Unpopular Opinion [BTS]

[@JaySwanson]

Hope you enjoyed this BTS of an upcoming Louvre video, and don't forget to check out my guide at www.parisinmypocket.com!

[@amyspeers8012]

The first time I went to Paris was in 1985. It was with a tour but we a lot of free time. Most people were going to the Louvre. I decided to not go and another woman decided to not go as well. We bought a baguette, some cheese and some wine and went and sat along the Seine and people watched. I remember these two beautiful men came and sat near us. They stripped off their business suits down to their underwear and sat in the sun. After about 45 minutes they got dressed and left. Loved that afternoon more than any sculpture or painting.

[@JaySwanson]

Top notch Louvre swap right here

[@jlafunk]

My mom was an Art History major so I grew up loving art. When I went in September 2023 I couldn't just pick my Top 10 and sail on through. So, I knew I wanted to devote most of the day and I used the "Visitor Trails" on the Louvre's website. Sure, I got lost. But, I swear I saw more things that day that when I lived in NYC and went to MOMA every month. Visitor Trails. That's the secret sauce. I got in at 9:30, left at 2:30pm & had coffee and a Mont Blanc at Angelina's.

[@JaySwanson]

I'm not a huge Louvre fan, but this sounds like a gorgeous day.

[@suitable4137]

It requires education to understand real art. It's an intellectual activity. Apparently this guy can't even tell the value of real art.

[@chriskigen]

I live in australia and your daily vlogs are the first thing i watch as i do my stretches to start the day. it’s amazing how quickly your daily vlogs became a habit. All the best!

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!

[@pokeyjeanne]

Like finding good salsa, every museum in Paris can be a personal treasure trove. Even if you live in Paris, it is still an ongoing exploration. Feel better Jay, and happiest of holidays to you.

[@andyshacks7812]

Hope the physio has helped and that neck strain is continuing to improve. Have been there and it’s no joke. Your landlady is incredibly kind letting your dad stay in her apartment which looks huge btw! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you right up to your interview mate!

[@JaySwanson]

It's definitely helped!

[@acbc3543]

I became a naturalized American citizen in 2009 . It gave me a sense of real identity and belonging. I belong to Austin Texas . Where was I born ? It’s abroad ! Austin is home where I yearned to belong . Claudia . Austin Texas

[@JaySwanson]

🥂🎉 Austin's a great place to belong

[@erinmh]

Places like the Louvre can be overwhelming for sensitive folks like myself. Massive crowds of people are super draining for me. Years ago on my first trip to France, I skipped the Louvre and headed to the Musee d'Orsay, where there happened to be a fantastic exhibit of Alfred Stieglitz photography. Much more manageable for my system. Good luck on the interview!

[@JaySwanson]

Love the Orsay! And the Orangerie, for something even smaller!

[@waynehanley72]

As a French cultural historian (or as I was once corrected in France ... a cultural historian of France ... because I'm not French), I don't disagree about the Louvre. It can be overwhelming ... and everyone crams into the dead-ended room that contains the Mona Lisa ...arrgh! But, if you take the Louvre in focused bits (and you know just a little about the art or history) it can be great. The problem is people who know nothing about it try to do it all and, thus, create a bad experience for themselves. If you go (and I think you should), learn something about a few of the pieces (that you'd really like to see) and take your time in a few of the rooms at a time ... and, by the way, there is a better DaVinci in the hallway leading to the room where the Mona Lisa is: Virgin of the Rocks. And the great thing is that everyone is rushing right by it to see the rather smallish Mona Lisa, meaning that there are no crowds and you can take the time to admire DaVinci's work! The Louvre also has a great website that you can use to plan your visit.

[@bogieboog]

I agree when I visited the Louvre after a few hours fatigue overtook.

[@vickialschuler816]

Congrats on the upcoming interview. You got this! After viewing the delightful video involving your experiment with ice cubes awhile back I have fewer issues with seeing your underwear than I might have. Enjoy your time with your Dad and Merry Christmas to you both.

[@JaySwanson]

Hahaha, the levels of shame around here are headed to zero

[@TMD3453]

Agreed, and I even guessed that going to the Louvre can be like going shopping. It’s good in small doses. What it’s really good for is you can see a room of an artist’s work. That can help you see their perspective. Thanks for sharing your life in Paris. It really is like being there. Cheers and hello to Coop! PS a joke or two in the interview might not hurt…☀️👍

[@elebelle51]

You live here. Get a subscription card to the Louvre which will allow you to go frequently and take things in small doses.

