We are off to Versailles

This morning with a blue sky looking back at us we decided to head to Versailles. We were going to go the day before but fortunately changed plans because we discovered later that the French President had used Versailles for his economy talks and we probably wouldn't have been able to get in.  It is very grand as you walk up the street toward it. The city is all around it which surprised me. I expected it to be way out in the country. I guess that a town grew up around it to support the palace.

The palace has ongoing restoration and there are tarps and scaffolding everywhere. Sort of reminds you of Vancouver and condo rot. Scarey on that scale.  There was a free headset with descriptions of the rooms but we didn't want to wait in the lineup.

Took about an hour and a half to walk through all the rooms that were open. The low point of the whole thing was an art installation by an artist who will go unnamed because we were so put off by his "art". One of the items was a case of Hoover vacuum cleaners in one of the main salons. Another was a inflatable pool toy in the form of a lobster hanging in place of a chandelier. Please. It made these Granny's cranky

Then we headed out doors to see the gardens and smaller palaces. Well it had socked right in and it was a lot colder than it had been. We lined up to take a ride on a train that circulates the grounds. The next stop was the Grand Trianon. This was a miniature palace built as a retreat for the royal family when the social pressures became too much. We both liked it better than Versailles. As we walked through it the light became dimmer and dimmer and when we left the skies opened up and it began to rain and hail like mad. We were lucky to get aboard another train and completed the trip around to grounds. Of a massive property there is only 26 hectares left. But sadly we didn't get to see Marie Antoinette's little Hamlet that is a recreation of what she imagined a pastoral country girl's life would be like. Royal style. We are still disappointed that we couldn't see it but it was pouring down and it was a long walk to get there. Next time for sure. As a matter of fact I would bypass Versailles and just do the grounds. Could have rented a golf cart for 26 Euros and driven ourselves but Lyn didn't have her golf clubs and I wasn't going to caddy. Lyn doesn't golf in the rain anyway. I guess this means we need to come back some time.

Just to warm up on the way home we stopped for french onion soup and a glass of wine. That did the trick.

Erin, personal message from Mom. It's 10:30 here and we still don't have your comment today. Where are you?????


Travel Tip:
We bought a combo ticket at the station that included our train ticket & entrance to  Versailles. This allowed us to avoid the long line at the entrance.
Download  Rick Steves's  podcast of Versailles.