I did the same 
I misread the menu and had Kartoffelsuppe as a starter but on arrival I realised it was a main course, a bucket of (delicious) potato soup. There was no way I was going to try and cancel what I had assumed was the main course, probably a meat and two veg sort of thing, so, putting my best trencherman face on, I ate it too.
I spotted the waiter peek8ng around the corner looking at the imperialist, capitalist pig pigging out. I got a photo of him
It was grim 
So 16e is OK ?
I think I do too, if it’s the Orsay that has the blue period Picasso’s.
I’ve only been to The Louvre once as I recall. I found it overwhelming, in many respects. It ended up being a chore, I just don’t have the amount of energy required to take it all in, my brain fries. I guess that’s what happens when one is in tourist mode. The requirement to “do” a famous gallery, or see a known sight, takes over. I much prefer a leisurely saunter, taking stuff in in my own way and time.*
I return to my theme of living in cities; you don’t have to be in tourist mode. You can visit galleries, even large ones room at a visit, in a much more relaxed and receptive mode. I was a regular at Sainsburys Wing (and the National Gallery before it) to view the religious works, alterpeices, icons, etc whenever the whim took me. The potrait gallery too - I could just bob in!
*flâner as the French light say. I love that word. I could become French for that one word alone. It seems to embody so much of my character!
Not in Paris with price of entry tickets! When we lived there we got an annual pass for one museum each year so we were free to explore at leisure.
Yes, I was thinking of a different era. I didn’t even donate on every visit back then. Do London galleries charge per visit these days? I’ve no idea. I guess it varies. I’m just in nostalgia mode. Forgive me.
À lot of galleries and museums in the UK are still free to visit. Sometimes there is an extra charge for a particular exhibition showing at the same time. As in the Ashmoleum in Oxford near to us.
Oxford used to be a nice place to visit, some parts still are, but those running it these days are doing their utmost to ruin it and, of course like everywhere else, the traffic is horrendous. Park and ride is pretty much essential now. Although the newer park and ride at Eynsham is still not operational as it was built before it was given approval to link up to the main road, the A40! So there it sits, unused and certainly unloved.
I would love to visit cities in Europe again, such as Paris, but having memories of them from years ago I think I prefer to keep those memories in place rather than be disappointed with how they are these days. Some places we have lived in however are still as nice, even though they are much busier. Thinking of Munich which is a great place to walk around. So much to see there too, not to mention the food!
I would do the same in London, room 63 at the National just to sit with a Rembrandt self portrait for a while, then a flying visit with Manet and Gauguin. Now it’s a massive queue to just get in and only one entry point…..but the nearby portrait gallery is quieter so I can get time with Singer Sargent….thankfully they are still free so suit a flying visit when I need a fix.
As good as the internet is nothing beats standing in front of a canvas, noticing every brush stroke, the genius placement of a thin line of white paint in an eye just three millimetres long, I always take the time to view art locally, but I miss the masters!
But not enough to brave Paris in August 
I’ve been to the Louvre many times, but always for specific research purposes, after which I visit some old favourites and wander a bit. Often when I enter a gallery, I scan the room and usually let my intuition lead me to what grabs me first, then work my way around the gallery. Many hangings are arranged in terms of which paintings ‘work’ best together, rather than in some progressive didactic or chronological sequence.
Tourists and other casual visitors to very large museums would greatly benefit from doing a bit of preliminary research beforehand to decide what they would particularly like to to see - then go to this/these first, followed by a bit of drifting, rather than trying to look at everything. It’s also important to take the opportunity to sit down from time to time and relax by looking at what’s in front of you and glancing around the whole gallery, seeing how works relate to one another.
Well done, you successfully left Streatham. Please tell me that you didn’t return.
There’s much worse bits than St.Reatham.
I love the Impressionists, so I love much of what’s in the Orsay, but I don’t really like the Orsay as a museum. I suppose doing something with the old train station was better than tearing it down, but I personally don’t like the transformation all that much.
As for the Louvre, there are many parts that I have almost no interest in, but there are plenty of interesting bits as well. The famous statues, the Rosetta stone and the immense gallery housing 19th century French work (across from Nike, IIRC) with works by David, Gericault, Delacroix etc. I could wander through that area for hours. Also, a bit harder to find is probably the largest Georges de la Tour collection, one of my favorite artists.
Since I’m practically a local (an hour commute) I’ll probably go 2 or 3 times a year. The price to get in isn’t going to break the bank, and they need the money evidently.
Yes you can !
She’s overrated. Her smile ennoys me, I feel like slapping her 
!
Perhaps you prefer the ‘American’ equivalent, Ginevra di Benci, in the National Gallery in DC?
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_de_Ginevra_de%27_Benci
I know, I once dated a girl who lived in St. Ockwell and I once drove through Croydon.
Probably need an armoured car to do either nowadays.
I was a bus conductor on the 159 (and the 133 and 109) out of Streatham garage during the ‘72 summer holidays. A great job. It significantly improved my people management skills 
Double slap !
There’s a day in the month free though at Paris museums?
This site seems to think it’s the first Sunday of the month but there are other days as well for some museums.
She’s not smiling. It must be something else?
Most are the first Sunday of the month (some exceptions in summer). The Louvre IIRC without looking is the first Friday evening. I have been to some museums on this deal (eg the Air and Space Museum at le Bourget and Arts et Metiers) where this is fine, but I don’t think it’s worth the bother to attempt the Louvre or Orsay. What’s the point of going in if all you can see are other people?
