SoftSabot – Life in my slippers

This is my second visit to the Louvre, I absolutely love the place. Fantastic value for money when you see the treasures inside. They change all the time so last time was Rodin’s Thinker and Michaelangelo’s David, this time was the Venus de Milo and Neptune.

Last time they wouldn’t let you take photos of Mona Lisa, La Gioconda,  Le Joconde or whatever name you give it, whereas this time there wasn’t even an official in the room. Personally I don’t see the big deal as it’s an uninteresting painting and not really that good but hey ho. I also was vastly disapppointed when coming through one section to find 2 Constables. Most 12 year old’s could paint just as well I feel and they’re simply not nice to look at. Everyone has different taste though I suppose.

My all time favourite thing in the Louvre is the sculpture by Antonio Canova called “Psyche ranimee par le baiser de l’Amour.” which loosely translated means “Psyche revived by a loving kiss.”  I think. This is the most fabulous sculpture ever and I spent ages taking many photos of it. Canova has captured the spirit of the angel and the acceptance of Psyche so cleverly that I could stare at it all day. Even the expressions on the faces are so true to life and evoke emotion each time I look at it. I wish they’d put it on the floor so you can see Psyche’s face, I’ve tried to capture it in photo but it’s difficult to get at.

Anyway … if you ever visit France try to fit the Louvre in. You need a few days to see everything that’s on display but it’s well worth the effort in my opinion. I’ve got loads of photos so I cut the selection down to a few to make it manageable for here. I hope you like them.

Oh, if you try to take any water in with you they’ll take it off you. But there’s loads of places to get a drink and food once you’re inside and the prices are no worse than the rip off outside.

Well along with a friend I got on the train to Le Grande Arch de la Defense, walked all the way down the Avenue de les Grande Armee, took in the Arc de Triomphe then set off to the Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower. We then walked back to the Place Charles de Gaulle, headed down the Champs Elysees through Place de la  Concorde and down toward Notre Dame.

We did loads more that day that I won’t bore you with, but I took lots of photographs, far too many to show here, so I’m only displaying a few dozen on here. Hopefullly they’ll give you an idea of the impression the city made on me.

Here’s a weird story.

We’d just come out of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris with the intention of going up the tower. You have to come out and go round the corner to do this.  So we did, but as the queue snaked so far round the corner, we stopped almost at the end to watch a street artist. He was very funny, grabbing people at random, sneaking up on people from in front and doing weird things. It was great fun and we must have stood there watching him for about 45 minutes.

The queue then made a large movement so we decided we’d best get in it. As we took a place though, we were approached by a man who said no we could not get in the queue. He showed us a green leaflet which we should have if we were entitled to be in the queue. I got angry with him and told him that we’d waved him away when he approached us with them. We did not know they had anything to do with the queue, we thought he was selling something. The bastard wouldn’t have it and we had to leave the queue. As we walked back up past the office I called him down and he was joined by a colleague. I again told him he had been very unfair and I was very angry at him.  He just didn’t seem to care.  Twat.

I was arguing my case but then suddenly he said my English is not that good! Aye well my French is good enough to know that putain petit salaud is French for fucking little bastard

We were both quite angry as we’d stood for so long and an American woman came to ask what was the matter. We told her, but she only wanted to bash him for her own reasons, which I didn’t even pay attention to so I can’t remember what they were. I don’t have very much time for Americans on holiday, they’re one of the worst to chat to in my experience.

Anyway, we decided to head over to the south bank and maybe get something to eat. We did find an amazing kebab shop and I forgot all about the twat and the queue. So there we were walking along eating our kebabs and minding our own business, when we almost bump into a peacock. Yes, a real live green human peacock! Here, if you don’t believe me here’s a photo. >>>

He was bloody loving it. Every inch of him screamed out so loudly how much he was loving it and it made him more attractive than he already was. He was getting loads of attention, partly because of the costume and partly because he exuded fun and excitement and enthusiasm from every pore.  Here was a man sharing his soul with all who would look, dancing around people and stopping to chat and have his picture taken, then dancing off again, exuberant in his own little world.  I loved him for his passion and his enthusiasm and his  commitment and for his costume which was canny cool like.

As I took some pictures, more people came along. Then we saw a float in the distance. Then we spoke to someone and it turns out we’re right bang in the middle of the Paris Gay Pride carnival 2009 hahaha! Cool as fuck!

We stayed the whole afternoon and evening and it was a truly excellent time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Mr Twat Face in the queue, without your miserable pratting about we would not have experienced the carnival. Makes you wonder, does everything happen for a reason?

I took tons of photos at the carnival and fell head over heels with a transvestite who has to be the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen in my life. Not much taken with his cock like but if I kept my head up I loved him!

Shame on the lesbians though who failed to put much of a show on in terms of costumes. The guys stole the show and it was definitely their day without doubt. Girls you need to try harder next year! After this though I need to reconsider whether I wanna try a bit of bum love!