon show we had to hurry, but as we reached the exit gates they clanged shut (a bit Bastille like).  A Mouvement des gilets jaunes (yellow jackets) march. Initially sparked by high fuel prices, using the yellow high-visibility vests all drivers are compelled by law to have in any vehicle, some of the protests have been extremely violent, but not this time fortunately.

It was all quite good natured, but they weren't letting us join the crowd so we had to backtrack.

I can't find any information about this street-art picture, but Louise Michel was an anarchist (1830 - 1905) who belonged to the Paris Commune, was deported only to return 8 years later as politically active as ever. She continued the long tradition of revolution and her spirit obviously lives on.

And, from one extreme to another - the Folies Bergère. Thank goodness for Uber, we made it in time for the Jean Paul Gautier show, Fashion Freak Show. It was great! Part catwalk show, part revue, outrageous, shocking, fun.  It'll be in London in July, see it if you can.

That was a memorable day!