Post by Kim on Mar 7, 2002 0:27:41 GMT -5
Back again this evening!
I have donned my flame retardent suit, more than ready for the howls of protest and stinging rebuttals this note will likely produce! But remember, this is MY online journal, with my thoughts and opinions. That said:
Paris Lows
Notre Dame. A greatly overvalued and overhyped cathedral .... in my opinion. Architecturally the exterior is indeed stunning and noteworthy, but right here in this city is the Bascilica of St. Denis, nearly as beautiful. The interior is dark, very dark, dirty (soot build up) and rather uninspired. No real significant art works, nothing of great interest in the quire, stained glass of no particular value visually. On what do I base this opinion you might ask? Even disallowing St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London as being on a plain of their own and not fair to compare, there is York Minster, the Duomo in Florence, the Duomo of Sienna, the bascilica on Tortello in the Venice islands, Salisbury Cathedral to name but a few. And I believe I have the pictures to support my position. Yes, ND has a great historical significance to this city, and I am not detracting from it being a fine example of gothic churches......it is just not 'all that'!
The Louvre.....it is wonderfully big, nearly too big to really enjoy unless you have several days. And an indeed outstanding collection of works from all periods. And probably the most visitor unfriendly museum I've come across. BTW, went to the Musee D'Orsay today....now THAT is a spectacular museum indeed! Back to the Louvre....all the descriptions and information on the works are in French only. And before you howl that it is a 'French' museum, remember that something like 3\4 of the visitors are 'foreigners'! The audio guide is without a doubt the worst I have encountered. Being VERY generous I will say that no more than 15% of the works have any commentary. Compare that to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam where no less than 85% had a detailed and informative commentary. In the Louvre I went quickly to the room where the Rembrandts are kept. It is a large room with in excess of 20 paintings, probably more than that. Not ONE of them had any commentary, not a single one! A room full of such masterpieces and they have nothing at all to offer about them! One more irritation, at a minimum a fourth of the items don't even have a little info card in French. Nothing but the small brass plaque attached to the frame in the very old style with artists name and title! Titian, the Italian painter, masterpieces world reknown, no comment! Highly disapointing. BTW, the D'Orsay had fabulous audio and great info available everywhere, as did the Rodin and Piccaso museums. I am not slamming Paris museums in general, just the Louvre in particular.
Lastly, let me add, had I come to Paris first instead of last you would more than likely not be getting this note! But, having seen the many things that I have and the museums I have visited my horizons have broadened and I'll not be afraid to call a dud a dud!
On a final, final note, this shall be my last from the road report. When I began this back in November, I left with a promise to myself that when I got tired, I would come home, no matter if that was a week or a month or whenever. Last week I decided I was indeed tired. So allowed one more week for Paris (very glad I did) and arranged to fly home Monday morning. I want to wash my clothes, NOT in a bathroom sink, and once I get them nicely laundered I want to BURN the damn things!
I want to sleep in the same bed for more than a couple of nights and have a bologna sandwich on white Wonder bread! I want to drive to the store, not walk, and most of all I want to hug my Lizard oh so tight and get a big slurpy kiss back from her for Gammy! I want to cuss outloud and have someone hear me and know I am frustrated or angry over something, and I want to hear and tell a couple of good jokes and laugh outloud with folks I love! It has been the trip of a lifetime indeed, and I have lived a dream and enjoyed so much my running away from home. But now, I miss the USA and so home I shall come, 8 days sooner than planned.
I will try and compose my own personal favorites list in the weeks to come, and get 57 rolls of film developed and attempt to put it all into some sort of perspective. Let me know if you would like me to include such thoughts to you and I will be happy to send them along.
For now, I am off for one final fabulous French dinner and tomorrow will be a day of organization and simply taking it easy. Thanks for reading and being interested in this wild excursion of mine! It's been something indeed!
love,
ging
I have donned my flame retardent suit, more than ready for the howls of protest and stinging rebuttals this note will likely produce! But remember, this is MY online journal, with my thoughts and opinions. That said:
Paris Lows
Notre Dame. A greatly overvalued and overhyped cathedral .... in my opinion. Architecturally the exterior is indeed stunning and noteworthy, but right here in this city is the Bascilica of St. Denis, nearly as beautiful. The interior is dark, very dark, dirty (soot build up) and rather uninspired. No real significant art works, nothing of great interest in the quire, stained glass of no particular value visually. On what do I base this opinion you might ask? Even disallowing St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London as being on a plain of their own and not fair to compare, there is York Minster, the Duomo in Florence, the Duomo of Sienna, the bascilica on Tortello in the Venice islands, Salisbury Cathedral to name but a few. And I believe I have the pictures to support my position. Yes, ND has a great historical significance to this city, and I am not detracting from it being a fine example of gothic churches......it is just not 'all that'!
The Louvre.....it is wonderfully big, nearly too big to really enjoy unless you have several days. And an indeed outstanding collection of works from all periods. And probably the most visitor unfriendly museum I've come across. BTW, went to the Musee D'Orsay today....now THAT is a spectacular museum indeed! Back to the Louvre....all the descriptions and information on the works are in French only. And before you howl that it is a 'French' museum, remember that something like 3\4 of the visitors are 'foreigners'! The audio guide is without a doubt the worst I have encountered. Being VERY generous I will say that no more than 15% of the works have any commentary. Compare that to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam where no less than 85% had a detailed and informative commentary. In the Louvre I went quickly to the room where the Rembrandts are kept. It is a large room with in excess of 20 paintings, probably more than that. Not ONE of them had any commentary, not a single one! A room full of such masterpieces and they have nothing at all to offer about them! One more irritation, at a minimum a fourth of the items don't even have a little info card in French. Nothing but the small brass plaque attached to the frame in the very old style with artists name and title! Titian, the Italian painter, masterpieces world reknown, no comment! Highly disapointing. BTW, the D'Orsay had fabulous audio and great info available everywhere, as did the Rodin and Piccaso museums. I am not slamming Paris museums in general, just the Louvre in particular.
Lastly, let me add, had I come to Paris first instead of last you would more than likely not be getting this note! But, having seen the many things that I have and the museums I have visited my horizons have broadened and I'll not be afraid to call a dud a dud!
On a final, final note, this shall be my last from the road report. When I began this back in November, I left with a promise to myself that when I got tired, I would come home, no matter if that was a week or a month or whenever. Last week I decided I was indeed tired. So allowed one more week for Paris (very glad I did) and arranged to fly home Monday morning. I want to wash my clothes, NOT in a bathroom sink, and once I get them nicely laundered I want to BURN the damn things!
I want to sleep in the same bed for more than a couple of nights and have a bologna sandwich on white Wonder bread! I want to drive to the store, not walk, and most of all I want to hug my Lizard oh so tight and get a big slurpy kiss back from her for Gammy! I want to cuss outloud and have someone hear me and know I am frustrated or angry over something, and I want to hear and tell a couple of good jokes and laugh outloud with folks I love! It has been the trip of a lifetime indeed, and I have lived a dream and enjoyed so much my running away from home. But now, I miss the USA and so home I shall come, 8 days sooner than planned.I will try and compose my own personal favorites list in the weeks to come, and get 57 rolls of film developed and attempt to put it all into some sort of perspective. Let me know if you would like me to include such thoughts to you and I will be happy to send them along.
For now, I am off for one final fabulous French dinner and tomorrow will be a day of organization and simply taking it easy. Thanks for reading and being interested in this wild excursion of mine! It's been something indeed!
love,
ging