[@JaySwanson]

That is the way to do it (Amber took me on hers)

[@Otaku_Insight]

Good luck with the citizenship interview. I know you'll do an amazing job!!!

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!

100% agree! Also i think the Louvre lack of much more cafes and restaurants options for its size. They should also improve the visitor experience with more benches and visual sings indicators.

[@peofilm7654]

First of all, good luck with the interview! And then the crucial question; I know why I'm going to the Louvre. Prior to my first "real" Paris trip 1992, i.e. not just a transfer passing by, I was recommended the Egyptian Collections of the Louvre. It was magnificent. But, my photos from that occasion is not in the desired condition. (Photography in insuffient light has developed tremedously the last 30 years.) So, I revisited the Louvre in 2018. Halfways through the collection the fire alarm started, the entire museum was evacuated. My next attempt is planned for september next year, let's hope the Isis statue will not be on loan to any other institution... 1992, late November, the museum was not deserted, but close to. I had a quick peak at Mona Lisa, but I have no intention, nor desire, to repeat that particular experience. I think that visiting the Louvre if you really know why you're doing it, is well worth the effort, otherwise skip it. A visit just because it's a "must see", is just a waste of time.

[@JaySwanson]

Sounds like you have a great plan!

[@yaowsers77]

OMG I TOTALLY HAVE THE SAME SHOULDER ISSUE!!! Even with just a light sling, after a day of carrying it, my shoulder and neck hurts. I just made my own sling that transfers more of the weight around the lower chest with the neck part as a sport. Game changer! No more shoulder pain from it.

[@jb789j]

May all go well ! What a wonderful day when Jay Swanson posts !!! Thank you ❤

[@JaySwanson]

You're welcome 🥂🥂

[@marilynleslie472]

I am not sure if you are still having migraines due to your neck and shoulder issues. I suffer from those as well. I have found that using a foam roller helps to break up the tension in the muscles.

[@PAWS0810-]

Been to Paris twice in 10 years but no interested in Museums !! Love the sights all around.

[@JaySwanson]

The whole city is a museum :)

[@1982Bulldogs]

Ahhhhh ... gotta disagree to some degree. I've been so don't need to go back and would rather see other things on our next trip. However, we visited the Louvre on a family trip last year as my wife and son (21) had never been. We did a 3 hour small group tour with a great guide. She hit the major and some really cool lesser known exhibits. My wife loved it, but it was really great to see my son get into things like Napoleon's throne, the Code of Hammurabi and the Medieval Walls exhibits. Really glad we did it. Next time ... perhaps Deyrolle.

[@JaySwanson]

That's great! And actually the follow-up point of the video we were filming [not to spoil it], that the best way to do it is with a guide like Amber. Makes a massive différence

[@1982Bulldogs]

Forgot to ask ... what watch are you wearing? Looks really good on the video. @@JaySwanson

[@icytoe]

i enjoy watching your videos even if I'm born french parisienne ❤

[@JaySwanson]

Merci!

[@JBugz777]

It's better to buy some artwork & hang it in your bathroom or living room, so you can enjoy it at your leisure. UO. They will accept you for sure - If not you who?!

[@JaySwanson]

Bathroom artwork is peak

[@megamoze]

The Mona Lisa was probably the least impressive thing we saw there. My favorite was the remains of the ancient fortress that the Louvre was built on top of. So amazing. Also just loved the architecture and history of the place.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

As someone who makes jokes every 5 seconds, I’m never getting that French citizenship lol

[@JaySwanson]

😆

[@jjsc3334]

As retiree, how to long stay in Paris?

[@MJN0922]

And you should always watch my videos to the end 🤣 It's awesome that you know what you want. Good luck with the interview! Have you ever utilized the street workout park in the Luxembourg? I'll be in the 6th for awhile on my next visit but can't be away from the gym that long!

[@JaySwanson]

I haven't used that one, but the outdoor gyms around town are often decent!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

4:34 Omg this is so cute!

[@johncrwarner]

Bonne chance pour ton entretien! I have done a lot of museums in Paris but never done the Louvre.

[@JaySwanson]

Merci! The Louvre is one that some people make a point of skipping I think 😆

[@johncrwarner]

@@JaySwanson I plan my visits and to be honest the Louvre is so big I would need to make multiple visits I have interests in their Egyptian collection and the middle east too plus I haven't seen their 1300 - 1848 Western Art collection. As when I was in Washington DC for a week I spent TWO days in the National Galleries there and they are combined smaller than the Louvre I think I need a week in the Louvre and still not see that damned picture.

