Versailles, France
We arrived in Versailles around 11am on Thursday, and since check-in wasn’t until 3pm, we left our luggage and went to explore the town
, in our zombie-like trance (7 hour flight, although half of what we have done the last few years, hit us hard).
.Two and half days later and still adjusting….at least the migraines and nausea are gone !
Room was upgraded because of the Visa Luxury package we used for booking, almost double in size and in the main building. The hotel Trianon Palace, completed in 1910 is just outside the Queens’ gate to the Palace of Versailles grounds (hence the name). In 1919, in the reception salon of the hotel, the conditions to the Treaty of Versailles were dictated and then signed several days later in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. Some of the famous people who have stayed here include Marlene Dietrich, the Kings of Morocco and Jordan, and Queen Elizabeth II.
The Palace of Versailles grounds are expansive, over 800 hectares was altered by Louis XIV, upgrading his dad’s hunting lodge to the palace grounds moving the royal palace from Paris to Versailles in 1682. We walked through the Palace, saw the gardens wow, then took the tram to the Grand Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s estate, could have walked and seen more, but still not 100% and the heat and sun were intense. We spent about 4 hours wandering enjoying the sites .
Every day except Saturdays, a huge market is set up for people to purchase fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and more. The scene is very animated great spot to people watch. It is very common to see people walking down the street with multiple baguettes some even munching on them .>
Todd has tried Foie Gras and bone marrow (below) both very buttery in texture rich (and probably not something to eat every day ). We are starting to get used to the European dining times – 7:30 first night, 8 the next, and almost 8:30 the third night.
The trip was planned with places and accommodations in October when the Tour de France route was announced, it wasn’t until months later we learned that the final stage (Versailles to Paris) is the only evening ride. We are scheduled to pick up our car at 4 and be in Reims around 6. Now we are just hoping the road closures that are happening don’t affect us too much .
Some observations to date
Lots of People smoke !
– wine is soooo cheap paying on average $5 Euro a bottle !