Viva la Versailles!

So today was a bit of a challenge for us as Michael's cold has hit an all-time level of suck. The petrie dish and I set out after breakfast to Les Invalides metro station where we picked up the RER line out to Versailles. During our train ride we experienced Paris's version of metro entrepreneurs when a couple of accordion players got on to "entertain" us. I will admit that despite the early hour and the obviously disgruntled daily commuters that there was something sort of special about travelling through the french countryside while hearing a tango being played on the accordion in the background.



We arrived at Versailles Palace at 10:00am and entered through a gate that was gilded in gold. The first thoughts that come to mind as you walk towards the palace are opulence, prestige, and "let them eat cake!". As we walked through the halls and chambers that dripped with crystal chandeliers we really began to understand what the french peasants were so pissed off about. We fully expected to hear about the various artworks that were commissioned by Louis XIV but we had no idea that even the ornate designs of the walls were created by renowned artists! In one of many of the dauphine's chambers we learned that the paint on the wall was applied in 46 coats along with varnish so to obtain a lacquered look. In the adjacent room the walls were covered in silk wallpaper, on which the detailing was hand painted to match the designs of the draperies. We made our way to the Hall of Mirrors, a well-known sight of Versailles. The combination of chandeliers, the floor to ceiling mirrors, and the windows opening to the courtyard on the opposite side of the hall made the room radiate with light.








After a tour of the palace we moved out into the gardens. 1,000 acres of manicured lawns, pruned shrubbery, and countless fountains surround the palace. It's no wonder that the grounds are as magnificent as they are considering that it took approximately 50,000 workmen to construct the estate and to physically relocate the existing forest. Although the palace holds countless wonders the gardens of Versailles are equally spectacular.




It is now early evening in Paris and we've retreated to the hotel so Michael can get some much needed rest. His cold has worn him down faster than expected, but we're hopeful that french wine and some creme brulee will be the ultimate remedy. Tomorrow we head out for the train station for our train ride through the chunnel to London.