[@agyos]

😂 great video and filming…and I love to see peeks of Cooper and your dad, and your friends having fun. I actually loved the Louvre, first time I went, but did skip it this last time…expect to go again, though, sometime in the future. I believe in physical therapy and massage! I will feel overjoyed when you receive your French passport…which is, no doubt, inevitable! Thank you, again, for a fun video which puts a smile on my face!

[@JaySwanson]

I love the Louvre but man, it's an event 😆

[@TeddyAura]

For me, the only reasonable way to visit the Louvre is by theme or by area. But for the people who travel to Paris the first time, these might seem completely crazy. I understand it but I think is better to pick a topic and go for it. For example, last time I went, I chose Islamic Art. The Louvre has a wonderful collection and the area was renovated a few years ago.

[@JaySwanson]

That's a great way to go! I think having a plan that genuinely interests you is always going to lead to a better experience in a place as endless as the L

[@palukens]

The Louvre is awesome, go on Friday nights.....

[@mamaandharry4573]

Did you go see “The Raft of the Medusa”?

[@JaySwanson]

Not this time, unfortunately

[@moshe1arem]

I know that feeling.

[@JaySwanson]

🥂

[@PokhrajRoy.]

3:34 I’m a very determined yet chill shopper. I know my way around a huge mass of sensory overload.

[@jennifer_u]

love the louvre but it is indeed exhausting! I will be skipping all museums on my next visit as I’m bringing my dog and he’s sadly not allowed in them

[@JaySwanson]

Honestly a trip to Paris filled with little more than great food and drink is one of the high successes in life

[@jennifer_u]

@jayswanson so so true 🙌🏻

[@chrsf589]

Sending positive energy your way You got this Jay !

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you! 🥂🥂

[@BasicAmericanDadAbroad]

Best wishes on your citizenship exam/interview!! 🙏

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!!

[@samanthagaudet1461]

I actually knew why I wanted to see it. I desperately wanted to see Cupid and Psyche. Ohhhhh it was breathtaking. I also wanted to see Winged Victory, Liberté leading her people, the Pyramid, the café with the Statues outside, the architecture etc. my mom basically saw the Mona Lisa and some painting and sculptures she knew nothing about. She was a good sport. At one point we saw a statue that said it was from 100 ad and she said it must be a replica because they wouldn’t put something that old where anyone could touch it. I answered “they don’t usually allow fakes in the Louvre mom. 😂”

[@samanthagaudet1461]

Also it helps to go in the off season. November 12th and it was perfection that year.

[@JaySwanson]

Haha love that! Who knows maybe she's right...

[@Chrisb8s]

note to self (as I just deleted a comment asking about the healthcare system) Wait until the end of the video to ask a question . :)

[@JaySwanson]

Hahaha, I love this brief act and sharing of learning. 🥂

[@kaleidoscopeallie]

Dude, SAME with the overwhelm. Especially where you're looking at a bunch of stuff that was stolen and or obtained under shitty circumstances or that should just generally have been left where they were. Too much of an emotional and psychological onslaught.

[@JaySwanson]

There's a lot to process

[@Paul_C]

There is something to be said for museums around the world to do that the Rijks did. There is so much stuff to see, where to begin? Right? Luckily the Rijks became a blanc canvas when they restored it. Today it is a pleasure to be there, sure, still a museum, just the routing became easier to understand. Where it was before you had a 'technical' structure, now it is structured a more chronicle way.

[@balecalduin1993]

How TF is your comment 2 days old on a video from 11 minutes ago????

[@JaySwanson]

He's one of my epic Patrons!

[@JaySwanson]

(They get previews days in advance)

[@debisusan4338]

I would agree with you Jay or at least go to the Louvre several trips down the road. So many better choices in the 100 museums in and around the City of Lights!

[@JaySwanson]

We're lucky to be inundated with choices

[@paulbyrnewexford]

I was supposed to go to louvre in 1998 on a school trip but I skipped it and went shopping for CDs.

[@JaySwanson]

So 90s. So relatable.

[@kookymunster75]

My first video after being away for a long time and I get a glimpse of your knickers? 😂

[@mlomarechal6877]

Bon rétablissement Jay ! et puis profitez bien de la présence de votre papa ici en France. Sinon je vous souhaite le meilleur pour l'obtention de la nationalité française, vous ne devriez pas avoir trop de problèmes pour cela. Comme c'est "l'Administration" il vaut mieux éviter les "blagues", sauf si votre interlocuteur (fonctionnaire) est cool !! 🙃

[@JaySwanson]

C'est clair 😆 Je resterai sérieux alors

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Ngl I thought this would be an unpopular opinion on the boy band BTS. Guess that saves me a call to the Army Headquarters.

