Louvre - The 3 treasures

The holy grail neath ancient Roslin waits, Adorned in masters loving art she lies,

The blade and chalice guarding over her gates, She rests at last beneath starry night...

-Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown.
Yes, i had always wanted to come here. I had been watching and watching the movie until i can saw the Louvre when i closed my eye. The famous pyramid, it gain more mystery after the Da Vinci Code shown. I plan to go in at 6pm (to save Euro 3 entrance fees) but end up i decided not to waste my time anymore, bought at ticket at E9 (so cheap)and began my journey.
People say, you can finished visiting Louvre in 30 mins, you can also finished in 3 weeks. For 30 min tour (i guess this is what most of the travel group will do), you only need to visit the 3 treasure in Louvre - Victoire de Samothrace (as below pic), Monalisa and Venus de Milo. For me, i had 4 hours. Following the signage to Monalisa, you will came to this Victoire de Samothrace. 虽然已经残缺不堪，可是你还是可以看到巧夺天工的雕刻，充分展现了女性飘逸的美。仿佛有一阵阵的海风在吹过来。
One level up was the place where the beauty of Louvre unfurl. Wow, so many paintings, so huge!
I saw it! Da Vinci's painting!
So Dark the con of Man .. lead langdon to this painting.Another painting by Da Vinci. I not sure was it because of the lighting or my camera problem. The photo that i took on all paintings cant show its true color. The real painting was 1000 times nicer than the photo.

Finally, i saw her....She was so small, but she occupy the whole hall and at least 4 security guards. Luckily tonight there were not much visitors. So i can had a closed contact with her. My friend said : i don't know why it so famous, it just a painting, quite normal maa...

But when i saw it, i know why was it so precious. For me, she was not a painting, in fact she was a lady, a living lady.当第一眼看到她的时候，天啊！这是一副画吗 ？对我来说她是一个实实在在的人。那么的富有生命力。我马上知道为什么她的微笑那么让人着迷了。当你开始注视她的时候，你会觉得她在微微的笑。可是看着看着，她的笑容变得有点调皮了，好像在嘲笑我们这一群无知的人，那么疯狂的热爱她。然后又变成不可一世的样子 ，仿佛她的高高在上是理所当然的 ，是我们这些凡夫俗子所不能达到的。我眨眨眼，她又恢复了那种纯真的笑颜了。

当你了解就是这幅画，花了达文西10多年的时间来完成，也是这幅画，在他临终之前一直陪伴他。你能不感动，能不震撼吗？用心做的东西可以让别人感受到，这幅用了那么多心血的作品，让达文西在逝世很久很久后，人们还是可以感觉的到。
The last treasure - Venus de Milo. I found that it was much more easy to ask other people to took photo for you in Louvre, because there were many solo traveler here and they were happy enough to help.
Where was Allysa ? She decided to save the E3 and go for shopping first. :)

Tour Eiffel @ noon

You must said i had crazy. This was the third times i been to Eiffel Tower. Just because of the sun.Although i am very tired but yet the experience was priceless! The sky was clear and blue. This was the best time to get good photo!
So many people lye down at the field to enjoy the sunlight. Some of them really kissing with each other, gf kiss bf, bf kiss bf...
I wanted to get some special angle for shooting. I remind that one of the Eiffel Tower photo i collected, the angle was very nice and different! I kept on thinking where was the spot that photo been shoot.
Oh ya, i need to cross the road and walk to the opposite building.
Hmm...i found a lot of surprise when i cross the road. First surprise was the cafe which facing just opposite Eiffel Tower. In another word, you can sit down , enjoy a cup of coffee while looking at the tower!!!!! Oh my god, i shall discover it earlier.
But i don't had time already. Here i really feel the is best place to shoot Eiffel Tower. You can capture whole body easily.
The disadvantage being travel solo was no body took photo for you. I had been asking around for help. Among all the photo, only this one look better. Some shoot the tower without top, some senget...
After taken few photo, i walked along the river and shoot from a bridge.
I must thanks to a kind lady who help me took the photo below. Although it looked a bit dark due to the sun direction, but i like it very much.
This was the typical building in Paris. This one was on the way back to our apartment,
I had another important place to go tonight. Always the last was the best. Before that, i need to meet up with Allysa first. Arr....i hope she finished doing her "work".

