When the rain gets to pouring, the tourists hit the Louvre

Given that the rain hadn't let up...we planned an indoor adventure in the Louvre...with the millions of other tourists. Lucky for us that's one big place! So we wandered and saw everything we could. And I took a gazillion pictures of sculptures which are my favorite! Jen and Jas now have a photo of nearly every sculpture in the Louvre. I know 10 years from now they're gonna thank me!)

One thing we didn't get a photo of was the Mona Lisa...which you aren't supposed to photograph, and yet tons of stupid tourists take pictures anyway! But I will tell you it's very cool...smaller than many people think, but bigger than how small others say it is. And the best reason to not photograph the Mona Lisa...there are some things that one really should just come and see for themselves. Pictures can't do some things justice.

After the Louvre we decided to venture down the Champs Elysees. On our way to the Place de la Concorde, however, we had the Old Man Weiner experience! As we're walking with umbrellas and hoods, I see a man walking out of the trees wearing a coat, carrying an umbrella and wearing what I thought were shorts and kneepads. In my mind I'm wondering what kind of crazy old guy goes jogging in weather like this! Little did I know that the man wasn't jogging...nor was he wearing shorts. He wasn't wearing anything at all from the waist down! (except the knee pads of course) Jen contemplated getting a photo to prove the sighting...but when we turned around he had put his pants back on. Evidently he'd just left them on a table...perhaps a pant-less romp in the rain was something he felt he needed right then. Hard to say what he was thinking. All I know though...not anything I ever planned to see in Paris...or anywhere else!

Post Old Man Weiner...it was a normal photo taking wander from the Place de la Concorde, down the Champs Elysees (where we made frequent stops in shops...to stay dry of course) and then on to the Arc de Triomphe which is...ridiculously huge! And very pretty lit up at night (you'll see...) The last order of business was dinner...with wine...and warmth! Twas a good day!


We entered through the pyramid...this is Jason in awe.


The upside down pyramid


Sculpture land in the Louvre


One of my favorite sculptures...and I have mad photo skills.


Miss statue of liberty has a husband who lives in the Louvre. He is decidedly shorter.


Heh heh...butts


Venus de Milo...nuff said.


Jen and Jas and lots of touristy people.


Evidently if you're a sculpture..the first thing to go is the nose! Poor Marcus Aurelius.


Napoleon's apartments...super posh.


The Winged Victory


Me checking the menu for lunch...a regular occurrence throughout the whole trip


Me and Jas and lots of tourists. We weren't at the lending out the camera to get all 3 of us in a photo stage yet.


Jenny would like to have a huge funeral sculpture made for her like this one when she goes...mental note...make friends with a stoneworker.


Magic Carpet...in case of emergency...BREAK GLASS!


Absolutely beautiful...I love Eros and Psyche.


Code of Hammurabi...Jason's Favorite! Steal something...get your hand cut off. So simple.


Big stone kitty! Lucky for me...no teeth.


A picture of a statue that I DIDN'T take! Amazing! Note the greyhound...Jen and Jas missed the kids :)


This was NOT taken on the drippy day...but you get a better idea this way.


The glowing Arc. Nighttime is the best time to see this one.


Pretty...and useful as rain cover too!


Stinkin' cold! I look like an eskimo.