"And now, here is the Mona Lisa."
With those words, Michigan's Louvre tour guide stepped aside and let everyone flock toward the one piece they all came to see. Or, at least the one piece they all knew.
It's not very big or imposing. But it's worth more than $600 million and it's arguably the most famous thing ever painted.
So, certainly worth the trip.
Michigan's venture to Paris hit its second day Saturday, as the Wolverines followed up a morning football clinic at INSEP, France's "National Institute of Sport, expertise, and performance" center on the east end of town, with a trip to the historic Louvre museum and a tour of both the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Latin Quarter.
Michigan visited the Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday in Paris. (Photo: Nick Baumgardner)
The Louvre featured selfies with Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, a glimpse at the ancient Law Code of Hammurabi and a stroll past the famous pyramid.
Players were later able to take in some of the Parisian street life around the Latin Quarter before prepping for a long day in Normandy on Sunday.
Saturday was a walking day, similar to the team's first serious day in Rome a year ago where the Wolverines saw just about everything the city had to offer in one marathon tour of the town.
Michigan receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones celebrates with a football camper in Paris. (Photo: Nick Baumgardner)
But it started with football.
The Wolverines hosted a sold-out football clinic for locals and refugees from various parts of the world (it sold out in less than five minutes after it was announced). Don Brown taught run fits and pass coverage. Ed Warinner went over blocking schemes.
And the quarterbacks taught young soccer players how to throw an American football.
The happiest quarterback of the day, maybe the happiest person in Paris, was Shea Patterson.
Michigan players check out the Coronation of Napoleon at the Louvre in Paris. (Photo: Nick Baumgardner)
Patterson found out Thursday he'd be eligible to play football for Michigan this season as he was cleaning out his dorm room in preparation for the team's trip to France.
He bordered on getting emotional while discussing what waking up Saturday morning felt like, as he was able to walk with a clear mind for the first time in more than four months.
He ran around the field enjoying his teammates, horse-playing with Pep Hamilton's son, Jackson, and soaking it all in.
Patterson looked like a person who had just tossed four pianos off his back. And Michigan's now a better team for it.
Michigan quarterbacks Joe Milton (left) and Dylan McCaffrey (right) teach campers with passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton on Saturday in Paris. (Photo: Nick Baumgardner)
Sunday is Normandy, a trip the entire group has looked forward to since deciding on France for a destination.
Michigan staffers have "Saving Private Ryan" cued up for the bus ride over on what should be an educational and, perhaps, moving day.
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