Tuesday 24 September - Versailles and Escargot!

We thought we were so smart working out the Met and train system here in Paris (the Met is the subway system and the train is the above-ground train system).  We headed for 'Port of Versailles' - then we had to retrace our steps and head for the "C" line for the Palais de Versailles.  So back on the Charles de Gaulle line and guess who we met?  Two of the little urchins who pickpocketed us on our way in to Paris last Friday!

They recognised me/us and we recognised them.  So I raised my arms high into the air and pointed to them both - one standing on either side of me and I warned everyone in our carriage and the next carriage and said, "Watch your bags everyone - these two are pickpockets".  "Watch your bags, watch your bags", they mimicked.  They jumped off at the next station - ready to jump back on another carriage or train and target some other poor unsuspecting tourist. We have heard they are targeting Asian tourists in particular as they don't complain, don't make a scene (unlike me), and wish to save face. 

So we got back onto the # 12 line then the #6 line, then the "C Line" to Versailles Rive Gauche and the Chateau de Versailles.  "An adventure" - that's what John called our morning - "Just look at it as an adventure" he said!

We finally arrived to the most spectacular view high up on the hill in front of us.  Gold glittered in the bright sunshine - gold upon gold upon gold. 

View of Palace of Versailles from inside the compound

We ventured inside and joined a queue - a long, long, long queue.  We had museum passes which get you to the front of the line - but not in this case - almost everyone else had a museum pass and the line snaked its way back and forth across the huge quadrangle. There would have been at least two thousand people in the queue. We surmised it would be hell on wheels once inside with so many people, so we went through a side gate to the museum gardens. Versailles and the gardens form one of the most famous world heritage monuments and they're considered to be one of the most complete achievements of French art in the 17th century. 

Anyway, for 7.50 euros it was a good call to catch a ride on a train, as it took us to various parts of the estate, which was huge. "Further building works took place in the 18th century under the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI until the monarchy left Versailles in 1789 after the first days of the French Revolution."

We visited Marie-Antoinette's garden and her village; her theatre and the Temple of Love with the statue of Cupid and his bow.  They have all been preserved and it was a thrill to walk the pathways around the Petit Trianon and the English and French gardens knowing she had walked those paths, as had Napoleon I.

The Temple of Love

Versailles - opulence in its extreme - it's no wonder that Louis XIV bankrupted the country which ultimately led to the downfall of the French monarchy.

We thought that the women must have been very, very short - the beds are quite small in length - but the royals slept sitting up - only the dead lie down.  A fascinating fact we didn't know.


Bedroom of Madame Du Barry - 1772.

The ceilings are simply stunning - painted by famous artists they reminded me of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

There isn't a photo, amongst all of the photos we took that truly does Versailles justice.

Ceiling in the Grand Trianon

The brochure on the Grand Trianon says that, "One cannot help but fall under the charm of this building with its elegant proportions imbued with intimacy, gentleness and grandeur".  We felt totally overwhelmed with it all.

We departed with sore, tired feet and legs and found a bar that served nice big glasses of icy cold beer and tapas.  Just what we needed. 

After showers and frocking up we went in search of a table at "Lazare Restaurant". I decided that when in France, one should do the French thing regarding cuisine and it was time to try escargots.  We bought a nice bottle hermitage to help with the transition - and I very generously allowed John to eat an extra one of my share.

(Photo has gone missing :( for some reason.)



I did manage to get two down but a little bit of grit in the second snail did it for me.

(And this pic has gone AWOL too  :( not sure why.)

A glass of burgundy helped wash my escargot down the hatch.

A burgundy to wash down those snails!

An early-ish night - an early start in the morning - and a long, long flight ahead.