Paris Day 3

Trip Start Jun 06, 2009
1
5
24
Trip End Jul 07, 2009


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Flag of France  , Île-de-France,
Saturday, June 13, 2009

We had waited until today to travel to Versailles as the weather was predicted to be pleasant. It seems to have worked out for us as today was the nicest weather yet, warm but not too hot. To get to Versailles we caught the RER train which is a very simple and easy way to travel there. A few stations into our journey it seems that we had to hop on to a new train as ours had finished its journey for the day. We all piled off the train to wait for the next, including a group of school children who were being herded off the train but the school teacher. Unfortunately for the teacher, the doors closed on him just as the last student hopped off and he was still inside! Everyone was in hysterics on the platform as the train pulled out of the station with the students watching their teacher forlornly standing inside the train as it pulled out. Luckily he had the smarts to press the emergency button to stop the train and he was now reunited with his pupils.

We arrived at Versailles at about 10am, which was later than we had wanted, as the crowds were already forming queues longer than we liked
Front Gates
Front Gates
. Once inside we attatched ourselves to our audio guides and weaved our way through the palace. Having seen most of the highlights in slides and photos many times, I guess we were a little under-awed with what we saw. That is not to say that it wasn't spectacluar, as it was. I had to shift my thinking to imagining how the palace would have looked in Louis XIV day, with the whole theatrical performance occurred, with courtiers and attendants all vying to attend to his every need. The Hall of Mirrors is truely grand and a sight to behold. The viewing of the palace takes about an hour or so and then you are free to wander the beautiful gardens, which to me are the highlight of Versaillies. They are vast and are truely lovely to stroll through. Sadly, none of the fountains were switched on, as I have heard that is wonderful but I still felt that the place was magical. We even stumbled across a film crew at Marie Antoinette's Palace, with actors in period costume, although I have no idea who or what they were filming.

We headed home at about 3.30pm and, as my feet were sore, I stopped at the spa near our hotel for a pedicure, manicure and a facial, This is something I never do so it was quite a treat to get a French manicure in Paris. The woman at the spa assured me that I would look 10 years younger when she had finished with me. I certainly felt 10 years younger, but when i asked Andre if I looked any different he said no. Oh well, I guees miracles don't always happen, but it certainly was nice trying.


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