"Super-Manet" by Christy

We started off our day at the gym. Apparently, Chris’ unique workout moves are universally admired. I was doing some Pilates ab work and I looked over at Chris who was warming up with some “acrobatic” strength training, and he had a large crowd of fans watching and waiting to try his moves. They asked him to show them, so he didJ The” Superman” utilizes a chin up bar. Chris pulls up into a chin up then folds his legs up into his body, lifts them up and over his head, through his arms and behind his back toward the floor. Then he uses his arm and core strength to lift them back up to the ceiling, through his arms, and back down to his starting position.  All I have to say is WOW, this is a very attractive move! It was great because the local Parisians tried it and were all excited and having fun.  I have never seen this kind of interaction in a Northern California gym and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of fun and agreeable French people at the gym this morning.

We spent the rest of the day at the Louvre admiring great works including French Sculpture, Mesopotamian artifacts, Napoleon’s entire apartment showcase, Islamic art, and Gothic and Medical art. We only made it through one of the three sides of one of the four floors of the gigantic Louvre. In the Richelieu section of the Louvre, there is a large courtyard with a glass ceiling that allows natural light to brighten the sculptures below. Louis the XIV had a private garden for himself and his entourage, many of the sculptures from his garden that did not get transferred to the Tuileries Garden, are in this specific section of the Louvre, named Cour Marly.  Chris sketched a sculpture while I wrote in my journal and listened to Italian Soprano Opera on my Ipod. We are definitely going back to see everything in a few days because we want to see it all. 

Tomorrow we are going to the Salvador Dali museum in Montmartre, Musee d’Orsay, an old train station turned into a Museum with art from artists such as Monet, Renior, Manet, Degas, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and other great impressionists, and the Medieval Royal dwelling and previous prison, Chateau Vincennes.