The Louvre

Free on the first Sunday of every month! What's the catch? You know the longest line you've ever been in at an amusement park? Triple that.

The line wound back and forth in front of the Louvre and then out behind it, through the archway, and then around the entire courtyard behind that. I would estimate at least 3/4 of a mile in total. Maybe a mile...I'm a bad estimater of curvy people lines.

But people with strollers and wheelchairs can walk right to the front. Ha!

So we got in and saw the medieval and Egyptian areas of the Louvre. It's interesting. Ben saw some cool stuff and was enthusiastic about it for a bit. But then we started to get hungry, and we began looking for a way out.

Sortie, the sign claimed. Exit. Down some stairs, up some other stairs...no more signs...did we miss it? Back the way we came, elevator up. Elevator down. And through the dim hallways hunger slowly crept it's way toward us. Up more steps. Pardon, ou e la sortie? *directions and hand gestures* Beth translates and we move, ever faster lest the beast catch us unawares. Forward, left, right, up stairs, down more. Dead end. And like any good horror movie, we turn around and see hunger gripping our son as he starts yelling, "go out now!"

We move faster, hoping our sudden movements will confound the hunger monster enough so that he loosens his hold on Ben. Down. Straight. Push through to the left...down an illegal elevator. All the while stress craws up and down our faces.

We make it.

A mile hike home with a somewhat comatose 2 year old - Luckily he's chosen to go the inward silent route as opposed to the yelling all the way home one - lunch, and then a short nap for Ben. A close call indeed.

He did great though and liked looking at a lot of the stuff. We plan on hitting every free sunday; we figure we might as well! We blew by the ancient Persia area on the way out, it looked pretty sweet, so I'll think we'll have to check that out next time.

Ben was sick with a fever last night and was up every hour or so. It seemed to be a bit better today. We figure it's just a bad cold, but we're in need of a better night sleep tonight.

Though Beth may have the day off tomorrow. Apparently there's a city wide strike to oppose the raising of retirement from 60 to 65, so the subway may be shutdown. Hurray for bureaucracy!