Seeing the Mona Lisa........Worst Photo Ever?

Today was Art & Culture Part II.  We started our day at the Louvre.  After learning our lesson yesterday at the Musee d'Orsay, we arrived at the Louvre 15 minutes before it opened and queued through the side entrance and were able to gain entrance immediately once 9 o'clock arrived.  Mom & Pop wanted to take the guided introductory tour in English, so we bought their tickets and bid them adieu while we explored on our own with the audio guide.

Without a doubt, the two most popular pieces in the Museum are the Mona Lisa and the statue of Venue de Milo--so popular that they have their own signs within the museum pointing the way.  Everyone tends to make a mad dash for these and the areas are extremely crowded, especially the Mona Lisa.  I'm convinced that trying to take a picture of the Mona Lisa is a terrible idea and you end up with the worst photo ever.  First, the Mona Lisa is surprisingly small (although large for the time period in which it was painted).  Second, it's on a wall by itself behind glass which creates glare and light reflection.  Third, unlike all of the other paintings, you're kept a good distance from the painting by a railing and rope line.  Finally, although you're allowed to take pictures in the Louvre, its supposed to be without flash.  Yet flash bulbs constantly are going off, so everyone is ruining everyone else's pictures.  So unless you can have the room all to yourself, it's simply not possible to take a good picture of the Mona Lisa.  Since everyone has seen the Mona Lisa, I instead give you the best photo you can take in the room.....

Futile efforts to capture a good photo of the Mona Lisa

Viewing Monet at the Musee l'Orangerie

We also went to the Musee l'Orangerie which is at the other end of the Tuileries Gardens from the Louvre.  This is where some of Monet's Water Lilies are displayed.  The entire upstairs is dedicated to Monet and his paintings take up entire walls which are slightly curved.  I had no idea these were so large.  The galleries downstairs have more paintings including from Renoir and Cezanne.  After four fantastic museums in two days, I suspect that will be it for museums for this trip.  Paris has so many cultural institutions, it's difficult to cover them all in a single trip.  You could likely spend several days in the Louvre yet not see everything.  We'll just have to make another trip here to see the rest.