Celebrating Sensual Love and Nudity in Paris' Sculptures

The French have a heritage and culture that is renowned for its rich works of art which includes paintings and sculptures.

When I visited Paris in November last year, various statues in Paris' famous museums fascinated me. The attention to detail is amazing like this statue in Versailles:

Look at the folds in the garment. The sculptor who sculptured this statue must have taken the trouble to get every detail correct, right down to the smallest fold in the garment.

Another example of attention to detail is this statue of St Mary Magdalene by G.Erhart at The Louvre:

St Mary Magdalene may stand transfix inside a glass case, but take a look at her hair in the next photo.

Her flowing tresses captured beautifully in wood.

The sculptures in Paris are life like, like this one at The Louvre:

Nudity is common to celebrate the beauty of the human body:

Captive (The Dying Slave) by Michaelangelo.

Sensual love is celebrated in sculptures like Psyche & Cupid by A. Canova at The Louvre:

My favourite sculpture of all time! Read about the meaning of this magnificent work here.

And this work by Auguste Rodin at Musee Rodin:

 The Kiss by Auguste Rodin.

If you're wondering who is Auguste Rodin, click here. One of his most famous work is The Thinker which you most probably have seen somewhere somehow.

The Thinker sits on a pillar in the gardens of Musee Rodin.

Now that we're on the topic of Rodin, here are two explicitly sexual statues at Musee Rodin:

Naked woman squatting.

And the sculpture that made me gasp when I saw it for the first time:

In your face, meet Iris, Messenger of the Gods at Musee Rodin.

When you visit Paris, remember to look out for these lovely masterpieces that make Paris a true haven for art lovers.

Eat Cheaply at Monte Carlo Restaurant in Paris, France

We've all heard that Paris is an expensive city to visit. You'll need to dig deep into your pockets to visit this city. Some people even have the perception that those who visit Paris are wealthy.

If you're planning your budget for a trip to Paris, let me give you an idea how much a meal would cost.

When I was in Paris late last year, Mike introduced me to a restaurant near the Arc de Triomphe called Monte Carlo which serves one of the most reasonably priced meals in the area.

I had dinner almost everyday in Monte Carlo. If I had stayed longer in Paris, the staff would probably know me on a first name basis :P

Monte Carlo serves a variety of dishes, desserts and drinks. It's self-service here, so just pick up a tray and choose whatever you want.

The variety of soft drinks available. Not shown in the photo is the wine counter :-)

A set meal comprising three dishes, a dessert and a drink will set you back € 10.50. Convert this into your own currency and see whether Paris is expensive as claimed by most people.

I chose chicken, steamed veg and fries for dinner that day. For dessert I opted for egg custard (one of my fav dessert) and wine for my drink. Always choose wine if you want to get your money's worth. But then again, wine is cheap in Paris and the rest of Europe compared to Asia.

Because prices are reasonable in Monte Carlo, the place is usually packed during lunch and dinner. If you want to skip the crowd, go early.

I would definitely eat at Monte Carlo again if I return to Paris. Food is reasonably priced (by Paris standards) and the ambience is warm and cosy. Staff are also friendly and most of them speak English.

For another review on Monte Carlo, click here.


Monte Carlo Restaurant
9 Avenue Wagram (stone's throw from Arch de Triomphe)
75017 Paris
Tel: 01 43 80 02 20
Website

Beneath The Louvre's Glass Pyramid

I've always wondered what lies beneath the The Louvre's glass pyramid. I've seen numerous photos of it, but hardly any reveals what lies beneath it. Is it just a structure to make The Louvre's compound look pretty?

So when I was in Paris in November last year, I made it a point to visit The Louvre to find out what lies beneath its iconic glass pyramid.

The glass pyramid has become synonymous with The Louvre, giving the museum its identity. It's like looking at the Eiffel Tower and you know for sure it's Paris. 

The glass pyramid is actually an entrance into The Louvre:

The Louvre is one of the most popular museums in the world, so expect queues that goes on forever. 

When you reach the entrance of the pyramid, you'll need to scan your bag before entering the museum.

Now here's the revelation on what lies beneath the pyramid:

Tadaaaa .... It's the lobby ... There's a separate wing on each side of the lobby that leads to different sections of The Louvre. 

Look up and admire the sky from beneath the pyramid. I love that natural light fills the museum. 

So the mystery of what lies beneath The Louvre's glass pyramid has been solved, not that it's a huge mystery anyway ;-)

Egyptian Culture in France

France conquered Egypt between 1798 and 1801. During that period, France's greatest military leader, Napolean Bonaparte became extremely fascinated with the wonders of Egypt that he ordered various scholars to study its treasures. Their extensive research resulted in a series of publication called Description de l'Egypte (English translation: Description of Egypt).

