Today is such an exciting day! I was so excited because our group was going to the....Louvre Museum! And yes, before you ask, my "Americaness" was showing a lot, especially when seeing the Mona Lisa.

Day 4 of Rick Steves

**Today you will be using earphones compatible with your phone, make sure to bring them!

Check it out!

Today, I finally saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and honestly, the experience was kind of chaotic. The painting itself was way smaller than I expected, but the crowd around it was massive. People were shoving, cutting in front, and holding up their phones just to get a blurry picture. It was almost impossible to actually stop and look at it without getting pushed. I get that it’s one of the most famous paintings ever, but it was crazy how rude people were just to see a tiny portrait behind glass.

Still, I have to admit, her smile is kind of eerie, and the way her eyes follow you is pretty cool. I also learned that the painting was stolen in 1911 and missing for two years, which probably made it even more famous. Also, she has no eyebrows, which is weird but kind of fitting for how mysterious she looks. Even with the madness, I’m glad I got to see it in person, but it can be considered over-rated, especially with all of the other wonderful pieces in the museum.

I got a Mona Lisa pin for my collection!

The Louvre is way more than just the Mona Lisa; the place is absolutely massive and split into different sections. There’s the Sully Wing, which has the museum’s oldest artifacts, including Egyptian mummies, the Great Sphinx, and the famous Venus de Milo, a stunning ancient Greek statue of Aphrodite. The Denon Wing is where most of the famous paintings are, like Liberty Leading the People and The Wedding at Cana, plus the Winged Victory of Samothrace, this epic statue of a winged goddess that looks like she’s about to take flight. There is probably a lot more that we didn't see, which means I just have to go back!

Got to love Rolinka's photobomb!

We were lucky enough to see Napoleon's apartments, as it was just under renovation, and now is open! Very over the top decor, but the theme with other architecture in Paris, such as the Opera House, is over the top, stunning ceiling murals.

Napoleon's Apartments

Notes:

When going to the Louvre, please be respectful. We unfortunately saw people with no etiquette, taking photo shoots with no awareness around them whatsoever.
Another tip, here is another place where you will be using the Rick Steves app, so download the tour audio ahead of time so you don't get charged for international fees with cell service.
This is probably the biggest place regarding physical demands. Be aware of what you can and cannot do before even stepping foot in the museum.