Day 148 - Paris III - rest of Paris

7 am in my hostel room. Those curtains next to the bed? Draw it if you want some privacy when you sleep.

Unique urinals in the toilet of the hostel.

Usual free breakfast from hostel. One portion of baguette with one container of nutella-like spread. I usually eat 4 rounds of this and pack some baguette and nutella so that I don't need to buy lunch.

Scenic canal next to the hostel.

Stop 1 - Louvre Museum

One of the largest museums in the world, famous not due to "Da Vinci code", the home to the enigmatic Mona Lisa.

The controversial key icon of the Louvre Museum. Added when IM Pei was engaged to renovate the Louvre.

Interesting posters at the Louvre

Interesting posters at the Louvre

Some love it, some hate it. I say i love it. It makes a wonderful main entrance for the Louvre. According to the audio guide, IM Pei's idea is "The transparent is for the living, the opaque for the dead".

Automatic ticket machine. Maybe the ticket office has enough with tourists asking if they have discounts or concessions.

Since the Louvre has just opened, I rushed to the Mona Lisa before it gets its notorious crowd.

There. The lady.

The crowd aren't gathering yet.

But I think this huge picture opposite the Mona Lisa is much better. A Venetian art piece depicting the first miracle performed by Jesus at a wedding feast.

Sculpture court. A nice way to display sculptures that were recovered from the outdoors.

Cool lift at the main entrance. This is when it is all the way up......

......and the whole columns goes down when the lifts comes down.

I forgot the name of this sculpture. Mercury is it?

The long gallery.

They sure know what tourists are here for.

The famed Venus De Milo

And the crowd awed by it.

It was a former palace and fortress, so no surprise that it's really huge.

Part of the countless statues of Sekthmeth by (forgot which Egyptian King).

My favourite Persian motif.

Persian pillar.

Former Napoleon apartments.

The overwhelming crowd at Mona Lisa now.

King Leonadas.

Coronation of Napolean. I didn't know there are so many hidden statements in this!

The touch screen audioguide. Damn high-tech right?

They have already essentalised each gallery, but there are so much to see, that I couldn't finish!

The Great Courtyard.

The inverted Pyramid, where Mary Magadelene is suppose to be buried under according to "The Da Vinci Code"

You can't walk over it, unlike the movie.

I must say the Louvre is really impressive and overwhelming. They have almost everything in the world (that was looted) being displayed. Sculptures, archaeological stuff, artwork etc. The British Museum pales in comparison.

Stop 2 - Notredame Cathedral

Decided to walk along the Seine to the Cathedral and I spotted this interesting bin design.

The Cathedral. One of the largest in the world apparently.

Intricate entrance. Each Entrance has different themes. If I interpreted it correctly, they covered the different Saints, the Nativity, and the Passion.

Modern Confession room.

Beautiful rose

Which saint is this with the head on the hands?

Unfortunately, I'm numbed to Gothic architecture. It's beautiful, it's grand, but that's the only thing I can appreciate about it.

Stop 3 - St Sulpice Church

One of the larger churches in Paris, this church has been made famous recently by "The Da Vinci Code". This is where the supposed Rose Line lies (it's not!).

The infamous line. Actually it is like a sundial, used to tell time.

I laughed out loud when I saw this.

P for Priory in "Priory of Sion"? St Peter lah! One of the two patron saints of this church.

S for "Sion" as in Priory of Sion? St Sulpice lah, another patron saint of the church.

Too bad the facade is under renovation. But I think you can spot the towers being mis-matched. Spent some time trying to look for the Rose Line, which is marked with the Arago Medallion, but couldn't. (Post-note: Found out that there were a few at the Louvre! Argh!)

Stop 4 - Centre Georges Pompidou

House to the Museum of Modern Art, this distinctive building is landmark in Paris on its own.

I didn't go in as I have enough of museums. But it's an interesting place to people watch (at your own risk)

Spotted this along the way. Only the Machas will understand. :)

Stop 5 - Back to hostel and back to London

Went back to the hostel at about 7.30pm to collect my luggage and take the train back to London.

The metro broke down along the way

Cleared UK immigration at Paris Gaud du Nord. Was wearing my "Always give 100% at work" T-shirt. The immigration officer saw it and commented

"so it's Thursday today. You're giving only 20+%?"
"No! I'm on holiday! 0%!"

As usual, clearing immigration is a bitch. It is as though as they change their policy every month.