Paris in 2024  

I recently had a chance to go to Paris for a weekend, and had an amazing time wandering around the Louvre in particular. 

Ive been before, a few years back, but this time I was able to really enjoy the ambience, and the silence. Yes, silence, as not every room and passage was crowded with people this time.  

To the extent, when I eventually got to the room in which the Mona Lisa was hung, there was virtually no one in front of it. The last time I went, there was a 20 deep crowd milling and pushing in front of me.  

Not being one for crowds, that was going to be a nightmare but this time it didn't prove to be that way at all, which was lovely.  For a few minutes, I was able to just stand and enjoy the quiet.  Obviously that was broken with the next coach party arriving...

Rooms and rooms of incredible art.  I think I spent most of the day in the building, trying to negotiate between wings and floors to find what was there. I wasn't really following a planned route, but wanted to see some specific things, including 

Pieter Boel's depiction of Vervet Monkeys 

and the amazing 'Liberty Leading the People' by Eugene Delacroix

There are so many other things I enjoyed there, and Id guess the ambience made it the day it was.  

But the loveliest part of the visit was the walk to and from it, from my hotel, where I saw some amazing graffiti

Would highly recommend a weekend just wandering.  I missed lots there, and will go again when I can...