Monet, Matisse, Picasso, and more!....

Today we woke up late and headed out to the Jardin de Tuileres - which is the gardens in from of the Lourve. Well of course, JJ and I head out with the frisbee, to soon find out that people in Paris just pretty much sit and enjoy the park in chairs. Actually at that park, no one is even allowed on the grass! It is just trimmed and cut to display beautiful flowers and famous sculptures! It was really hot and we headed into the L'Orangerie museum. This museum had so many famous painters work displayed, but the most impressive was Monet. Monet had 8 of his waterlily paintings and scenes from his gardens in Giverny (his family property where he painted the murals from). Before we viewed his work, we entered the "decompression" room, which was circular and white walled. Monet did this to take the Parisians out of the stress of the city and relax them before they entered his "beautiful painted aquarium of light and color." The paintings were displayed in 2 circular rooms and they were gigantic! Probably about 20 feet long each, which made them even more impressive than I thought they were already. It is amazing that every brush stroke adds up to something spectacular, but a mystery how he was able to gain the perspective he had to make something so perfect in that size. What a guy, a true master is I guess what you call him! The rest of the museum contained incredible pieces by other impressionist painters like Picasso and Matisse. It was so great to have my mom there, the artist and teacher, to guide us and give us some interesting facts and historical info along the way. We walked out and headed down the Jardin de Tuileries to get a sandwich/gelato and head towards the Pompidou Center. We have included a picture because this place looked like a hamster cage for people. It was incredible! Apparently Parisians were very upset about this building at first because it is not traditional, but very modern - suitable because it holds the museum of modern art collection in Paris. JJ decided to head back to the apartment on a walk, for a beer (Leffe triple) some relaxation. Mom and I went through the majority of the museum where we saw some more amazing paintings by the great masters and also some very weird and funky new age stuff that is probably by people that are before their time we must think so at least to accept it! My mom's favorite pieces were the giant Matisse paper cut outs (and mine also!). We headed back to the apartment, met up with JJ and walked to a local Italian restaurant where we had incredible food and the best part was of course the desert, the best creme brulle ever! We enjoyed all of the people watching, the guys behind us playing a guitar out of tune, and the whole scene - like people fighting on the street, making out, and then eating dinner beginning at 11pm. A demain de Paris (till tomorrow from Paris)!