I stand on a cold, black, metal pole, waiting in the rain. I’m staring at a famous and controversial marriage of old and new, of classical and contemporary, or organic and synthetic. I’m thinking about history and progress, and what they mean. I watch hundreds of people, both mindless tour groups and meandering individual travelers, flock to one of the most famous museums in the world.
The Louvre, located in the heart of Paris.
I see people queing up, ready to wait in line for hours with the hope that they gain entrance and see as much as possible.
The Louvre is a maze, set up for the amusement of those watching over us in the security cameras. Upon entrance, we are mere rats being herded along a labyrinth of corridors, with nothing but the promise of world-class classical art to lure us around each twist and turn.
Today, I am lucky. I have already waited in line and seen what I came to see. I too, waited in the rain for more than an hour before opening, only to spring to the Mona Lisa once I gained entrance. I sought to see one of the most famous paintings with as few others around as possible. I succeeded as much as one can when there are already 20 other tourists and 3 security guards around 10 minutes after the museum opened.
I hurry around the rest of the wing to see what other pieces the museum has on display. From the marvelous marble statues that come from Italy and Greece to the inspirational paintings of past masters to the old apartments of a once grand monarch (((magnificent/opulent/grandiose/frivolous/tyrannical/fallen/overthrown ||| government/rule/monarchy/crown/royalty))), each hall offers something wonderful and steeped in history. It’s no wonder travelers and art-lovers alike make the pilgrimage to the Louvre. Some will return and others will not, but all who visit will leave with an unforgettable memory.
I find my vantage point as I emerge from the secondary exit. The rain drizzles down around me as I sit on my cold wet pole and watch as people from across the globe come and go on their visit to the Louvre. As I watch/observe/stare at the modern glass triangle erupting/emerging/ from the ground while surrounded by medieval and renaissance architecture, I marvel at society. In some regards, we have come so far and made such great advancements. But mostly, we’re still learnings and trying to understand.
The Louvre is a mixture of the best and worst of traveling/humanity. It offers unimaginable works of art, inspirational stories, and glimpses into history. But it also offers mobs of inconsiderate, rude, and downright aggressive people. Which part of your experience you choose to focus on will determine what kind of memory you will walk away with. Visiting the Louvre makes one ponder over history and progress; both important to our culture.