[@JaySwanson]

😆😆

[@kyleheimbrock5439]

Solid unpopular opinion

[@JaySwanson]

🥂🥂

[@DCReels]

It's a good take. Don't skip the d'Orsay tho 🎨

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks!

[@benjaminvg8018]

Jay, are you into (french) comics ? Tu peux me répondre en français :).

[@JaySwanson]

En théorie oui, mais ça fais vraiiiiment longtemps que je les ai lu

[@benjaminvg8018]

C'est un peu hors de propos, bien que potentiellement utile pour ton entretien de naturalisation, mais je te conseille une BD s'intitulant Le Monde Sans Fin. Extrêmement pédagogique. Bonne chance, en espérant qu'on devienne compatriote :). P.S: il y a plein de conseils sur internet et KZbin pour réussir l'entretien.

[@buckybarnes3803]

Did you seriously put your camera in the freezer to get that one yogurt shot LOL that was great

[@JaySwanson]

Gotta chill the frame somehow 😆

[@PokhrajRoy.]

6:19 Bonne chance!

[@icytoe]

skip it if it's overcrowded , naturally

[@JaySwanson]

And eat something before you go 😆

[@LoKa-s7c]

Bonne chance de Montréal Québec 😊

[@JaySwanson]

Merci!

[@RH1812]

Someone’s had a coffee. The US tax thing is insane

[@JaySwanson]

US taxes are a bane to my existence

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Goals: Camera falling down in the laundry

[@teabagfc]

"My French is good" No it's not, it's so much better than "good", Jay. The interviewer will enjoy speaking with you. But yeah, no jokes for that short time 😂

[@domitiennegegou5967]

Not "livrette", Jay... You don't pronounce the T in "livret" !

[@PokhrajRoy.]

OGs will know the previous video based on a certain location. Just saying.

[@lorenzocardoza1665]

Bon courage avec l'entrevue de citoyenneté!

[@JaySwanson]

Merciiiiii

[@hbeerman372]

🍀♥️🍀♥️🍀♥️🇫🇷♥️🍀♥️🍀🇫🇷🙋🇫🇷

[@pamelawing5747]

I'd give the Mona Lisa a pass, I just do NOT get it. Ugly painting. On the other hand, you're there, it's the most famous painting in the world and buzz through, take a peak and way you've done it. My friend and I like the shopping underneath the Louvre better than the museum. 😱😱😃😃 There is a Musee des Arts Decoratifs associated with the Louvre and my friend and I saw a gorgeous exhibit of Dior dresses from over the years, at that museum. I also found out that Yves St. Laurent's home was bring opening as a museum and we decided to put that on our list. They were only open three days when we went there and they had a LOT of work to do on getting people in and out of the house efficiently but was really glad we went. You can see a pattern here...fashion...certainly may NOT be of interest to all but the idea is, do some research before going. So, if you go to Paris, there are a LOT of different museums, exhibits going on, depending on your interests but it' might pay you to do a little research. It might be better than buzzing through the Louvre just for the sake of it. Most peoples time in Paris is limited so don't waste it.

[@JaySwanson]

So much to do, to be sure

[@jackiec1175]

BTS?!

[@thomascook578]

Be there soon, maybe

[@jackiec1175]

@thomascook578 thnx for the clarification.

[@JaySwanson]

Behind the Scenes ;)

[@jackiec1175]

@@JaySwanson Ah, that's the answer.

[@maud375]

OMG please don't pronounce "livret" like you just did ("livrette"), because it's awfully close to "levrette". And since you mention you don't want to joke, a sexual innuendo would be even worse. Bonne chance! Je suis sûre que tu vas tout déchirer.

[@JaySwanson]

😆 Bonne correction

[@PokhrajRoy.]

lol if only Jay had informed his opinion to the team of ‘Heartstopper’. Would’ve saved the students a trip 😂

[@user-digitalfarmgirl]

You have a migraine because you don't like BTS. My family line , is directly from Europe & my family line goes back to the 1200s & has paintings in the Louvre & the Vatican . My family were the original founders of Venice. Can you make those claims?

[@JaySwanson]

BTS means Behind the Scenes!

[@suitable4137]

Haha what? Skip le Louvre? Maybe for uneducated people.

[@JaySwanson]

One could argue the opposite, with all the alternatives Paris has to offer

[@suitable4137]

No alternative can match the artistic and historical value le Louvre provides. A truly educated individual would be able to recognize these values.@@JaySwanson