PARIS, THE MUSEUMS — THE INITIAL ROUND

Wow, what amazing things you can do with a week on your hands in Paris.

Here’s just the beginning.

Last  time I dropped down here, I was just getting my sea legs in this beautiful city  — getting the lay of the land, practicing conversing, and stuffing as many delicious things in my craw as possible.

And then came the Paris Museum Pass.

For those  not familiar, the purchase of one of these means you pay just one flat fee for almost every major institution here (except for  the Eiffel Tower which is separate).

This pass is not inexpensive; I think two adult  passes set us back about $150  dollars for four days (kids under 18 accompanied by a paying adult are admitted free of charge) but this pass in your hands means you can skip heavy lines and just walk in.

Another side benefit of the pass is that paying up front a larger amount means you become more interested in seeing more (and not less), and you are more willing to check out (for  you) secondary museums for an hour or two since it’s already paid for.

So within that 4 day period, we saw and experienced so much.

So grab a coffee and sit down for a sec — there’s so very much for me to show you.

Let’s start with the Granddaddy of them all, The Louvre.

It’s hard to convey the enormity of it, but I read that if you were to walk the entire length of it, you’d have walked about eight miles (and dodged approximately 5 billion Iphones being shoved into every available pocket of air).

So many iconic pieces are here (I’m speaking of Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and so many more), but what blew me away was the beauty of the building and the sheer volume of art work.

And the crazy amounts of selfies and jockeying for the best shot.

Mona! Mona! Look at me!

Venus, over here!

Stepping into room after room after room of treasures, though, I felt like the Louvre had acted like a greedy toddler, taking the lion share of art spoils and laid it all out in one building (I think if you looked at every single thing  here they should give you an honorary B.A. in Art History).

It’s true what they say about never seeing it all, but we got a little amuse bouche of every major period and style (plus an ample taste of Egyptian) so after four hours we called it quits for the day.

Post-museum noshing is the best.

And somehow a crepe never feels wrong — at any time of  the day.

Next up, Musee D’Orsay.

I’m sure you all know its history (it was an old train station and converted into a mostly-Impressionist museum), but it hard to find the words to describe the light streaming through the roof  into the space– or the extent of the collection.

Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Pissaro,  Degas, Rodin, Manet,  Cezanne, and so many more.

And lest I forget, that beautiful clock that faces the Seine.

Ah, to look through it and see the Tuileries and the Ferris wheel just across the Seine…

It’s magic.

Especially when you remember to bring snacks to enjoy in the middle of your visit (and security guards have allowed me to bring them in every time).

You see, every time I  knew I’d  be away on a long  grueling visit, I brought my survival kit.

There was always a guava juice or latte to fuel me en route, shoes to change into so I wouldn’t feel like a Goomba at the museum, a book to read about places to  go after, and a treat picked up earlier  in the day to enjoy mid-day while touring — things like caramels,  chocolates, or even bacon fougasse.

And yes, even Pierre Herme macarons– on yes, a plate I brought all the way from Portland because I knew I’d want to enjoy it elsewhere.

Think I’m joking about all this?

Just look at the set I brought with which to enjoy picnics here.

See how it’s chock-full of goodness?

(In a later post I may show you what else I brought).

Okay now.

I have one last museum to show you before I sign off: The  Picasso Museum.

It’d found a new home in the Marais since I was last there twenty years ago,  and it occupies the most beautiful villa-like building with a peaceful courtyard inside.

There are room after room of his paintings

and sculptures and drawings (mostly his own with a few choice ones of other artists he’d been given or bartered to obtain).

I mean, c’mon, just look at this.

And then there were those Guggenheim-like stairs.

I could have spent the entire day just staring at this sculpture

— or enjoyed the quiet beauty of that courtyard with the apricot-scented roses in full bloom.

But I had no time to dally as there were so many other treasures ahead this past week.

(More about this later.)

And now time’s a ticking, and with so few ops  left, I’m off  for another pastry.

Another walk in these ancient streets.

Another sunset.

Back  in a few, mes amis.