Versailles

Last Saturday, Burke and I decided to go see the Versailles Palace - the lavish home to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the late 1700's. My dear friend Josie was in Europe last summer and had simply raved about the Queen's Hamlet on the grounds of the palace and insisted we make a stop there. Recalling Josie's photos, I was eager to arrive, yet when the train stopped I was fairly insistent that we had gone the wrong way. "No, Burke, this can't be right! We're still in the middle of the city!" I was quite distressed as every picture I had seen of Versailles included photos of its extensive gardens and forest land surrounding it. However, after rounding a cobblestoned corner, there it was in all of its gargantuan glory!

It was quite a pretty penny to get inside and even more so if you wanted to view the gardens. Burke's classmates decided against the extra fee for the gardens and boy did they miss out! The palace itself was a little overwhelming. This picture of Burke and I is just one section of the huge edifice which sprawls in every direction. We were also there on a holiday weekend, which in retrospect was quite foolish because the grounds were packed both inside and outside.

As we walked through the palace, we were impressed by the massive rooms with elaborate paintings, sculptures, marble staircases and the like, but after a few rooms they all began to look much like the one before. The "Hall of Mirrors" would have been breathe taking I'm sure if it hadn't been stuffed to the brim with bodies and their distinctive odors. Pew!

Burke and I were both thrilled to get outside and we were not one bit disappointed by what we saw in the "backyard."

Here were the perfectly manicured gardens and fountains I had been looking forward to! Our only regret is that we hadn't brought enough water with us on the hot day and were forced to buy tiny juices for 5 Euros to stave off dehydration. We drank our mini juices in the shade of the trees directly across from this famous sculpture called Apollo's Basin. It is quite impressive with the fountain turned on as though the stallions are thundering out of the sea, effortlessly pulling the Sun God's chariot behind them.

After enjoying the fountains and towering maze of hedges, we began our quest to find the Queen's Hamlet. