Sunday, February 18, 2007

Boat Shmoat, We're Going to Paris - Part 13

I had been to the Louvre before, and really wasn’t interested in seeing the Mona Lisa or Winged Victory or Venus de Milo and thankfully neither was Sean. I really wanted to stay away from crowds and see their Egyptian collection. I am relentlessly fascinated with the antiquity of Egypt as well as other ancient civilizations.

So that is what we did. We were both astounded by this exhibit. Never have we seen sculptures that communicated and spoke to us across time so loudly and profoundly. It felt as if these people were alive just yesterday, not millennia ago. We could relate closely with their cares and feelings. I had never gotten that feeling from an Egyptian exhibit before. Neither had Sean. It was weird.

After seeing the exhibit, I really wanted to take a piece of Paris home with me, so we decided to shop at the mall under the Louvre. There are gift shops including Lalique and Faberge. At the Lalique shop, of all the things they had, my favorites were very pretty little fish in a rainbow of colors, seahorses, butterflies, and dragonflies. Nothing was cheaper than $125. But then I thought, what the hell am I going to do with this little tiny glass fish when I get home? Will it just sit and gather dust? I have no place to display it in my house and it is not the sort of thing that I would wear. So I walked out without one.

Then we went to Faberge and looked at their wearable eggs. Same thing there. I didn’t like any of the eggs well enough to wear; they were a bit big for me as pendants, and too expensive at $350. But it was very nice to think about. So I left Paris empty handed with just memories and my contract to consider.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I bought a Bastet (cat) with golden earrings [as a reproduction] when I was in Paris eons ago. And yes, I was shocked by the prices too.

Sue said...

Peter - everything is so damn expensive there. I have always wanted a Bastet too. :) That is why I put so many photos; they are so cute!

Doug said...

Those would've been some mighty fine dust collectors, though. ;)

Sue said...

Yeah, you get enough of them though and they all become the same. Pretty little dust collectors. :)

Grahamburger said...

You had a fabulous trip to Paris even if you didn't buy me...er..buy any souveneirs!

Sh@ney said...

I think you took something much more valuable home with you Sue and that was the whole experience, the sight seeing, history, culture fine dining & shared it with someone special to you...No Faberge Egg can top that! Thankyou so much for sharing this trip, I have really enjoyed my virtual journey to Paris....xxox

Sue said...

G - lol!

Shaney - You are so right! You know what they say, "We'll always have Paris." lol But there will be one more installment of Boat Shmoat to come.