Wednesday, April 9, Day 8

Bounded into the Louvre, and ended up in my happy place, the sculpture courtyard Cour de Marly, drawing Cupid and Psyche which were on the level above me, while I listened to discussions of various artworks on my iPhone Louvre app. A teacher came by with a class of small children and pulled a ram’s horn out of his pocket, while he talked to them about the ram’s head on the side of an enormous stone urn. All day long I see children who sit attentively on the floor in front of some extraordinary work, and are rewarded with impassioned presentations on an art. What a standard, what cultural riches.

I fell into drawing and there went the morning. Had a quick cafe aux lait and tarte aux pommes at Angelinas, then explored the first and second floor. Standouts were the ivory madonnas, immense medieval tapestries, small bronzes, and medieval mirrors.

I wended my way towards the Egyptian painted sculpture of a scribe (my people!) past sphinxes, Pharaohs, and jackal-headed gods. I have now walked in every room and corridor of the Louvre. I have a sense of it, a map in my head.  I am ready to revisit particular works. Tomorrow, I’ll bust out the audio guide.

Did a few quick sketches, of heads mostly, then ate my picnic lunch (baguette, brie, proscuito & tomato. Warmed to Louvre room temp, brie is the consistency of soft butter.) near the Porte de Lion exit out in the Tulieries. I read my Nook and watching a tall man, who looked like a Nubian prince, direct squealing children in a vigorous running in a circle game that reminded me of Musical Chairs.

Left the Louvre around 3:30 to walk around the streets where I lived in 1970 – a fifth floor walk up room on Rue de Bac. As my feet began to falter, I found myself outside Laduree, and revived myself with a few salted caramel-filled macaroons. Bliss! Walked around St. Sulpice church filled with flickering candle light and light falling through the stained glass pattering colors on the wooden floors, saluted Delacroix.

Yearned for a bracelet I saw in a window – a sliver of silver with the words I love this life stamped on it, fastened to the wrist with a bit of blue string. So far I’ve resisted, but I know where it is.

Metro’d back to Saint-Paul around 6. Dinner from Pasta Linea (bolognese on orecchiette pasta, and a shaved carrot salade from Miss Manon, plus the rest of the tarte citron). Lights out.