After looking and re-looking at some of these entries (the museum entries in particular), trying to figure out what key ingredient is missing, I have settled on an explanation of the layout. An explanation is missing.
For entries with photos, I focus less on the chronological what-how-wherefore-who of my day, and more on how the photo is significant, though I've tried to represent both. I apologize if the experiment has failed and entries are too choppy-- At least I've finally figured out how to upload pictures in order!
Without further introduction or justification-- shall we jump back to--
On that same day, AFTER the Arc AFTER the Tuilleries AFTER the Louvre, we set off on the metro for the Musee D'Orsay. This museum takes up where the Louvre leaves off; I think I recognized more of the pieces in D'Orsay, though the selection was by no means as wide. Impressionist art is displayed here-- Manet, Monet, Degas, Van Gogh.
I don't know the title. I don't know the artist. But I loved it. The relaxed feel of the family, despite their austere outfits, is comforting. And the baby is just so cuddly looking. 
In direct contrast with the above, this ridiculous piece caught my eye due to its size-- It had to be the size of The Last Supper and was displayed in the main lobby. You couldn't miss it. I find it amusing because it reminds me of a college frat party; but these are the Romans, and the artist is criticizing their decadence. They do say that history repeats itself...
I couldn't find my Botticelli depiction of Venus rising from the sea, but I found this one when Kathleen collapsed on a bench towards the end of our self-guided tour. We happened to choose a bench right across from it.
These women remind me of the legend of selkies: women (demi-goddesses maybe) who could take on the form of a seal by donning a sealskin robe. Once upon a time, long, long ago, an ordinary man, a peasant fisherman, stole a selkie's robe, thereby trapping her in her human form. They married, they had children, they established a life together. But he eventually let her go because he loved her so, and knew she was incomplete without her freedom and her other form.I don't know where I picked that story up. I want to say that I got it from a children's book. The tale has echoes in Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid and parallels in the myths of other countries.
At any rate, the muted colors, the open sea, and the long hair of the women made me think of it.
After this museum, Kathleen and I still were not done. Oh no. This was our last day in Paris! We had to set off for the Eurostar station and Oxford at 6:30 the next morning! There was one last stop that we had to make.
After this museum, Kathleen and I still were not done. Oh no. This was our last day in Paris! We had to set off for the Eurostar station and Oxford at 6:30 the next morning! There was one last stop that we had to make.
