Hobbling through Le Musee Du Louvre

Today was my day to go to Le Louvre. I spent some time last night on their website mapping it out, and I knew I wanted to see the Mona Lisa. I set my alarm for 7, laid out my clothes and I was ready to go. Things started going wrong from the very beginning. Firstly, my alarm went off for way too long because I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. But turn it off I did, and I woke up an hour later! Sigh, no big deal. I am not, after all  on a schedule. So I head down for breakfast ready to go and set off for my day at the museum. Things looked up once I left. I was dressed in my non tourist clothes, complete with my cute Pumas.

I arrived at the pyramid entrance and despite being late, there was no line up! Woo hoo. I took a map, picked a section and headed off. I began first in sculptures, as I had seen it through the window during my walking tour and it looked interesting. They were amazing! But they get old really quick when it's people you don't know and have never heard of. Besides there were rooms of them! I headed off to Napolean's quarters. They were amazing. I can't believe how they used to live! The walls were covered in thick paper with velvet and gold. Chandeliers the size of wagon wheels cascaded with crystals, and everything seemed to be rich and jewelled. This is where things took a turn for the worse. My feet at this point were kiling me, and I had only just begun. The pinky toe of my right foot felt raw and the heel of my left was heading in the same direction. I stopped, slipped off my little sockets and inserted some insoles I had. I continued on to see The Mona Lisa. The place was packed. Hoards of people pushed to get a picture, and all I could think about were my poor feet! I continued on through the greek and roman antiquities, then through the Egyptian section. At this point I had to sit down a few times but I wanted to see one more section, the history of Le Louvre. I sat down and put my sockets back on hoping between them and the insoles, my feet would be saved. WRONG! I hobbled my way through this last exhibit. Probably the most fascinating for me, because of all the things at the Louvre, I love the building itself! What I wouldn't give to get a glimpse of what it would have been like back in  time.

Now I am done and have to sit. I pick a nice spot on the edge of a fountain in the sun and people watch. I've been seeing the museum for over 3 hours and I'm starved but I can't imagine walking far. I just want to come back to the hostel and change my shoes, or take them off anyways! I walk and walk and nope, I hobble, and hobble around searching for something other than a sandwich on a baguette. I finally find a mall (yep, a mall. Althoug it's all underground so you can't tell till you enter it). I grab a fresh burrito and sit. Ah. I decide to try to find some socks but after limping around for 30 minutes or so, I just have to go. I don't know how much longer I am going to last. Thank goodness the entrance to the metro is right there in the mall. Oh wait, did I mention my train is about 3 km away from this said entrance! Grrrrr.  Must be my lucky day because I sit down in the metro car and an alarm starts going off. Turns out we have to wait for les pompiers. Although many of my fellow travellers are upset and run off to find another route, I would be happy to sit there for hours resting my aching feet! Alas, it's only a mere 10 minutes before we are off on our way again.

At last, back at the hostel, I put on my flip flops and sigh with relief. This pair of shoes will NOT be making a comeback, they will be sent packing with my dad!

In other news, I did my first load of laundry. Besides costing 5€ and not having dry clothes in the 10 minute dryer, it wasn't a bad experience.
So the night goes on. I have booked a night tour on an open double decker bus and I can't wait. I meet 3 people from New Zealand who are a hoot and we embark on our adventure. After a chaotic beginning when 2 buses show up, we leave. The Eiffel Tower at night.....amazing. Even better when it starts to sparkle and you can hear the collective gasp of thousands of people! Beautiful! The night was awesome.....until...dunh dunh dunh. We ended up not being on the right bus, missed half the sights and ended up at Moulin Rouge not back at the beginning.  after some negotiating with the tour guide who blamed us despite me point blank asking her if I could be on this specific bus, she agreed to let us do it again or take the boat cruise. So I suppose those will be my plans tomorrow! I am not deterred, and although things could have gone better, I have had a great day!

On a side note, the Canadian pub I found is offering Thanksgiving dinner.....for 22€! Not sure if it's worth it to eat french turkey! Lol

Tomorrow I head to Versailles and I thank my lucky stars that I did not book it with the same tour company as tonight's night tour! By the way did you know Mcdonald's serves beer? Only in Europe!