29 JUL - 02 AUG
The day before JJ and I had been walking through an amusment park in the gardens out the front of the Louvre, I've got the Tulleries in my head but who can be certain. I remembered that a couple of years ago this place had one of those capsule bungy contraptions that shot you into the stratoshphere at about the same speed that your breakfast would try and escape via your esophagus. After checking it out JJ and I vowed to join the space race the very next day, albeit after a more sedate stroll through the Louvre.
Museum hunting, strolling or wondering may not be the thing that some people want to achieve from a holiday. For some reason I tend to be a little more active when I'm away although one day I'd like to swap those tendencies for many a mind blotting cocktail, a nice beach and a sunset vista. That time is not now however. With that said, museum's aren't really what you could call strenuous activity, not unless that musuem is the Louvre and you're fighting your way through the crowd to spot the Mona Lisa, or you're walking the miles of corridors to try and view the 30,000+ pieces on display, or you're navigating the stairs between floors ( those darstedly stairs again!). This place is immense and if you're in there just for a day then you need a battle plan. This is not the way we went about things.
Angel of Samothrace - Louvre
The only plan of attack that JJ and I carried into battle was to hit the classics or the 'must sees' as early as possible. This meant the Mona Lisa was first on our agenda. Now, just like the other stupid stereotypes of Paris there are a few that are run by those who have seen the Mona Lisa or at least have pretended to. Being a little cynical or sceptical in my old age I've got the feeling that the criticisms are put out there just to keep the crowds away, I'm sure you've heard them, the painting is unimpressive, it's too small, it's only average - WRONG - on all counts...but really, if you want to believe what you hear then don't go, I could deal with not having to dodge the other happy snappy tourists that are just like me. The painting is amazing and her eyes engaging enough to make you really believe that they're following you around!
That painting by Micky D
My own Louvre triptych
Venus de Milo - looking relaxed
Showing a little perspective
Ofcourse there are a number of other critical pieces, the Venus de Milo, any of the classics, the Angel of Samothrace, etc. Too much to see in just one day and enough to have you saturated by so many wonderful works that all you can do to recover is accept the happy hour offering that Paris so graciously serves up between 4pm & 10pm. Did someone say whiskey sours?
The Louvre - from the Louvre
It was with some bravado and a touch of alcohol inspiration that we boarded the bungy rocket ball bound for 50+ mtrs off the ground, getting you to 6g in under three seconds (apparently). The launch took us skyward in an instant but before we knew it we were inverted and bouncing around the Paris skyline like six year olds on pogo sticks, not really knowing what the hell was happening but laughing all the way. Never the less we did manage to catch a great view of Paris with JJ picking out the Eiffel tower with the call, 'Hey, look at the tower that Gustav built!' - for some reason it was absolutely hilarious for the occassion.
With the powers of Gustav in our mind we headed for the tower and tackled the first two floors ironman style, getting us to about 150mtrs under our own steam. The rest of the way was elevator powered, all the way up to the 324mtr mark where good 'ole Gustav had himself a quaint little office to welcome guests such as Thomas Eddison. Not a bad way to spend a day, commanding views of Paris and the ultimate trump card in a game of one upsmanship. 'So, where do you work Gustav?'...'Oh, you know that little tower by the Seine, yes that's my design, I practically built it - my office is at the top of the tower'...'Aha - well I'm a butcher...so, what's your favourite cut of meat?'.
Will power - climb those stairs of Gustav!
The Seine from the top of the tower
The Seine from the top of the tower
At the top!
Champ de Mars from the top of the tower
Ahh..and again
The sunset series - I think JJ nailed this shot! (I hate you ;)
The sunset series
The sunset series - over La Defense
The sunset series - over La Defense
30 JUL - 15 yrs on and the Royale with cheese is still on the menu
Taking another set of stairs below the streets of Paris this time we went all subterranean to check out the catacombs. The location of the site is in the ....area, in the 14th arrondissement, and was established over 220 years ago after the 'original' cemetry of Paris in the Marais area was dug up and all remains exhumed for sanitary reasons.
This place is insane! After I overcame a good 30 second dose of claustraphobia we wondered around under these streets for what felt like hours. It's a little surreal to imagine that when you're walking on modern day Parisieene streets that some 20mtrs below your feet are the remains of old time Parisieenes that were around nearly 300yrs ago, some of whom you could be directly descended from. Still, the skulls and bones are neatly stacked, in almost an artistic fashion, which makes you think that somewhere in this city there's a man whose speciality or artistic quality is this...perhaps he could challenge Gustav on a game of one upsmanship insanity.
Hey bro! In the catacombs
Morbid artistry?
Having our fill of bones in very much the same manner that Jenna Jameson does in a long day on set we spotted a quaint roadside establishment for the now 4pm ritual. Pina colada's delivered, and again, and once more, we rallied to make sense of the situation but by the time our senses caught up we had already left the building and were in a macca's enquiring about the existenc of a Royal with cheese and whether beer could actually be purchased over the counter - 'YES' on both counts.
The Royale's with cheese and beer - it happened!
How did they let me into Maccas ?
Turning for home and having to battle our way via foggy minds, logistical malfunction and train stair carnage, (sorry JJ, just had to add to you came a gutsa - BIG TIME), we managed to turn up at Yono's just after nine for a final happy hour shout of whiskey sours! Like the true drinking professionals that we are, can spot a Parisienne happy hour from a mile away.
31 JUL - 01 AUG - All things come to an end, even the good ones
Our last couple of days in Paris were slower and more relaxed than the previous ones. We checked out Notre Dam on one of those and spent the other in the Pompidou viewing exhibits on display in the Museum of Contemporary Art - please also see (The Museum of What the F**$ is that!?). Some of that stuff is just plain warped!
The gargoyles of Notre Dame
The gargoyles of Notre Dame
...and this unfortunately is where this particular segment of 'A Year Full of Saturdays' ends. Travelling around with JJ for the last month was a riot, we had a great time everywhere we went and strangely the time went both quickly and slowly all at once. So to JJ I say a 'Big Thankyou' Moroccan style and I hope to see you on the last leg home in Brazil. For now I'm off the Helsinki, the start of a little Baltic escapade........>>>here we go>>>
PHOTO BOMBED AGAIN!!!!!!!! OH YEAH !!!
