sayhello
Have Camera, Will Travel
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
Yes, believe it or not, I am finally finishing up this Trip Report! I don't know why I haven't yet, but I realized I really need to finish it before I go to Greece in May, so that I'm free to do that Trip Report when I return! So here you go, the next installment!
Day 5 - Versailles and the Sacre-Coeur!
We last left our intrepid vacationers visiting the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, stopping at a small cafe for drinks and people watching on the way back to our Hotel.
The next morning, after an early buffet breakfast at the hotel, we set out for the Palace of Versailles. As we drove through Paris, we went past some of the areas we'd walked the night before, which included actually driving through the traffic circle that surrounds the Arc de Triomphe. I really could not believe the total circus that is that traffic circle. It has to be at least 5 lanes wide, with no markings whatsoever. People drive in, people drive out, and they all seem to miss each other. I've read that the cars entering the circle have the right of way (unlike here, where once you enter a circle, you have the right of way.) And all accidents at the Arc de Triomphe are no-fault. The insurance companies just split the cost. I have NO idea how all this chaos works, but it seems to. I was just really, REALLY glad that *I* didn't have to drive it!!!!
After about an hour, we arrived at Versailles. It was still kind of early, which made it gloomy and just a tad chilly.
This is the only time that we ended up waiting quite a bit of time for our entrance. I think we just plain got there early (we had a timed entrance), plus there were a couple other tour groups ahead of us. Of course, this was nothing compared to the humongous line of people sans tour group that was beginning to queue up at the front gate. We were given some free time to hit the little shops nearby and get some coffee and use the bathrooms. And then we just waited for our turn.
Even from the outside, Versailles was extravagantly opulent, including the gold-leafed recreations of the *actual* golden gates that were torn down during the French Revolution.
A glimpse of the Palace of Versailles.
Once we made it inside of the Palace, it was obvious that the golden gates were only a small part of the extravagance that was Versailles. Marble halls, gilded moldings, fabulously painted ceilings, it all just went on and on. It was all incredibly impressive. And amazingly over-done. It really helps you understand the excesses that went on prior to the French Revolution.
I love the casual cheekiness of the figure in the blue cloak.
Outside the windows, you could see some edges of the extensive gardens.
The famous Hall of Mirrors (although it was hard to tell with all the people! It just looked like the Hall of Chandeliers).
As you can possibly tell from the picture above, we had Whisper systems, little receivers about the size of a pack of cards that hang around your neck, with a one-ear headphone. Our local tour guide here was Alec, and he had a microphone tuned to our Whispers, so we could hear his commentary without having to be right next to him, and without him having to shout. They worked quite well.
Perhaps you can also tell from this picture that I was "glowing".
(You know, sweating!) Even though it was not warm outside, it was oppressively hot inside the palace. The combination of the crowds and the lack of air conditioning made it somewhat unbearable inside (sorry for the TMI, but I could literally feel the sweat dripping down my back!) I really enjoyed seeing Versailles, but it was not a place you could linger for long. What was really scary was Adam telling me that this was actually a very *light* crowd for Versailles! I'd really hate to be there on a heavy crowd day!!!
You can see more of the mirrors here, between the waves of people.
Matchy-matchy. Like the material? You'd better if this is your room!
Looking straight up at a chandelier.
Another glimpse of the gardens.
Once we had finished looking through the palace (and spent some time in the Gift Shop) we gathered in the courtyard.
Continued in next post
Day 5 - Versailles and the Sacre-Coeur!
We last left our intrepid vacationers visiting the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, stopping at a small cafe for drinks and people watching on the way back to our Hotel.
The next morning, after an early buffet breakfast at the hotel, we set out for the Palace of Versailles. As we drove through Paris, we went past some of the areas we'd walked the night before, which included actually driving through the traffic circle that surrounds the Arc de Triomphe. I really could not believe the total circus that is that traffic circle. It has to be at least 5 lanes wide, with no markings whatsoever. People drive in, people drive out, and they all seem to miss each other. I've read that the cars entering the circle have the right of way (unlike here, where once you enter a circle, you have the right of way.) And all accidents at the Arc de Triomphe are no-fault. The insurance companies just split the cost. I have NO idea how all this chaos works, but it seems to. I was just really, REALLY glad that *I* didn't have to drive it!!!!
After about an hour, we arrived at Versailles. It was still kind of early, which made it gloomy and just a tad chilly.
This is the only time that we ended up waiting quite a bit of time for our entrance. I think we just plain got there early (we had a timed entrance), plus there were a couple other tour groups ahead of us. Of course, this was nothing compared to the humongous line of people sans tour group that was beginning to queue up at the front gate. We were given some free time to hit the little shops nearby and get some coffee and use the bathrooms. And then we just waited for our turn.
Even from the outside, Versailles was extravagantly opulent, including the gold-leafed recreations of the *actual* golden gates that were torn down during the French Revolution.
A glimpse of the Palace of Versailles.
Once we made it inside of the Palace, it was obvious that the golden gates were only a small part of the extravagance that was Versailles. Marble halls, gilded moldings, fabulously painted ceilings, it all just went on and on. It was all incredibly impressive. And amazingly over-done. It really helps you understand the excesses that went on prior to the French Revolution.
I love the casual cheekiness of the figure in the blue cloak.
Outside the windows, you could see some edges of the extensive gardens.
The famous Hall of Mirrors (although it was hard to tell with all the people! It just looked like the Hall of Chandeliers).
As you can possibly tell from the picture above, we had Whisper systems, little receivers about the size of a pack of cards that hang around your neck, with a one-ear headphone. Our local tour guide here was Alec, and he had a microphone tuned to our Whispers, so we could hear his commentary without having to be right next to him, and without him having to shout. They worked quite well.
Perhaps you can also tell from this picture that I was "glowing".
(You know, sweating!) Even though it was not warm outside, it was oppressively hot inside the palace. The combination of the crowds and the lack of air conditioning made it somewhat unbearable inside (sorry for the TMI, but I could literally feel the sweat dripping down my back!) I really enjoyed seeing Versailles, but it was not a place you could linger for long. What was really scary was Adam telling me that this was actually a very *light* crowd for Versailles! I'd really hate to be there on a heavy crowd day!!!You can see more of the mirrors here, between the waves of people.
Matchy-matchy. Like the material? You'd better if this is your room!
Looking straight up at a chandelier.
Another glimpse of the gardens.
Once we had finished looking through the palace (and spent some time in the Gift Shop) we gathered in the courtyard.
Continued in next post
I'm really, really hoping to have more up by next weekend!
Had to do it! 
Which I am currently working on, and plan to start posting this weekend!
