Friday, November 16, 2007

no mona?

ok, so.....i am just about done blogging about now trip...now that i am back safe and sound and on to more immediate things.....but it is worth reporting about the reaction of several colleagues who took the time to ask about specific sites seen....the first question was usually about the eiffel tower...which we did see from afar on several occasions and the second was about the mona lisa.....which we didn't attempt to see on this trip....yeah, we were in the louvre, but opted for the less visited/less crowded side.....mona is likely the most viewed artifact in the louvre.....and the crowds leading to and from her location are daunting.....and though she is fascinating.....there are other paintings in the building ....we chose to admire the northern european still lives and portraits and landscapes....especially the rembrandts and vermeers....so....no mona.....i did not take the time to explain to anybody that i have seen mona many, many times....because i have not shared the long list of previous visits with colleagues.....and though nobody asked....we did not see the musee d'orsay impressionists, either on this trip.....opting for the smaller exhibit at l'orangerie.......well, it is hard to call 8 wall-size water lily paintings small.....but you get my drift.....l'orangerie was nearly empty, and the orsay would have been packed......at this point in my life i'll go for quiet and nearly empty every time.....

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