The chateau...there may not be much furniture left, but the ceilings alone are incredible. Many pictures are in que to be uploaded, as soon as my internet is good enough to handle them....And by many I mean over 100, of Versailles alone.
The gardens are immense, I hardly saw any of them. You would a full day just for them, and even them I'm not sure you could see every corner.
By the time I left the Chateau, I had already lost Erin and Matt. I waited for a while, ate my packed peanut butter and blueberry confiture (jam, I love saying it in French though) sandwhich, and then head off for the rest of the tour on my own. I took a quick peek at the orangery before strolling down the central garden path, listening to the classical/baroque music piped throughout, to the Apollo Fountain, Louis XIV rising out of the water in his horse-drawn chariot. Then it was a right down a tree-lined parkway to le Grand Triannon, the royalties' escape from Versailles, which was their escape from Paris. The colors of this smaller chateau were more in line with a summer-in-the-country feel, and it felt much more homey.
From le Grand Triannon I missed a turn and got lost in some more gardens for a little bit before making my way to the summer Pavilion (one could only peek in through the windows of the "cozy" four-roomed building Marie Antoinette spent intimate summer evenings in with close friends and family), Marie Antoinette's theater (she was an aspiring actress), and le Petite Triannon, another "small" chateau a scale down from le Grand Triannon.
Then it was off through gardens again, saw a "gazebo" whose name I can't remember, situated on a picturesque pond, went through Marie's grotto, and finally made it to Marie's Hamlett, a small "peasant" town Marie had built to give her the simple peasant-life fantasy. Needless to say, it was beautiful: thatched roofs, a pond, wisteria draping over the wooden railings. Presently, the head gardener actually gets to live there. I am so jealous!
From the Hamlet it was back towards the Petite Triannon for a closer look at another marble Gazebo, then a fast walk back tot he gardens of the main chateau to catch the fountain finale at the Neptune Fountain.
From Versailles we had to pass through Paris anyway, so why not walk around for a bit!
Took a stroll down Rue Cler, which was closing up for the most part but Matt and Erin got themselves bottles of wine and I got myself a chocolate Eclair, something that had to be done in France.
We walked to Invalides, the military museum, but it was crowded for a horse show, tickets costing 50 Euro +
No matter, we strolled down to le Port Alexandre (the most beautiful bridge I have seen to date) for some photos. Then down Champs-Elysees to le Arc du Triomphe, which Erin and I got to go up FOR FREE. From the top it was a night view of Paris. Beautiful.
The rain started to pick up then so we called it a day and headed back to Cergy.
Yesterday Erin and I headed out to Paris again. First stop: le Marche Puces, a small flea market in south-western Paris. From there we went to Invalides and saw Napoleans tomb (again, FOR FREE :D) and stopped in the Army Museum to check out suits of armor. Then we stopped in the Marais neighborhood (Jewish quarter), walked around a bit, saw the Revolution of 1830 monument where the Bastille once stood, then hopped on the metro again to go see Chateau Vincennes, which still had a medieval castle (!!!). The castle was later converted into a prison and functioned as such through WWII, paintings on the walls of some of the rooms done by it's famous in-mates (authors, philosophers, political dissenters in general). Also on the Chateau grounds was a beautiful church currently housing an Angels and Music exhibit. I was pleased that I could actually understand most of what the information placards written in French were saying.
After seeing the chateau, I picked up a Chicken Chika kebab and took it to le Parc Floral de Paris, which was free that date despite normally costing money. Erin and I sat down next to some flowers and enjoyed the kebab and frites (french fries) while watching toddlers leading their parents around, completely captivated by the colors, and even several falling as they couldn't quite navigate themselves down the slight hill. After the park, we headed home from another wonderful day well spent.
Today I need to study for a Circuits midterm tomorrow (my two week vacation all but obliterated any knowledge I had acquired). After my exam, Paige (cali girl we met in Venice and travelled Florence and Rome with) will be in Cergy!!! And it is now official, Krista is coming to visit from May 19th-25th!!!! I'm so excited!!!!
For Rome Pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2060428&id=1379340032&l=aba566d8b6
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2060844&id=1379340032&l=20f0f85350
For Southern France (Toulon, Marseilles, Nice, Monte Carlo): http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2061814&id=1379340032&l=65ef27ad75
For Barcelona: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2061876&id=1379340032&l=1594465883
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