Napolean's discoveries in Egypt gave rise to a fascination for ancient Egyptian culture and the birth of Egyptology in Europe. This is probably why I saw a few Egyptian culture in France like this statue in Versailles:

This statue has a fusion flavour to it - top part is decked in Egyptian regalia, whereas the bottom part is dressed like a Greek goddess. I almost missed this statue because it's small.

And this obelisk in Place de la Concorde, Paris:

Night shots are difficult to snap as they turn out blurred most of the time. Luckily you can still see that this is an obelisk :P

But the most obvious Egyptian influence in France would probably be the popular glass pyramid at The Louvre Museum:

The glass pyramid at The Louvre has also become popular due to Dan Brown's best selling novel, The Da Vinci Code.

The next time you visit France, watch out and see if you can spot any more Egyptian culture. They may be right in front of your eyes like the glass pyramid at The Louvre, or hidden in a corner like that small statue in Versailles.

Notre Dame Cathedral: Neo-Gothic Architecture at its Best

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a must-see in the City of Love. Its neo-gothic structure and dark interiors never fail to mesmerise visitors.

By far, Notre Dame Cathedral is the most beautiful Christian house of worship I've seen in my life.

There's no entrance fee into the cathedral. However if you wish to climb to the towers and say hi to its famous gargoyles, you'd have to pay €8.00 (also covered under the Paris Museum Pass).

The interiors of the 700-year-old cathedral are dark and mysterious, making it the perfect setting for Victor Hugo's classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame that was written based on this cathedral.

I sat on the pews and imagined Quasimodo swinging across the pillars to rescue the beautiful Esmeralda. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go read The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. And if reading's not your thing, watch the Disney version :-)

I visited the cathedral twice during my visit to Paris.

First visit was to attend Sunday Mass and then climb to the bell towers. But when I saw the queue to the towers that went up to Timbuktu, I returned on a weekday to find myself third in line :-)

If you don't want to queue forever, visit Notre Dame Cathedral on a weekday.

I attended the 11.30am International Mass which was entirely in French with only the First Reading in English. 

The interiors of the cathedral was so dark I had to strain my eyes to read the song sheets. 

The constant flow of tourist is a distraction to those attending Mass. But cannot be helped; this is what happens when you have to juggle the needs of the parishioners and the interest of the nation's tourism industry.

I waited a long time for the perfect moment to shoot this pic. If I had missed it, I'd have to wait for the next Mass. Btw, check out the stained glass.

Within the grounds of the cathedral there's a park where people sit and chat and bring their kids to play.

I sat on one of the benches in the park and munched on my sandwich :-)

At the back of the cathedral is Pont Arch (Pont means bridge) that connects the mainland to Ile de la Cite (part of the Seine Islands) where the cathedral is located. And on Pont Arch I was surprised to find so many locks:

I presume lovers must have placed the locks there as a sign of their love for each other - just like the love that Quasimodo had for Esmeralda. Now, don't you want to just pick up that book I've been telling you about?

I particularly like this lock:

Tortoise-shaped lock that caught my eye.

You can stand on Pont Arch and watch the river cruise that runs through the Seine:

As I was admiring the scene from Pont Arch, suddenly the heavens opened and the sun came out. So I rushed to the other side of the bridge to snap this shot. The wonders that lighting does for photography!

Here's an interesting bit of info that Rick Steve wrote in his travel guide, France 2010. According to Rick, there's a bronze plaque marked "Point Zero" in the square facing Notre Dame Cathedral. This plaque is 30 yards from the central doorway and when you stand on it, you're standing at the centre of France, the point from which all distances are measured.

Doesn't that make you want to hunt for the plaque the next time you visit Notre Dame Cathedral?

So don't forget to visit this neo-gothic masterpiece when you're in Paris.

The facade of Notre Dame Cathedral is a prelude to what lies inside - lovely gothic architecture, dark interiors and the love story of Quasimodo & Esmeralda. 

Breathless at Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is probably the most popular monument in Paris after the Eiffel Tower. And just like its superior sister monument, visitors can climb to the top of Arch de Triomphe for a birds eye view of Paris.

I successfully completed the climb to the top of Arch de Triomphe, albeit having to catch my breath numerous times. This climb was even tougher compared to climbing St Paul's Cathedral in London which I did in 2009.

The Arc de Triomphe is situated in the middle of a roundabout called Place Charles de Gaulle, as you may have seen in numerous photos and on television. Because the French drive like they don't value their lives, you should value yours by using the underground tunnel to get to the arch.

The tunnel that leads to the arch is located opposite it. There are other tunnels around the arch which leads to underground Metro stations instead. So you'd need to look carefully, otherwise you'd be walking around in circles like I did.

Underground tunnel that leads to Arc de Triomphe.

