Versailles

Today was an early morning, a short metro ride, and a surprisingly long train for something covered by a Metro ticket. Destination: Château de Versailles.

We had a 9:00 am entry ticket, but it was still a long line. Security screening (airport style) and passport check. Then you were inside.

Opulent and heavily festooned with gold and velvet, the formal rooms were replete with sculptures, paintings, and as many colours of marble as they could find.

The Hall of Mirrors is the classic showpiece, but Jen found the door Marie Antoinette used to escape her bedchamber during the revolution more interesting.

Following the main palace, we headed into the formal gardens. Geometry and architecture rule here, with nature trying to sneak in with new growth or overgrown hedges. The area is divided by geometric paths, and spotted with sculptures and fountains. The area is extensive – we spent more than two hours exploring, not including a stop for lunch in one of the embedded cafés.

Highlights included the King’s “English” garden with its more colourful plantings, the roses of the Queen’s garden, and the Orangerie.

Next we visited le Grand Trianon, Louis XIV’s take on a casual home for informal entertainment. This was much simpler and felt more modern – though still not anything close. Marble was a highlight here, as well.

The Trianon gardens were more detailed, with annuals being actively planted. Its highlight was the Sideboard Fountain, recently restored, made of intricately carved marble.

It was then time for the 45 minute walk back to the train station, with a stop en route for some fresh fruit for a snack.

Back to the hotel neighbourhood, we found a new Brassiere, where Dave had a Croque Madame and Jen had fish, chips, and salad. A stop at the Boulangerie and the grocery store, and we were fully exhausted.

We had left the hotel at 7:00 am and returned at 7:45 pm. A full day.

One new bird, Carrion Crow. Merlin also tells us we heard an Eurasian Robin, an Eurasian Jay, and a Common Chiffchaff – but we couldn’t spot them in the dense trees