Louvre Area (May 2)

At the end of the Jardin des Tuileries, furthest from the place de la Concorde, is the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.

It forms a direct line with the well-known Arc de Triomphe, and the Grande Arche at La Defense.  In fact, the place de la Concorde obelisk and the centre of the Champs Elysee are also in direct line with it.  This area is over-run with men carrying huge rings of metal Eiffel Tower souvenirs - I think I was approached at least a dozen times in the space of a few minutes.  In the picture you can see the beginnngs of the Musee du Louvre.  Like a lot of buildings in Paris it is mind-stretchingly big.  The giant pyramid does look a little like an alien ship that has landed - but with perfect precision. 

Everyone had the same idea to stand on the plinths in the courtyard area and have their photos taken.  I took some other shots around the building.

Out the front an artist was working on a huge portrait.

I had a cafe creme at a brasserie that looked onto the Louvre.  The waiter hustled like nothing I've ever seen before - he approached everyone passing by on the footpath.  I then started walking along the rue St Honore.  A novel metro station entrance:

A John Galliano dress -

 look closer at the fabric design.

When I got back home I went out a different metro exit and explored more of the Republique area.  Beggars are everywhere, but this one made a few of us laugh

He's sitting behind the metal fence out of the wind and rain, and he's rigged his begging "bowl" so that when he pulls on a string it moves up and down and the attached bell jangles, alerting you that he's asking for money.