These could become rude Parisians.

When I was there last, there wasn't armed guards, but the Louvre workers were the only jerks I met in Paris . . .

I can't wait to go back there again, one day

I guess you did visit Louvre, so negate my ? in St. Michel thread.

No military-type guards when I was there (late '80s) either.

I spent 3 consecutive days at Louvre w/ex, didn't see it all...pretty overwhelming.

What'd you guys think?

I left thinking: No wonder the Germans made a bee-line for Paris at start of WWll--they wanted the incredible loot held at the Louvre.

Those were military guards?

Yell at them really loud. They'll go cry to momma.

^ LMAO!!

QUOTE:

"No wonder the Germans made a bee-line for Paris at start of WWll--they wanted the incredible loot held at the Louvre."

Nazi art thieves?

Aryan Supermen, mere shoplifters?

Mein Kampf -- all that hot air as a cover for robbery?

No, my friend, they wanted the wimmen...and the cheese.

I heard that if you challenge them, they will surrender immediately.

#4. Yelling would certainly work but that would be considered torture and the media would have a field day with that.

I wouldn't consider yelling at these guys. I was sly about even taking these picture. This is an anti-terrorism unit, not just some tourist police. They usually were in three-man units. They are prominent in the airport as well outside the secured areas.

Shame they had to pollute the classic beauty of the Louvre with that abomination.

What's next- a giant executive toy (mechanical bird continuously sipping water, etc?)

I was in France a few days after 9/11. Lots of armed military roaming around then. it did not bother me at all.

I only had about 1/2 a day for the Louvre. it was amazing.

isn't the holy grail buried under the glass pyramid?

^Now you know too much. Stay where you are. We'll be there to pick you up shortly.

TW is right........the grail is under that thing!

Pei's pyramid remains controversial.

If you sleep under it, you never die & you get ****- like smooth skin.

After France, we flew from Marsaille to Athens for a couple weeks and arrived (unbeknowst to us) on day of first hotly contested nat'l. election in like 20 years.

There were machine gun toting guards inside the terminal, which I thought kinda odd. Outside the terminal were two sand-bagged machine gun emplacements and a couple of armored cars.

We got a cab and raced (why? I wondered...) through deserted streets to hotel. Where the hell is everybody?

We passed a lot of burned cars on the way. At the hotel I inquired about this, and the owner explained about the election. Duh.

About 11 pm, the election results were announced and we got to watch about 5000 people rioting/fighting each other in the park below our room.

'Wow,' I thought, 'This is Greece?'

The Greek anarchists & communists periodically crawl out from under their rocks & incite trouble especially during conservative administrations. Last several years they've been setting destructive fires a la our west coast. When I was there, Papandreou's socialist crowd was in charge & all was relatively quiet.

Pompandrou got booted out the night I arrived, about May, 1988.

All hell broke loose.

Afterwards, I discovered that Greece has something like 26 viable/competitive political parties. I believe we need/could use more than two, but 26 seems like overkill.

^ I agree.

Italy also has more parties than Ben & Jerry has ice cream flavors.