A masterpiece by Leonardo Da Vinci, the Mona Lisa might be the most famous painting in the world. It has been mentioned in poems, songs, books even short stories and films. So, I should have not been surprised by that a lot of people wants to see, to the point that it has become a major tourist attraction.

Maybe it was because it was rainy day and all of the tourists decided that today was a good time to visit the Louvre. Yet, even if I take that into consideration, it will not change the fact that there were at least 200 people in that small room, marring my need for solitude or at least peace and quiet when viewing a work of art.

So there I was, amidst a mass of humanity, most of them just wanted to take a photo of themselves by the Mona Lisa, just to be able to say that they have seen the original. A lot just wanted to take a snap shot.

I cannot explain why, but this saddened me, the Mona Lisa being a tourist attraction. This masterpiece had been the subject of research and speculation, as if it can provide a window to the mind of one of the world’s greatest artists and inventor.

Yet, I also have to accept, that even with these not so ideal circumstances of my visit, I was still moved by the Mona Lisa, seeing “her” in person, and proving with my own two eyes what I have always suspected before – the Mona Lisa is androgynous! She can be either a male or female.

Some says that she is Leonardo Da Vinci himself. Da Vinci in drag? Far fetched, but it can be true. Some says that she is Da Vinci’s mistress, a possibility that is easier to accept.

I guess that will always remain a mystery, until someone can go back and time and ask the artist himself who is the Mona Lisa.

I did not visit any more paintings after that. Though the walls of the Louvre were literally papered by original masterpieces and works of art, I felt that with that so many people around, I will not be able to enjoy the paintings properly.

So after an hour or so of wandering around the Louvre, I left, making a promise to myself that I will make it a point to at least visit the museum once even for two hours every time I come to Paris. And maybe one day, I can honestly tell myself that I have truly visited the Louvre.