%cvNathalie's List, In No Particular Order and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

The Louvre's Pyramid

- Sacré Cśur: Try to get there at Mass to hear the nuns sing hymns; you will think that is the sound of angels.

- Musée du Louvre: Spend half a day or a whole day there. I would spend my whole life there if I could.

- L'Occitane: Baune Cire Corp - Honey Royal Jelly is one of the best body creams I've ever found. You probably will find other products that suit you as well.

- An accessory shop: Buy a scarf. No, not those cheapies from the tourist traps, but a good silk scarf that makes you feel instantly beautiful the minute you put it on. I guarantee that you will not regret it.

- Tour Eiffel: Go at night. Stand underneath it, then away from it. Let the light lift your spirits and let happiness overwhelm you.

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Louvre: The One And Only, The Louvre

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Updated by Ciambella

on Feb 20, 2006

La Gioconda

If one takes one's time to see everything in the Louvre, one would need to spend a whole week there; however, spending an entire week in a museum is not productive in any sense of the word. Cramping anything into the mind or the body is never a beneficial way to do anything except when one is in college, finals are two days away and one has not even bought all the books yet.

Assuming we have passed the carefree and careless college years behind, I suggest that you spread your visits to the greatest museum in the world into as many trips as you possible can.

With each trip to Paris, we see only one section of the Louvre but since we usually repeat the same wing (the Egyptian one -- Charles is crazy about this stuff), so far, we have not seen the whole interior of the museum yet, and the gardens and tuileries will have to wait until our next lifetime.

The best time is at 9AM on a weekday when the museum opens. You should head straight to La Gioconda (Mona Lisa) before the crowd forms a human barricade in front of the painting. After that, go to one pre-selected wing and stay until your eyes water and your mind becomes mush.

Don't try to cover a lot even within one section; you are not in a marathon here. Since the best thing comes in small dosage, it's better to experience slowly 1% of the great museum than to run like a madman through 10% of the great works.

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Phone: +33 1 40.20.53.17
Directions: Métro: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre.
Website: http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home_flash.jsp
Other Contact: info@louvre.fr

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Park: Jardins du Luxembourg: The Quintessential Paris Garden

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Updated by Ciambella

on Feb 23, 2006

Little girl with umbrella in

Luxemboug Garden

Even though Eiffel Tower is the unmistakable symbol of Paris, the quintessential Parisian life occurs in 25 hectares of green oasis called Jardin du Luxembourg.

This was where Marie de Medici, the widow of Henry IV felt homesick and needed to create a model of Palazzo Pitti on French land. The XVII century Palais du Luxembourg is now the seat of the Senate whose residences enjoy a longer term than the restless queen did.

This is where one finds the small size Statue of Liberty together with almost 200 other statues of every who's who in recognised French history, art, and literature circles.

This is where Verger du Luxembourg is located; the orchard of 1000 espaliered trees and 200 species of apple and pear trees is still hand-tended today as it had been for almost two centuries by the Carthusian Order, on the same spot as it had always been near the homes of the million bees.

This is where the XIX century L'Orangerie du Luxembourg serves both functions: as the Louvre's temporary exhibition place and as the autumn and winter shelter for the 180 orange trees, palm trees, pomegranates and rose laurels.

Above all, Luxembourg Garden is the place where many generations of Parisian children grow up. They play in the sandbox, ride the ponies, throw the pétanques, push the sailboats on the pond, and enjoy the carousel. Above all, they are exposed to arts and culture at a tender age with the help of Les Guignols in Théâtre de Marionnettes every week.

This is Paris life for centuries past and will continue to be Paris life in centuries to come.

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Address: Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris
Directions: Métro: Luxembourg

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Eiffel Tower: What Is Paris Without Tour Eiffel?

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Updated by Ciambella

on Oct 1, 2006