Curly Hair, Been There: The Louvre

Curly Hair, Been There is a segment that explore the different places in the world I have been, and my experiences there.

Paris: The Louvre

So I went to the Louvre last week and I have some thoughts.

It was a nice day and outside, with the famous pyramids and the impressive building, it was a really nice welcome to the landmark. I mean, the whole thing of the Louvre is that it's all nice to look at and it definitely was. I mean, the armed police and street sellers trying to flog their tickets were not so enjoyable, but the rest of it was a lovely introduction to the spectacle.

It's very impressive inside as well, the entrance is like a cave and then there are different passages going to different places and it's really cool.

I will say that it's a little confusing. I had a map, but if you think I can find my way around with or without guidance you are sorely mistaken. I got lost pretty much instantly. I was wandering around statues and stuff for a while, and the whole time I was like 'where is all the interesting art at??'; I was getting a little freaked out by all of the tall carved figures staring down at me. It's not that the statues weren't impressive, but it was all just a bit dull.

I then found my way up to what I thought was the second floor, but was actually the third, and looked at a lot of biblical paintings. Some of them were massive, like the size of the wall, and they were all very impressive, but, again, I ended up getting pretty lost up there. I feel like it should be better organised, that building is a real maze. It should be like a circle, because I walked as far as I could and then had to go back through all of the art I had already seen 2/10 for navigability.

I finally found the second floor, which was heaving, there were so many people there as it was mostly just renaissance art, stuff people actually wanted to see. After forcing my way through the crowd, I found the room in which the only painting was the Mona Lisa, the only thing anyone goes to the Louvre for, and it was packed.

The painting itself was smaller than I had expected; I mean of course it was impressive because it's a really old and famous painting, but like, I kinda expected more. Anyway.

I wandered round the renaissance hall for ages trying to escape it, and I eventually found the painting I was always going to be looking for since I saw it in the brochure I picked up at the entrance of the museum. It's called La Liberté guidant le peuple, or 'Liberty leading the people'.

I did really want to see this one, and not just because I have a suspicion that it's the painting that's on the cover of my copy of Les Mis. It's a very recognisable French painting and it is pretty iconic. It's a symbol of the revolution and it is massive, fantastic, and very impressive.

It took less time to get out in the end as there was a lot of signs to the exit, but there was a very long line to the bathroom on my way out. Overall though it was a good trip and I enjoyed the museum.

I'm officially cultured lol just like all these people:

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