Tag: Museum

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Do You Want to See the Mona Lisa?

Okay…you read all the brochures about the pristine, white sand beaches, looked at pictures of how romantic it is at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and have always wanted to see the Mona Lisa up close.

If this is what you’re striving for on your vacation…be prepared to do a little work before you go. Why? Advance planning goes a long way if you are joining a bunch of other vacationers who want the same thing as you.

I’m not advocating planning, planning, planning. But, there are certain times and events where planning gives you a better vacation.

Buy those Eiffel Tower tickets at home, print them if you can, and avoid the long wait lines at the base. And, I do mean long wait lines. Same goes for museums in Florence, Venice, and other popular places. Check the Internet for the specific site to see if advanced tickets are available. Many cities have ‘museum passes’ which are good for a series of days. Investigate to see if these will save you time and money. We buy our Paris ones at the kiosk at the airport when we arrive.

If you’re going to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre…go early. Go when they open. Once inside, go directly to see her. I know there are other great pieces of art on your way there. But, see her first and then see the rest. You’ll be glad you did.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to make pasta, or wondered why chocolate from Bayonne tastes so good, or wanted to visit with a winemaker in Saint Emilion. Here’s where advance planning is a must. Set up your classes or appointments ahead of time.

Having given you some ideas where planning is a good idea, I have another suggestion.

Be spontaneous. Don’t plan every moment. Sometimes these unplanned days are the best days of the vacation.

 

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Do You Have Museum Phobia?

Have you ever felt a museum is intimidating? Have you been to the Louvre?

It’s big, it can be exhausting, and it can be so overwhelming you’re not sure what you saw. Here are a few tips to make a visit to this museum slightly more enjoyable. After all, you don’t want to spend your time rushing past walls and walls of paintings, looking down at the map to find the Mona Lisa, or getting lost while wandering around in circles on a lower level.

First…buy your tickets ahead of time. Better yet…buy a museum pass so you won’t stand in any lines.

Next…use the high-tech coat room if you need to check something. No sense carrying a large bag or coat through the museum.

Pay attention to everything here. This used to be a palace of the French kings for about four centuries before the French Revolutionaries turned it into a museum. And, since kings lived here…everything was built for them. Look at the ceilings, the walls, and the floors. See if you can find the names of kings, from Louis to Henri, carved into the stone.

The museum has three main wings…Richelieu, Sully, and Denon. The central foyer, under the massive pyramid, is the starting point for all three. In Richelieu, you can go back thousands of years and visit the three greatest civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, and the Persians.

In Sully, you’ll find the collection of Greek and Roman sculptures. Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory are here.

Head to Denon for the Mona Lisa. You’ll also see masterpieces from the Renaissance.

Of course, there’s more here than those. But, that’s a beginning. You could be here for days, or weeks. There’s that much to see.

It might be time for a coffee break and consulting your map.