After flashing my Paris Museum Pass to the security personnel (€ 9.50 if you buy an individual adult ticket), I started climbing and what a climb it was. A narrow steel staircase lead the way in a winding fashion to the first level where there were some exhibits explaining the history and significance of the arch:

There's also a souvenir shop on that level, where I bought cloth figurines of Napolean & Josephine (his wife) for Pat's sister who collects X'mas tree deco from different countries. I thought these figurines of France's most popular son and wifey are more unique compared to baubles painted with images of the Eiffel Tower.

After that slight shopping 'interruption', it was time to resume the climb.

The huffing, panting and bouts of fainting spell continued (has my fitness level gone down the drain?) until I saw first signs of sunlight which means I had arrived at the top of the arch: 

It was indeed a cloudy day.

After climbing Arc de Triomphe, I was planning to climb the Eiffel Tower on the same day. But after seeing this ... 

... I changed my mind.

I was not going to pay € 13.70 to get my arse to the top of the Eiffel Tower and stand in a cloud with no view. Heck, I could do that on any airplane. 

Some of my friends said I was dumb not to climb the tower since I was already in Paris, but well ... I don't control the weather; I'm not Storm (X-Men).

Now Ladies, let me introduce you to Champs-Elysees where the world of fashion congregates. It's all here ... Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Lancel, Gucci (ok this is Italian, but they do have boutiques in Champs-Elysees), etc. Stop drooling, ladies  ... 

Champs-Elysees as seen from the Arc de Triomphe.

After walking around the arch and looking at the magnificent, albeit cloudy view, it was time for the descent.

This is how winding and narrow the steel staircase is. Visitors must walk in a single file and if someone stops to catch his/her breath, everyone behind will be held up. Someone asked me if someone fainted in there, with a long row of people behind and in front, how are paramedics going to get the victim out? He/She would have probably died by the time help arrives. 

This is what Arc de Triomphe looks like when you stand directly underneath it:

An angle of Arc de Triomphe which you have probably never seen before.

And to conclude this post about Arc de Triomphe, here is a grave at the foot of the arch:

Translation of the words on the grave: Here lies a French soldier who died for his country.

And this my friend, is the significance of the Arc de Triomphe - it is a monument to the departed, to the fallen soldiers who died for the country. You can read more about the history of the arch here.

Only One Louis Vuitton Item per Chinese Citizen

I met a Business Development Director (BDD) who had just returned from a trip to Europe. We exchanged notes and the topic of the Chinese lady who asked me to buy Louis Vuitton products came up.

According to the BDD, Chinese citizens are allowed to purchase only 1 LV product at a time because the international brand wants to prevent forgery.

Apparently these Chinese fellas would buy many different types of original LV products and forge them for resale. This has become so rampant that LV bags and wallets have become the most forged branded goods in the world.

So there you have it ... the answer to why LV has imposed this restriction on Chinese citizens has been answered.

How I Became a Louis Vuitton Bag Mule

I arrived in Paris at 5.30am on a Friday morning. After checking into the apartment, I started exploring the city.

Since the apartment is a stone's throw from Champs Elysees, I thought I'd explore the famous street where everything is glamorous and pricey. Moreover it's only a long straight road and I didn't have to use my navigational skills which were still jet lag at that time.

The Louis Vuitton boutique (known as LV amongst fashionistas) is located along Champs Elysees, but I didn't go in. So I just snapped a photo of the boutique from across the street.

As I was walking away, a Chinese lady stopped me. I could see a Chinese guy standing a little towards the back behind her, looking at us anxiously. She introduced herself in broke English and asked if  I could help her buy LV products from the boutique. 

Immediately I asked why can't she buy it herself. Apparently Chinese citizens have a limit to the number of LV products they could buy. And this lady wanted to buy lots.

After listening to her, I was thinking since I can't afford LV products myself, why not help her, just for the experience and fun of it.

So I agreed. Instantaneously she whipped out a catalogue (colour printed from the computer), pointed to the items she wanted (5 in total) and I keyed-in the product codes into my mobile phone. She then handed me € 2,400 in cash which I quickly stuffed into my pocket. She told me that she would be waiting behind the magazine stand opposite the boutique.

You must be wondering how come this lady trusts a complete stranger with so much money (in cash!), what if I walked away with the money, what if the cash turned out to be forged notes, etc. Well, I've got an answer for all those questions because I had them too and weighed my risks before agreeing to help her:

• What if I walked away with the money - she probably has some thugs waiting at the corner to beat the crap out of me. She may also have used face reading techniques on me and my face screams honesty ;-)
• What if the notes were forged - She wants the goods badly and why would she want to get at a complete stranger? 

So I got into line (yes, you have to queue) and soon I was inside the boutique.

The shop was full of Chinese customers choosing and buying like there's no tomorrow.

