My European Vacation - Day Six - The Lourve and Paris' BEST KEPT SECRET

Off to The Louvre today. We knew that we faced BIG line ups, but my only goal was to see the Mona Lisa. If I saw nothing else - I didn't care.

Here is what we expected the day to be like -

get up - have breakfast - bike to The Louvre - WAIT and WAIT and WAIT in a line to get into The Lourve and then WAIT and WAIT and WAIT to see Mona Lisa.


Here is what actually happened.....

Yes - we got up and let the hotel around 9 AM. The bike station is right beside McDonald's so we decided to have McDonad's for breakfast. Then we grabbed our bikes. As I am riding - I am having difficulty and then M pipes up - you have a FLAT tire. CRAP - no problem - at the next bike station - I just get a new bike. You got to love that. You are supposed to turn the seat backwards if there is a problem and someone obviously did NOT do that, but I did for the next person.

We parked the bikes a bit of a ways from The Louvre not knowing if there would be bike parking so when we were close and found two spots - we took them. Good thing as the next station was full.

Arrived at the main entrance to The Louvre to HUGE line ups just like we expected. Well - it looked like there might be several lines so I asked the security guard in my best French - could we buy tickets anywhere else?????   Of course - he said - there is a place past the statues and through the garden to the left. Hmmmm - OK - so we started to walk there, then we wondered if that was just a place to buy tickets or would we then have to come back to get in the big line - might as well get in the big line NOW. So back to the security guards and ask a different guy. Yes - you can buy tickets past the statues and through the garden to the left and there is an ENTRANCE there that NO ONE knows about. Are you kidding me??????  

OK - let's take a chance. We walk past the statues, through the garden and to the left and VOILA - there is an entrance to The Louvre and NO LINE UP. I kid you not - it goes from HOURS to NOTHING. OK - I am lying. There were TWO people ahead of us when we got there.

We put our stuff through the security and then walked in. We both looked at each other and said THAT WAS TOO EASY - we felt like we were thieves and had just gotten away with a crime.

Grabbed the map and started walking - trying to get some orientation of the place. It is HUGE. Did I mention how HUGE this place is???????   Well look at this - we are in the section with the French painters and the Italian painters and OH MY GOD - the Mona Lisa is RIGHT THERE!!!!!!!     There was no line, although there was a crush of people all trying to get photos. Four security guards standing in front to direct people. M scooted in with the camera and got pictures and I got a few from the sidelines.

Wow - in less than 20 minutes we had accomplished our goal of the day!!!!!!   Now what do we do???????   After checking what else was in the museum - we headed to the Egyptian exhibits. Yikes - it was hot and stifling in there and a couple of times, I thought  - I  am going to die!!!!

OK - so neither of us is a museum buff and after two hours we had enough of the TOURIST SHUFFLE and decided to get out of there. But not before we took pictures of the Pyramid entrance. Honestly when we climbed the stairs to the top - the line up is for security NOT to buy tickets. Whether you have a museum pass or not - you MUST pass security . Once you are past that point  - there are lots of ticket stations below.

There is a HUGE shopping mall underground at The Louvre and we had lunch in the food court there. It was hot and so many people - I wasn't enjoying it and wanted to get out!!!!!!    There is also an amusement park outside and M went on a couple of rides including the Tour de Paris - a big ferris wheel and the big swings.

We went back to the Pyramid entrance and checked the lines - HUGE at the Pyramid and NOTHING - I mean NO ONE at the other entrance. We were so tempted to tell people, but thought - hey - we asked and got the information - other people could ask as well. Actually - I guess it is who you are and who you ask that counts, because we overheard one family ask (in English - don't think from Canada) if there was a shorter line. The security guard (different from those we asked) said NO. I mean - come on - if someone asks??????

Also our guide book did NOT provide this information and said cameras were NOT allowed. This is Fodor's - current for this year. That information is NOT correct. Cameras were allowed everywhere - just no flash. We just about beamed through the entire museum!!!!!   What fun that we snuck in through the back door!!!!!

Now there is another reason to have your hotel by a major square or other landmark and our hotel is just off the Republique square. We decided to ride the bikes home from The Lourve, but would be coming a way we were NOT familiar with. Once we got ourselves oriented - we just followed the signs and I mean we were turning left and turning right and I thought - holy crap - we will never find the hotel. And all of a sudden we were on familiar territory!!!!!

Three cheers for the location of our hotel!!!!!!!    Now we are both exhausted - tomorrow is a national holiday in France and I think we are going to move on tomorrow. Going to do some research and figure out where and when.

Have a great day!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!   (Bonjour!!!!!!)