Inside/Out

Inside/Out :  Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

I took way too many pictures both outside and inside the Louvre. Rather than regale you with a lengthy photo essay, here's one shot from inside the entrance looking out. And the rest are here (exteriors) and here (interiors).*

* Most of my photo sets from Paris include pictures I took in January as well as ones I took when I visited for the first time back in August.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

100 Strangers: Michel and Christian

Michel "Mike" and his friend, Christian, at the Louvre. Mike was a student in the U.S. many years ago and loves America. 

We met them as we were trying to figure what to see in this vast museum of museums. : Paris, FR

The night we went to the Louvre, Janeen and I were standing inside under the I.M. Pei pyramid trying to get our bearings. I don't know what tipped us off as American, because we weren't being loud or ostentatious, but next thing I knew, this kindly looking gentleman was asking me, in English, about my camera. I replied "It's a Nikon" and we bantered back and forth for a few seconds. Then he said, "I'm Mike."

Turns out Mike is actually Michel and he lived in the U.S. many years ago as a student at Bethany College in West Virginia. He and his friend, Christian, were at the Louvre for a concert. They recommended a special exhibit of sketches to us (which we saw) and then we all parted ways. I promised Mike I'd email him when I posted his picture and here it is.

Bonjour, Mike! It was nice meeting you in your beautiful city!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Musée du Louvre

Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

Our second day in Paris, my sister and I went to Notre Dame and Musée du Louvre. If you've never been to Paris, this museum, like so many things in the City of Lights, is enormous! If, in the two hours we were there, we saw even one-one hundreth of what the Louvre has to offer, I'd be stunned. That said, we did see a lot of statuary, sculpture, French and Flemish art, stained glass, tapestries, and royal treasures that were c'est magnifique!

We arrived just as they turned on the lights on the Louvre. The detail in the buildings is stunning : 

Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

One thing that struck both of us is, so often people poo-poo the collections in museums in the United States, and particularly within the Smithsonian and National Gallery systems in Washington, D.C. The fact is, though, there's a lot of high-quality art to be seen in the U.S. The difference between U.S. collections and European collections is quantity. The vast amount of art just in Paris alone boggles the mind. That said, though, the U.S. collections aren't too shabby. Okay, I'm climbing off my soap box! LOL!

Friday night at the museum : Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

If you've been to Paris and if you're an American and you'd like to support the efforts of the Louvre and exchanges between the U.S. and France, consider making a contribution through American Friends of the Louvre.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Caption This...

All those years of art education and this is the best job I could get?

I enjoyed last week's captioning activity so much, I thought I'd try it again this week. As with last week, you provide the caption for the photo.

Last week's winner and runner-up were: Laura Sumison and Hilary Muzingo. To see their captions, go back and visit this photo.

Updated: February 8:  The winner of the captioning contest is Maya. See her caption above. The runner-up was Cele.

Thanks to everyone who participated! Be sure to visit this week's captioning event here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

2 Things Challenge: Merge / Diverge

Diverge : The Louvre Museum and I.M. Pei Pyramid : Paris, FR

This week's 2 Things Challenge is Merge / Diverge. Last weekend, I was in Paris, the City of Lights, with my sister. We had pretty busy days that started early and ended late. The first night we were in Paris, we saw the Eiffel Tower. The second night, we were at the Louvre Museum. For this week's challenge, I give you the merging lattice work of the Eiffel Tower and the diverging lines of the fountain at the Louvre.

Merge : Gustav Eiffel's Tower : Paris, FR

Want to join in the fun? There's a new challenge every week and anyone can join. Visit 2 Things Challenge where next week's two words are Native / Exotic.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/09 and 1/10