The Mona Lisa has her own mosh pit, and I was a barrier whore!

After realizing that I had forgotten to put la tour Eiffel into my itinerary, I slotted it in for Monday. I already had La Louvre and Notre-Dame de Paris scheduled in, an it fitted in nicely. I would take the train to la tour Eiffel , then the metro to la louvre (I pre bought my ticket and new secret ways into he museum so I didn't worry about having to get there super early) and ten I would walk across/take the metro to Notre-Dame . Little did I Know that a super tall scaffolding would take up 3 hours of my morning! On advice, I was going to climb the stairs, on arriving to the tour, I had no idea on where to go, period. So I just jumped in a queue, after making sure it was for tickets. 45 minutes later, and after befriending some Danes, I bought my ticket. After about another 20 minutes, the ascent started! It was exciting rising off the ground and through the scaffolding. I was on the glass door, so I had a great view. Once we got to the second floor, I had a walk round to see the view. Then I joined another line for the life to the sommet. Finally I got to the top. I was actually quite disappointed with the view; it was so high up that you couldn't really see much. I could figure out where the Champs-Élysées was, but couldn't see the Arc de Triomphe. I could see the Sacré-Cœur, but that is see-able from everywhere (it is the highest point in Paris), And I could see the top of Notre Dame. Otherwise, it was all pretty hazy. It was a wait to get back down, too. All up this was about 3 hours. I was glad to get back on the ground, there were so many pushy people in la tour. 

 At the sommet of la tour Eiffel

 

 the view of the Champ de Mars below

Needed a touristy shot :)

I made my down the Champs de Mars, to the metro for la Louvre. I located the Porte des Lions and walked straight through. All those suckers waiting in the 37 degree heat to go through La Pyramide; I did feel sorry for them not knowing the other two entrances. I got a map (not that it really prevented me getting lost) and walked around the Denon wing, in the direction of the Italian art (by default the 'Mona Lisa' is also there). I was beginning to feel, again, disappointed, but then I walked into the hall with the Italian art/sculptures, and it was beautiful in itself. The roof is glass, there are marble columns that grace the walls, with Roman busts between each two. I had to remember that this building used to be a palace, so naturally it was going to be gorgeous and richly decorated (the Sully wing was beautiful). I saw 'Le Sacre de Napoléon' (it is beautiful, detailed and grand) and continued to admire the Italian art. Then, I found the room, the room where the 'Mona Lisa' sheds her glory. She is housed behind 2 layers of glass, with a bench. About 50cm in front of her is a wooden barrier. About a metre further is the barrier. I refused to let to tourists be the only ones who were able to take her photo. I wanted to admire her! I have studied Italian, renaissance art, da Vinci, and the 'Mona Lisa'; I had a right to bask in her glory.I gallantly fought my way though the mosh pit (thanks to Laura for all that coaching) and landed my self on the barrier, to her right. After to people moved, I snuck in so that we were face on. I was content. I like her. I wanted to stay looking at her. But, I'm sure there are other deserving people waiting, too, so the security guard let me out. I continued to walk around and saw a lot of beautiful art. I also managed to walk past 'Le Sacre de Napoléon' painting three times, and the 'Mona Lisa' once more. I did get lost, though, when I went looking for the Napoléon chambers, sadly I didn't find them, and I was exhausted! I did manage to get into all three wings, though.

 The sneaky way in 

 In the Denon wing of the Louvre

 Le Sacre de Napoléon

 The 'Mona Lisa'

 Psyce revived by Cupids Kiss

The winged statue of Victory

In my exhaustion I went to the metro, forgetting the Notre-Dame ! I figured though, that I have a day metro ticket so I could go back after lunch. After lunch, at the hostel, I accidentally took a cat nap, curled up at one end of my bed. I was woken when my new roomies arrived. It was good though, that I was woken up, otherwise I would have kept sleeping!

I had to go to the train station to reserve my seat to Reims the next day, but I was distracted by some nice Americans, and I sat chatting for about  an hour. They had to take the train the Gare de l'est so I went part of te way with them. At Gare de Nord, it took three queues for me to get in the right line, and then some tools took about 20 minutes each with the one guy doing all the tickets. Finally it was my turn to get tickets, and both the trains I wanted were booked out! So I was told of my other trains, one super early, and the other late in the afternoon, both with changes at Épernay (that didn't bother me, I just needed to get to Reims). I had a quiet night in, so I could be awake for my train, and for Champagne!

xx