April 4, 2018   Second day of Paris

Off to the Louvre!  The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world.  I think I read they have 35,000 items on display of the 380,000 total items in the museum!  We only had half a day to get through it!  Rick Steves to the rescue.  We followed his tour and hit the highlights.
-Katie

Approaching the entrance under the glass pyramid.

Venus de Milo (goddess of love) from around 100 B.C.  Most so-called "Greek" statues are actually later Roman copies.  This is a rare Greek original.  

Another angle.

Athena, goddess of war.

Winged Victory of Samothrace, circa 190 B.C.  She once stood on a hilltop to commemorate a naval victory.

View of the Louvre through a window of the Louvre.  The museum is "U" shaped.

Remember, the Louvre was once a royal palace of the French monarchy before later kings moved their official residence to Versailles.

My souvenir from Paris that Rod bought me!  (French crown jewels.)

More French crown jewels.

140 carat Regent Diamond that once graced crowns worn by Louis XV, Louis XVI and Napoleon.

Crown of Louis XV

Virgin, Child and St. Anne, by Leonardo da Vinci (circa 1510)

Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci (1503 to 1506).  I have Aaron in there so you can see how small she is!

Clare leaning on the Louvre Pyramid.

Ouch!  That looks sharp, Aaron!



Paris continues on the next post............................