Off To The Louvre

The fountain at the main entrance to the Louvre
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We spent the afternoon on our first visit to the Louvre. Fortunately we had purchased tickets online in the U.S. which allowed us to avoid the massive crowds at the main entrance. After entering we rented the audio tour (highly recommended) and started at the bottom, Medieval Louvre. The current structure is built on the foundation of a medieval castle, of which portions are still visible as part of the Louvre tour. After that, it was off to the Egyptology section, a fascinating display of ancient artifacts including a variety of burial objects that spanned all aspects of their lives. One of the most interesting was a perfectly preserved mummy of a noble, one of the finest examples in existence. We continued to view other displays of different ancient cultures until the museum closed ot 6 p.m.

Inside the Louvre
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No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. We were obligated to do the same, battling the mass of humanity to get tickets, climb 600+ stairs, stand in another line to get supplemental tickets to go to the very top and stand in another line to ride the final section in an elevator. The structure was completed in 1889 and was originally derided as an eyesore. In fact, it was not supposed to be permanent but has now become an endearing part of the Paris skyline. Gustav Eiffel kept an apartment at the very top to entertain notable guests. Our Eiffel adventure began at 6:30 p.m. with a metro ride and we finally returned to our flat at half past midnight. My feet are killing me just writing about it.

The princess mummy...note the intricate weaving
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Food of the day: Chestnut jam; mirabelles, a fruit like a yellow cherry; raspberry and lychee juice, pate, and of course fresh croissants for breakfast.