The Louvre- Paris Day 1 (10/23/15)

We got off our train at about 7 am and went to a Starbucks to charge our phones (there weren't any outlets on the train) and to access wifi.  We then took the metro to our airbnb.  The Paris metro was so nice, way better than the Rome metro.  It was clean, and the trains came EVERY FOUR MINUTES.  On the dot.  Like clockwork.  Also, they were never disgustingly crowded like in Rome.  I've now ridden metros in 5 cities, and Paris's is by far the best- we'll see how London's compares in a few weeks.

After settling in at our airbnb, we got some food- we were starving.  I had some French onion soup, which was very good, but kind of a small portion.  We then went to the Louvre!  I had done some research online, and found out that there are a few "secret" entrances to the Louvre that have very short queues, unlike that at the main entrance by the glass pyramid.  Also, since the museum is open late on Wednesdays and Fridays, its best to go then because it is less crowded (especially on a Friday night, which is when we went).  Typically the museum is free for anyone 18-26 who is a EU citizen, but on Friday nights it is free for everyone 18-26!  So not only did we not wait in a long queue, but we paid nothing!

So I should start off by saying that the Louvre is huge, and even though I had a map, it was a little difficult to navigate the many halls and rooms and wings and floors.  But I got to see most of the major artworks (some pieces weren't available to see when I went), as well as many other pieces.

For instance:

Winged Victory of Samothrace, aka Nike of Samothrace

The Coronation of Napoleon, by Jacques-Louis David

Aphrodite of Milo, better known as Venus de Milo

Four Seasons, by Giuseppe Arcimboldo (clockwise from top right: Autumn, Spring, Summer, Winter)

And of course:

The Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci (which really is quite a small painting, behind a sheet of bulletproof glass, and flanked by two guards, and in front of a thick crowd) 

And the painting across from the Mona Lisa, which, by contrast, is huge (the largest painting in the Louvre)- The Wedding at Cana (or The Wedding Feast at Cana) by Paolo Veronese

Overall, the Louvre was amazing and I would definitely like to go back someday and see more of it.  We then went back to the airbnb, and I got a quick panini for dinner.  It was really nice to be able to shower again, and sleep in a bed.  We then rested up to prepare ourselves for our busy day the following day!