I was going to say that I was lazy today and only went to 3 museums but I was up and at 'em at 7am, at a museum at 9:15 and not back to the room until after 7pm. There was nothing lazy about today except me telling myself that I didn't need to look at the map because I KNOW this street is the street I need to be on. Six blocks and too many clusters of university students later I took a seat near a fountain and pulled out the map. Thankfully I only had a block down, turn to the left and go another block before getting to the street I for certain thought I had started on. Then after really looking I saw that oh yeah, I started on that street to walk to that one place but that one place isn't actually on that street but four blocks away. If you're counting - I only walked 2 blocks out of my way, but at least I got to see the funky fashions of the University of Paris students. So glad I had two boys and no girls. I'll never ever tire of saying that.
I got to the Cluny Museum 15 minutes before opening and sat in the park across the street to wait. I took pictures and realized the next building over is the Sorbonne. I took a picture and felt smarter. I watched the staff for the museum wander in to work. I was amazed to see so many people showing up and to see them show up at 9:10, 9:11, 9:12, etc. Seems to me that if the place opens at 9:15 the staff should be at the door ready to go, but when I finally got in I didn't see anyone scurrying to their place so those late folks must have been seat warmers - guards for the rooms. You know, those people who get paid squat to sit there and watch you walk through the room and hope you don't try to touch anything.
Have you seen the movie The Maiden Heist with Morgan Freeman and Christopher Walken? I just saw it recently and I kept thinking back to it today. It's about museum guards who work at a museum that has a new curator and he's changing the theme of the museum and has sold all the stuff to a museum in Belgium. The guards have their favorite pieces and after actually contemplating moving to Belgium to stay with the pieces they decide to steal them instead. I played a game with myself wondering what piece in the room might be the guard's favorite and then there were some rooms I wondered if maybe the guard had come in to work at 9:16 and got stuck with the shittiest room in the building.
I'm convinced that the employee of the month got the room with the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries at The Cluny. That guy probably kissed some major ass. I'd so be the guy in that room if I were a museum guard. I'd be at work by 8:59 every single day. Oh yes I would.
The Cluny Museum: Famous for the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries and no wonder. They are fantastic. I bought a book on the whole meaning of them. Can't wait to read it. I think that had I lived back then I would have been one of the tapestry artists. Hard work, but the attention to detail is awesome.
The Pantheon: Ugh, another church, but at least this time it's not one that's actively used as a church. It's pretty though and it wasn't until I went to the restroom and ended up in total darkness that it occurred to me that the whole reason for this building to exist now is to hold all the dead people. I knew other forces were making it so there was no electricity in that area but what else was there to think about while I'm waiting for the service guy to come down and fix it? The guy comes and flips a switch and all seems well so I head to the door cuz I had to go and I had to go now and the guy puts up his hand and says, "No, Madame". G'dammit, did he just call me Madame? Well, the dead people were out of my head and so were the daggers out of my eyes and the service guy flinched. For real. He flinched. Then he waved me on.
Msr and Mdme Curie are in the crypt at the Pantheon. It was nice to meet them.
Louvre: I spent 3 hours there and mainly covered 1 floor. I hope to go back and see other things. Today I concentrated on the paintings. I also got to be in the moat area. That was interesting. I did see some sculptures and really want to see more. I got a picture of that Venus de Milo chick but pretty much only because I thought I might be trampled by the hundreds of other people gawking at her if I didn't follow along with the crowd. Talk about having to drink the kool-aid. It's really not a big deal to see her in person. Hate mail need not be sent. Also please note: I have no desire what so ever to so see the Mona Lisa. I just don't get it. Sunflowers or Starry Night I get, but Mona Lisa? Ick.
No comments:
Post a Comment