Church of St-Sculpice

Now, Allysa and me will separate for the rest of the afternoon. She will go back to the McDonald near to Louvre to online and checked her email (really workaholic). I will start my "Da Vinci Code" journey.
Saint-Sculpice chuch was one of the largest church in Paris. In the movie, Silas went here to find the holy grail that he believed it been hided under the rose line. There were very less tourists here.
The entrance fees was also free! Once i stepped in, wow, so bright. It was definitely different from the previous cathedral that i had visited.
I walked toward the front to find the rose line. Rose line rose line where are you. And yes, here was it lying. Hm...a great disappointment. the rose line which as one of the important thing in the movie, was lying at one of the corner with whole bunch of chairs stack in front of it! -.-" maybe it was only important in the movie.
Another famous thing in the church was the biggest organ in the world. Well i did saw a pianist playing some songs, but i don't think this will be the biggest organ.
Soon when i turn around, i saw it. Waa...it was really big. It was placed above everyone! Well, my first mission to Paris was accomplished! I had been to one of the shooting spot of "Da Vinci Code"
On the way back to metro station, i pass by Luxemburg's museum. I never stop for it as i am running out of time.
I need to go back to Eiffel Tower for the third time! Under this sunny day to snap more photo!

Notre Dame Cathedral

After back from Versailles, we head toward Notre Dame. One of the famous landmark in Paris.

This Cathedral reminded me of one story - "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". I read this story when i was quite young, probably in the primary school. However i was never re-read this story again as it was quite sad!
The entrance was free! Once we got in, i found that the design was almost the same with other cathedral. High ceiling, chapels, long chair...
The famous "Rose" in the cathedral.
This huge hanging lamp looked very similar with the one in Phantom. hmm.. was they got the idea from here?
Outside Notre Dame, we can saw the gargoyles in beasts shape.
Outside view of the famous "Rose". Actually almost of the cathedral had this kind of design.
This was another view of Notre Dame. I was quite surprise when i saw this, as my impression toward it was the front view always.
This afternoon, we had another subway as lunch again at the subway store opposite Notre Dame.

Chateau De Versailles

Chateau de Versailles located outside of Paris town, we took metro RER C from Paris. The journey is about 40min. This was the palace of France's King once a while. The statue was King Loius XIV.The first sight i saw this Chateau, i was just " waa....so gold..." The gate was gold in color and its tall.
Then you will feel " 须不须要哦 " Its like purposely wanted to show off how rich the owner were. How grand the Chateau was. So that you will felt yourself was too small compare with it and walked in with revere.
Maybe this was call 下马威 ？？
One of the famous thing about this chateau is the garden. The garden was very very extremely huge.
This was the pioneer of garden landscaping. Since it was build, the design had been copied by many others garden in France and Europe.
I don't date to walk in as i feared i will get lost. This looked like one of the scene in Harry Potter movie.
Another pool with horse statue.
A group of students doing their drawing of the building. I so envy them as they can had a chance to learn in this kind of way. They were already stay in the living history. With all those old buildings, famous painting, history artifact... I really envy them.
The entrance to garden was free, however you will need to pay if you wanted to visited the Chateau.
We didn't go in , one of the reason was to save money, another reason was we would like to save the time for other place.
On the way walked back to metro station, we saw some ceremony.
Not sure what was this ceremony for but the guy who had ribbon tied on his waist was really look like a typical French guy. This was one of the benefits for backpacking. You can stop wherever and whenever you wanted.