In case you're not aware, branded goods from Europe like LV, Salvatore Ferragamo, Longchamp, Lancel, Gucci, etc. are more expensive in Asia because of tax. In Malaysia, these goods are like 30% higher. So whenever you see Asians on a buying frenzy in boutiques in Europe, you know why ...

I also realised why LV may have imposed this limit on Chinese citizens - they don't want these Chinese fellas to buy in bulk and resell in China. It would make the brand look cheap. What do you think?

Now back to the story.

The shop assistants were so busy handling the customers that I had to wait for someone to attend to me, which turned out to be a Chinese lady. She had been living in Paris for almost 10 years and could speak fluent French. But we spoke in English, of course :-0

When I gave her my orders, at once she asked whether someone had asked me to buy the items. I think the sales assistants are well aware that many Chinese fellas are lurking outside the LV boutique waiting to pounce on any unsuspecting person to help them buy LV products. I told her that family and friends have ordered the items since I was coming to Paris (I seriously need to go for confession).

Some of the items were out of stock and so I took the Neverfull MM Damier and Westminister PM Damier which the boutique had. They got the items wrapped nicely, I made payment (had to show my passport too) and headed to the magazine stand.

When I returned the change to the lady and informed that some of the items were unavailable, she asked whether I could help her again by going to another LV boutique on Avenue Montaigne nearby. She was that desperate.

I agreed and got a Neverfull PM Damier and Zippy Wallet Damier for her. When I met up with her to hand over the goods and change, there was another Chinese girl with her. The Chinese guy had disappeared. I wonder whether these ladies are online shop owners or boutique owners who are going to resell the items back in China.

Things I learned from this incident:

1. LV bags do not have serial number to ensure authenticity. The sales assistant in the LV boutique personally confirmed that.
2. There's another LV boutique on Avenue Montaigne which is approximately 10 minutes walking distance from the Champs Elysees one.
3. The Chinese are crazy for LV stuff. Personally, I prefer Gucci and Ferragamo :-)

Use the Paris Museum Pass

During my recent trip to Paris, I visited 9 tourist spots that has entrance fees:

1. Arc de Triomphe - € 9.50
2. The Louvre - € 10.00
3. Archeological Crypt at Notre Dame Cathedral - € 4.00
4. Tours de Notre Dame (this is the tour to the towers, entrance to the cathedral is free) - € 8.00
5. Orangerie Museum - € 7.50
6. Versailles (ok technically this is not in Paris) - € 18.00
7. Orsay Museum - € 8.00
8. Rodin Museum - € 6.00
9. Sainte-Chapelle - € 8.00

TOTAL - € 77.00

But I visited all of the above for only € 50.00 by using the 4-day Paris Museum Pass. Great savings, huh?

Passes are sold according to the duration of the pass:

• 2-day pass: € 35.00
• 4-day pass: € 50.00 
• 6-day pass: € 65.00

Visitors with the pass can go in and out of museums and places of interest as many times as they like. I almost visited the Louvre twice because the place was too damn big to cover in one visit!

And if you want to make the most of your pass, try to visit as many places as you can and/or sites with high entrance fees (like Versailles), as long as your pass is valid. But trust me, 2 places a day is already tiring enough.

However, not all museums and sites are included in the Paris Museum Pass, one of which is Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower. I was hugely disappointed cause a ride to the top of the tower is € 13.70 which I had to fork out again.

Another advantage of having the Paris Museum Pass is that I can whizz into museums and places of interest without having to queue for tickets. This is indeed handy in a touristy city like Paris where ticket lines are perpetually long, even in the winter. Again, not all places have this whizzing facility. For example, you'd have to queue like everyone else to join the bell tower tour in Notre Dame Cathedral.

It was only 2 hours till closing time when I arrived at the Orsay Museum. The ticket queue was so long I thought it would take at least 30 minutes to get through it. With the Paris Museum Pass in hand, I quickly looked for the line for pass holders and I got my arse into the museum in less than 10 minutes. The Paris Museum Pass certainly comes in handy to beat long queues.

Preparing for Paris

Been doing lots of reading lately ...

... in preparation for my trip to Paris.

I was also clearing my stuff and found an item of French origin ...

I can't for the life of me remember how I came to own this lovely Evian bottle!

Paris Je t'aime

It's final - I'll be going to France for 2 weeks in November/December. Need to shout it out to the world because getting 2 weeks off seemed almost impossible with the responsibilities I shoulder.

I also consider it an accomplishment to book the return AirAsia X tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Paris-Orly for RM 1,697.40 (includes tax, booking fee, luggage and Skybus). My boss said with prices like that I can go to Paris 3 times a year.

Haven't made any plans yet for the Paris leg but it should include Mona Lisa, Rodin, Eiffel, Orsay and Pompidou amongst others.