Rita in the line-up to enter Versailles
Hall of Mirrors
Grand Trianon
Our travel book stated that we needed to get to Versailles before 09:00 to avoid the crowds. As you can see, we made it by 11:00 along with everyone else!! The line-up was only about 20 minutes and Versailles is such a huge place that it absorbs thousands of people without it feeling overcrowded. You hear about Versailles and most of us have seen pictures, but until you see the place for yourself you really cannot appreciate the absolute decadence of it all. The wall that safeguards the palace is 25 miles in length. The Grand Canal was big enough to float a 30 gun warship and a river was diverted to supply enough water to the Canals and fountains. King Louis XIV spent 6 months of the richest country in Europe's entire budget to build Versailles. You can see why the French public finally had enough of the Royal families extravegances and stormed the Bastile and removed the Monarchy. Having said that, it makes for a great tour to look at such a wonderous place that was the envy of the world for over 100 years starting in 1689.
Hall of Mirrors Grand Trianon 
Chappel at Versailles
The Latona Fountain and Grand Canal in the Background
1 comment:
What a great blog! I am reading the whole story about leaving London on the train and making the decision to take the subway in Paris instead of the taxi....I can just imagine the frustration you both would have gone through. Actually I am kind of chuckling a bit, but I have been through it with Alison so I will try to be a little more sympathetic! OK its still funny!
Keep the pictures and comments coming. We miss you both!
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