Day 13 - Versailles

Day 13 (Sept. 15th) - It was a beautiful, sunny day in Versailles.



Today, we took the RER train to Versailles to see the Château de Versailles, the great palace and gardens built by King Louis IV, the Sun King.

I figured out how to purchase tickets for Ile de France region from the ticket machine at the Metro station.  Tickets from Paris to Versailles were 3.20€ (1.60€ for Elizabeth).  Fortunately, Renae asked someone at the Port Maillot RER station if the train went to Versailles.  We needed to change at Champs de Mars station.  We ran into an older couple from Canada (who winter in Sun City West) who said that someone told them that many foreigners get lost trying to take the train to Versailles.  It was interesting that all along the train route was covered in graffiti.

Sarah, Renae and Ben on the RER

View of the Eiffel Tower from the RER C train to Versailles

The line to get into Versailles was only about 15 minutes long.  Some atrocious modern art has been added to the grounds.  Large, rusted, curved steel beams have been placed around the grounds.  Even on a Thursday in the off-season, the Château was crowded.  Somehow, we got stuck between a Norwegian tour group and a couple of people being pushed in wheelchairs.

Entrance to the Château and the atrocious modern art added

Front of Versailles

The Château was impressive.  Truly, King Louis IV spared no effort in making his palace the most impressive in the world at that time.  I was surprised at how much of the king's daily life was a public affair--waking up, eating, going to bed.  I would not have wanted that lifestyle.

King's entrance to the chapel 

Ben and the girls in the hall of mirrors

King's bedroom.  The area in front of the wall was for members of the court

King's dining table with seats around the room for others to watch

The 2,000 acre gardens, however, were magnificent.  This has been my favorite part of the trip so far.  We felt like we were in the country.  The plants are expertly manicured.

Buslers in front of the gardens of Versailles

Small bridge near the Petit Trianon

Flowers

Manicured lawn and flowers

View of the Château from the gardens

Cross shaped canal in the middle of the gardens

Renae and the girls enjoyed the Petit Trianon and the hamlet built for Marie Antoinette.  I found the Grand Trainon, built as a get-away from court life for King Louis IV to be more appealing.  The Château is too ornate for my taste.

Ruth and Sarah taking pictures in the Petit Trainon

Queen's bed (Leah wants her bed to look like this)

Marie Antoinette

Ben and the girls in the pavilion behind the Petit Trianon

Path along the hamlet

Marie Antoinette's Hamlet

In the middle of the afternoon, my camera started to act up.  Someone dropped as short distance, and it wouldn't focus correctly.  This was right at the time a swan came up from a lake and came over to us.  Sarah was able to fix the camera by continuously tapping it against her wrist.

The hamlet was our favorite part Versailles.  For more pictures, click on the slide slow.

A swan came out of the lake and came right up to Renae

After we got back to the apartment.  Renae & I looked over our travel plans for Saturday, then we went out to find a cafe or restaurant for dinner for the two of us.  We didn't find anything and it was late (for us--9 p.m.)  We bought a burger and panini at a small joint near the apartment.