Versailles

My day at Versailles: We took the train, easy, out of town and saw French suburbia, very sweet houses and very cute gardens. It's somewhere I'd like to visit more. Once we got the Versailles, we left France and entered Tourist Kingdom. Wednesdays are usually half days for school children and things are very lax, so the chateau and its grounds were very crowded. Since the line to get in was almost out the gate, we went to a park one block over and had a picnic. Our professor brought le fromage et le pain et les desserts pour nous. We sat on a little ledge next to a pond with ducks waiting for our crumbs. The weather was perfect and it was a great way to start the day- relaxing water-side and enjoying a picnic :)

We then headed through l'orangerie. It's a little courtyard with orange trees growing out of large square pots (probably not the best explanation). The trees were shaped and everything was neat and in place and orderly. Very proper, as a chateau should be.

After that, we were left to our own devices. We wanted to see Marie Antoinette's house, so we walked for who knows how long through a maze of tall shrubbery to find her hidden abode. On the way, there were many statues to look at along perfectly manicured lawns. Unfortunately, they were doing construction on the fountain, so that was not running. I must have been tired that day, because all of that walking wore me out fast. I honestly could have sat on the lawns all day, read my book, and been happy. Instead, I didn't want to get separated from the group, so I followed. It was worth it, don't get me wrong. I can now say that I've walked the gardens at Versailles. I just added another week to the end of my life. [Explanation: I learned that sitting is the worst thing you can do because you're not moving/exercising/doing anything. So the more you walk and are active, the healthier you'll be, and theoretically, or at least what I like to think, you'll add time to your life. I am not a scientist. Everything I know I learned from Yahoo ;)]

After I was ready to lay down in the grass, we ventured into the castle. The line was much shorter, so we went right in. This was another glimpse of Tourist Kingdom. There were more people speaking languages other than French than there were French people. The castle is very grand, so just imagine how many foreigners (myself included) can fit inside. This was not a place for the claustrophobic. We walked through numerous rooms, saw lavish pieces of furniture, paintings, and decor, and thought, "How the heck could someone live like this?" It wasn't gaudy, but the whole place was over the top. Yes, I know, that's the point. I also wondered, when did people move out of Versailles and when did it become a tourist attraction? Someone had to be the last person to leave the property, and I wonder why. Everyone raves about the Hall of Mirrors, and I would too, if there weren't so many people in the way. My favorite place in the chateau was one ball room. I can only image the kinds of parties they threw. Everyone dressed up and dancing, just like in Anastasia (I know that doesn't take place in France. Roll with me here). 

When we left, we stood in line for at least 30 mins for a train ticket, and went back to the city. I must say, after a long day,  there's nothing like a crepe et la glace to get me out of a grumpy mood :) We all slept like babies when we got home.

Did I like Versailles? Yes. Would I go back? Yes, but with different intentions. I would lounge in the gardens all day, with some cheese, bread, and a good book. At least now I can check off "go to a castle" from my bucket list. 

Silly tourists ;)

"Fear is useless, what is needed is trust."

Love and blessings,
Anna