Lundi 16 Mai 2011 Can't have enough culture

Bottom of controversial glass pyramid in the lowerground entrance hall of Louvre - very hot in there

First day of our 6 day museum pass & went for the Louvre (Monday should a quiet day, right?) Arrived for opening at 9am along with a million other culture buffs, spoke to a couple from Perth in the queue who were staying in the marais area (right bank) decidedly gay-friendly apparently, in fact bars which advertise men only. Also they said they are still looking for a nice cup of coffee, too bitter for them, not our experience so far, coffee yum.  We wandered around in a daze, getting lost, it is so big, but took in essentials & a lot beside, so big & full of such beautiful artwork, but after 5 hours decided enough was enough.

Best I could do

107,000 carats of jewels

My favourite this time - Degas

We had a  ham & salad roll for lunch in the Jardin desTuileries & then onto Musee de l'Orangiere, this has the most amazing round/oval room for Monet's huge waterlily paintings, very atmospheric.
Rest devoted to impressionist, some lovely works, eg Modigliani, Renoir, Cezanne & some not so - Picasso (a woman-hater for sure, female figures like oxen, male figures very well-formed & attractive, makes you wonder).

Some life left in the day, so we walked up Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, as access to the top on the ticket, only problem was that the lift was out, 284 steps up to the top, luckily we have been in training with the stairs to the garret, 110. Great view all around

View towards the Grande Arche from the top of Arc de Triomphe