Big day today. This has taken a bit of planning over the last few months working out logistics as well as booking tickets in advance. One of the more frustrating aspects has been negotiating the website which was the epitome of pulling our hair out. Our big plan was to visit Versailles. We had been to Versailles back in March 1991. It was so early in the season that they had not even put the bedding plants in the ground and it was a very cold misty day. This time was going to be very different. For Karen, it was her first ever visit to Versailles.
First was the metro (comfortable bucket seats) and bus that took an hour and 20 minutes and €2.50 to get there.
First impressions were looking good with all the gold gilding with the sun shining off it.
Past the very dead Louis XIV who had a penchant for erecting statues to himself who passed the habit down the line. Actually, something that was very nauseating and cringeworthy to watch was all these young girls dressed to the absolute nine’s erecting “statues” to themselves through the form of selfies. To watch them pose and pout and obstruct other people in their quest of vanity and influencer likes was hideous. It was rude and both Karen and I could (first time we have slipped out of the third person) were appalled at their behaviour which they saw as normal – how has this world become so shallow.
Once through the gates we headed straight into the staterooms. This was the “family” chapel – just a small private one.
Looking out from the Hall of Mirrors to the magical gardens that awaited our visit.
The very lavish and beautiful hall of mirrors with no expense spared.
The three amigos…..
The girls in their flowing gowns of crinoline with cinched waists……hardly!
Then it was out to the gardens after wandering through nearly 30 rooms including bedchambers etc etc. It all became a little monotonous after a while with the flock wallpaper in all colours of the rainbow.
We were so very lucky as the weather was just perfect. It was an expected high of +26c today but there was an amazingly cool breeze.
We had made the decision early on that the gardens were our main focus and we wanted to see as much of them as possible. So we hired a golf cart to get around.
The grounds are enormous. There are not only the formal gardens but there is also the park which we gather is open to the public and though separate from the gardens are incorporated into your visit to Versailles.
On our tour we stopped at a number of the fountains and we are pretty sure this is where they got the idea for the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
This was one of those photos that just makes the moment. Di and Karen sitting and enjoying the stunningness (best new word ever) of the place. It was so hard to take it all in and was overwhelming.
On our way out we stopped in at the carriage house to see the coronation coach and then…
the funereal coach. See, even the rich, filthy rich and disgustingly filthy rich succumb to the same fate as us mere mortals……think that is called Karma🤪
It was a very long day for the three of us and after back tracking our way into Paris, it was an easy dinner and then home to do some washing but not before buying a convection microwave, clothes horse and associated pegs – that’s another story for another time.
Steps – 13,579 and an hour in a golf buggy
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