Katie and I enjoyed our "Museum Experience" in more ways than solely viewing art. It was a big decision what to wear to the Louvre. Katie bought a dress, this added to the fun. Between the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay we stopped at a cafe' and had decadent desserts and shared our thoughts on the Louvre.

The Musee D'Orsay was recommended by a friend who has been to Paris. I did not research anything about it or ask any questions. I believe this made the experience all the more special. We were so surprised to see all the Impressionists' paintings. This is our favorite and we had been disappointed by its absence at the Louvre. Musee D'Orsay turned out to be the most important site in Paris for us.

This museum originally was built as a railroad station, completed in time for the World's Fair in 1900. Three different architects competed to design this important building. Due to its proximity to the Louvre and the Palais de la Legion d'honneur it needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. Victor Laloux was chosen for his design.

It was no longer being used and facing demolition when the Louvre and the other museums of Paris were overflowing with art. The station was converted into a museum and was completed in 1986. It displays works from 1848-1914.

Created by Michaelangelo, the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the greatest masterpieces of the world. In three sections the paintings depict the creation of the universe by God; the creation of man and his expulsion from the Garden of Eden and; the story of Noah and his Ark.

Michaelangelo worked from 1508-1512 on this work. The art in the Chapel was restored in the 1980's. This revealed the most beautiful, vivid pastels which had looked like dark shades of color and gray prior to the cleaning. We are now able to view the paintings as they were intended, although the restoration was quite controversial due to concerns of compromising the artists original work.

The picture at the left of the ceiling is outside the Sistine Chapel in many languages so viewers can have some education before entering. Tour guides abound, preparing visitors for their experience inside the Chapel. The art witnessed clearly makes this a museum experience but the fact that this is an active Roman Catholic Chapel where the Pope is elected makes this a religious event, as well. It is expected that no one should speak or take photos inside the Chapel which added to the solemnity of the moment.


Michaelangelo returned to the Vatican from Florence, where he worked for the Medici family, in 1534, to create the Last Judgment (left). This vibrant painting is divided into three sections, Heaven at the top, in the middle is souls heading up to Heaven and down to the lower level of Hell. This was a very controversial work of art. A major religious leader is shown in the lower right corner in Hell after he objected to Michaelangelo's graphic style.

St. Bartholomew, who was skinned alive, is shown with the face of Michaelangelo contorted in his dropping skin.

Since its completion in 1541, loincloths and drapes have been added to the figures. They were later removed when the work was cleaned in the 1980's. A small section of the masterpiece was left uncleaned in the upper right corner to show the difference.

I was overwhelmed with emotion in the Sistine Chapel. The combination of religious and historic importance were quite powerful.

Art is not always limited to the confines of an indoor museum as Katie and I saw throughout Europe. The Eiffel Tower emerges in Paris and offers a view of fifty miles. This structure was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel as a temporary exhibit for the Universal Exposition of 1889. It was to be demolished at the end of the fair but remained for its value as a radio antenna. It is hard to believe this was not appreciated at least as the engineering feat that it was if not as a piece of art.



We took the elevator to the middle level of the tower and had a fantastic view of Paris. Katie wasn't too keen on going any further so we hit the gift shop, took loads of pictures and made our way back down.

The River Seine beyond Katie was a beautiful sight from this elevation.

I imagine the curved base made it challenging for American Elisha Otis to design an elevator to bring visitors to the upper levels of the Eiffel Tower. The tower stood at 984 without its television mast and was the largest manmade structure in the world prior to the Empire State Building in 1932.

Katie and I were both quite awestruck by the Eiffel Tower. It was quite surreal to get off a bus and be a few feet away from this magnificent work of art. We took pictures from every angle. The only disappointment was a green netting around the middle of the tower where work was being done. I found changing my photographs to sepia or black and white camouflaged it well.

I wonder, which came first the Eiffel Tower or the Erector Set??
7/24 Curiosity got me... The Erector Set was invented in 1911 in New Haven CT by the AC Gilbert Co.

Seeing art in its original form adds a dimension that cannot be recreated through pictures or words. We have all seen the Mona Lisa portrait countless times in our lives, but to be in its presence is something quite different.

Some of the high points of the Louvre were the vivid colors which I did not anticipate and the Objects D'Art. My interest thus far going to museums in the United States had been to seek out the Impressionists. During this course I have given as much attention to other areas and have been enjoyed them as well.

I was looking forward to our visit to Florence, where so much art is on display. Unfortunately, we arrived late in the afternoon on a Sunday and the museums were closed. We did get a tour of the outdoor gallery which included the three statues shown here. A reproduction of "David" was also in this Piazza. I found these three to be disturbing and was reminded that art served a purpose to educate by depicting historical events, not all art is to be uplifting.

Entitled "The Rape", this statue dramatically depicts the ethnic cleansing of the time.

This door at the Vatican is opened only briefly every 25 years. Those who pass through it receive absolution of all their sins.

My Vatican Museum experience was so much more than an opportunity to view historical works, althought the art was breathtaking. This was also a religious experience that has rejuvenated me.

The architecture of the museum was nearly
as impressive as the pieces of art it houses.

A Swiss Guard stands watch outside the museum.