And now for a shot of my favorite museum in Paris, if not the world. The Musée d’Orsay – a former railroad station turned art gallery, who’s space is just as inspiring as the artwork lining its walls. Plus, it’s got one hell of an Impressionist collection.
Add comment October 24th, 2009
We did eventually make our way inside Paris’s most famous museum, and while we were there, of course, we had to stop by and see the most famous painting in the building – da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. As you would expect, the room was packed with people, snapping photos of the strange looking lady hanging on the wall, their failing flashes reflecting off of the glass security case (when will people learn to turn the flash off?!).
To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed by Leo’s painting. Nothing against it or him, but I had to wonder what all the fuss was about, especially when I turned around and saw the gigantic painting filling the entirety of the opposite wall. Now, I’ll be the first to point out that size shouldn’t matter, be it art or otherwise, but it was difficult not to be impressed with this thing. Not only did it absolutely dwarf da Vinci’s half-smiling chick, it was also incredibly detailed and just an overall amazing work of art. Yet, no one in the room was even bothering to look at it.
And that’s what I remember most about the Mona Lisa.
Add comment October 23rd, 2009
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
- Ernest Hemingway
Add comment October 22nd, 2009
While we were out walking around Paris that first night, we managed to stumble upon the Louvre. It was such an unexpected to surprise to find the courtyard surrounding the museum’s pryamid almost completely empty that night. It was almost eerie that there were so few people at such a tourist destination. And it was kind of amazing. We sat on the bench next to the still fountains for some time and just soaked it in…
To this day, I still can’t believe the above photo came out so great. This is one of those pics from back in the ol’ days of film where I just crossed my fingers and pushed the button. Because I didn’t think it would probably come out and not wanting to waste the film, I only took one frame at a shutter speed so slow that I had to balance the camera on the ledge to keep from blurring. So you can just imagine my surprise when I got the film developed and found this shot amongst my prints.
I ended up having the photo blown up and framed, and it was one of my first gifts to Kim. It now hangs proudly over the dresser in our bedroom, reminding us daily of that beautiful night in Paris.
Add comment October 21st, 2009
Our first night in Paris (second night of traveling together – the first was in London) we spent walking around the city. After taking the Chunnel over earlier and having spent a decent portion of the day finding a vacant hotel room for the night, there wasn’t much time to go “see” anything, so why not just take a walk. Neither of us had been there before, and we were both obviously anxious to see the most iconic of Parisian images – La Tour Eiffel.
So as we approached the Seine at twilight, I vividly remember us squinting along the horizon to see if we could spot the tower, which was apparently lit up at night. We started to cross a bridge over the river, the street lamps reflected in it’s wake, and we thought we saw something that might be it in the distance. But then we walked out from behind the branches of the trees lining the waterway, and there it was. In plain sight. Everything you’d imagine it to be.
We both just stood there for at least a minute. Saying nothing. And then Kim asked, “What do you think they’re doing in Champaign right now?” And I knew then that I was in trouble…
Add comment October 20th, 2009
Ah, Paris…
Such a special place in my heart. It was in the City of Light afterall where I first kissed my future wife. Man, I can’t believe it’s been just over ten years from that trip to France. A decade and then some!
All this week, I’ll be taking a trip down nostalgia lane and posting pics from that most memorable of trips, so stay tuned for plenty more shots of the Eiffel Tower, like the one above.
Add comment October 18th, 2009
