From London, Benjie and Carmen Gonzales of Long Beach California took the Le Shuttle to France. The trip in the 50 kilometer tunnel was about 2 and half hours. France is the largest country in the European Union, and the second largest in the entire Europe. It is one of the world's foremost powers for many centuries. Metropolitan France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain. France is a founding member of the United Nations, as well as the European Union. It is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually.

Upon reaching France, the Gonzales's drove south to Paris for a guided tour of the Louvre Museum, and its famous Winged Victory and Mona Lisa. The Gonzales's described the Louvre Museum as enormous. The collections are so vast, diverse, and breathtaking that they felt like navigating a maze of distinct artistic and cultural worlds.

The former seat of French Royalty, the Louvre emerged in the 12th century as a medieval fortress, and slowly evolved into its status of a public arts museum during the French revolution in the late 18th century. Since then, it has become the world's most visited museum and an enduring symbol of French excellence in the arts.

The Louvre Museum has eight thematic departments with 35,000 pieces of artwork dating from the antiquity to the early modern period. Its permanent collection includes masterpieces by European masters i.e., Da Vinci, Delacroix, Vermeer, and Rubens, as well as unsurpassed Greco-Roman, Egyptian, or Islamic arts collections.

The Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci is the most famous painting in the Louvre. da Vinci who was born near Florence in Italy was a genius in many fields including music and engineering. He painted Mona Lisa between 1503 and 1506. The Gonzales's were overwhelmed to see up close and personal the famous painting that showcases the world famous subtle smile of Mona Lisa.

The 500-year-old masterpiece hangs alone on a wall in the museum's Salle des Etats that gives millions of people who come to see the Mona Lisa every year a better view of the painting. The painting, which measures just 53 by 76 centimeters or 21 by 30 inches, hangs behind non-reflective, unbreakable glass to protect it from climatic changes, camera flashes and damage.

Another interesting piece of art at the Louvre Museum is the Winged Victory of Samothrace. It is a third century B.C. marble sculpture of the Greek
Goddes Nike, which means Victory, discovered by a French archeologist in 1863. It is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world. The work is notable for its naturalistic pose and for the rendering of the figure's draped garments, as if rippling in a strong sea breeze, which is considered especially compelling.

To give visitors a respite from an exhausting tour of the huge museum, there are shopping and dining facilities, i.e., the Le Grand Louvre, found just below the Pyramid offers gourmet specialties in a classic setting; the Café Denon on the lower ground floor offers snacks and casual meals, and the Café Richelieu on the second floor, offers more casual dining possibilities. There is also the Louvre Bookshop in the Hall of Napoleon under the Pyramid, and which sells France's largest selection of art history titles. And then there is the popular Carousel du Louvre, a shopping center that offers designer fashion, home design shops, fine gifts and many others.

The many interesting, and historical masterpieces at the Louvre Museum are so mind boggling, but at the end of the daylong tour, even those who have little interest in art will leave the place feeling fulfilled and happy, as they have gotten a glimpse of a colorful history reflected in those masterpieces.

If are planning a tour or Europe, and see the places that the Gonzales's visited, call us at Travel International (310) 327-5143 or visit us on the web, www.travelinternational.net.