To Gaze Upon!

Entering the Louvre through the rear door, the massive courtyard, stark and unassumming, allowing me a moment to breathe in the true beauty of this building.  As I walk, I watch, first at the few people gathered here, squinting in the daylight as the partially hidden sun emerges through the rain filled clouds, the rays of the sun scan this monolithic building, as if announcing each delicately intricate and ornate piece of art that sit along its massive walls and roof line. Saying this building is beautiful seems so meaningless, it is overwhelming.  For a moment I closed my eyes, only to re-open them finding the building still there and still feeling as those I had not been gazing at its massiveness for the last ten minutes.  Hearing chatter and laughter from tourists, my mind drifts to the masses that have passed through this courtyard before me, to view the works of the masters that are now in residence.  I feel honored to walk in these footsteps, to know that many of the creators of these masterpieces have most certainly stopped in this very courtyard.  We walk, chat, observe while trekking across, the clouds once again close in, I am hoping we make it to the farside before the rains begin.

As my thoughts become more of recent history,  "The DaVinci Code" enters the mix currently swirling in the depths of my over active mind.  Although a controversial book, in its own right will someday be a masterpiece, I find it somewhat upsetting I have put it in the same thoughts as the history that fills this building and the building itself.  I want to remain in the moment of the masters, I want to imagine who has walked this path, gazed upon this structure, used their hands and minds to create THIS! Speaking to my mind as if reprimanding a naughty child, "let me remain in the moment, hush be still!.  Let me gather the thoughts trying to surface."  Again closing my eye, I imagine, no modern tools of construction, just sheer brute strength, yet the delicate works lining this building are in complete contrast to what it took to build this structure.  Blood, sweat and tears have long soaked into the bowels of the earth beneath the Louvre, it is this moment I want to remember. Damn my thoughts as "The Da Vinci Code" resurfaces, but much as the small child pulling at "Mommy's arm", redirection of the thought process is going to be needed.  It is then I realize, what has been on my thoughts since day one, from the moment this Paris trip was planned, I was starting at the top of my "top ten " list, it was "Mona" calling out.  SHE, was the naughty child, she beckoned me!

The French are a proud, diverse and very vocal people.  The pyramid constructed in front of the Louvre, so very controversial.  It is such a stark contrast to this building and its residents,  in my mind it is justified.  Its simplistic beautify yet mystifying shape fit, although while in France that thought should and will remain within the confines of my brain.

The queue line not so long.  As we enter heading done beneath the pyramid, the skies once again allow the sun to peek through and the light hitting the floor well beneath the pyramid is awesome.  As I gaze at the dancing light, a whisper floats across my ears, "I'll be waiting".  It is Mona, she knows I am here.

We gather our Lourve map, scanning the walls look for directions to the Denon Wing.  It is Salon 6 that beckons.  We climb the stairs and as I gaze upwards I am awestruck by the massive size of the "Winged Victory of Samothrace" standing guard at the main entry level.  This statue was uncovered around 1863 but sculpted in 190 B.C., her beauty and craftsmanship truly amazing.  Again as if floating in on the soft breeze flowing through the Louvre, "Mona's" whispers reach my ears, "I am here, where are you?"  We continue on our journey following the masses heeding her calls.  I continue to be floored by the enormous size of some of these paintings, all part of the permanent collections within the Lourve.  Although no measurements are given,  some of these masterpieces are perhaps at least twenty-five feet wide.

My heart knows that "Mona" is small in comparison to her neighbors but her history, her creator, the mysterious aura surrounding her, larger than life itself.  As we enter Salon 6, the crowds pushing to see her, to stand beneath her gaze are amazing, patience is going to be needed.  I fix my eyes, first upon the wall, she is the only resident, none other allowed in her presence.  The frame surrounding her, ornate but complimenting to her beauty.  As our eyes meet, the crook of her smile tells me, she knows I have arrived.  Her Master, Leonardo a genius. Her beauty so simple, her smile so real but it is the eyes that beckon.  I have seen "Mona", my thoughts drift off and we will meet again, perhaps the next time we will talk!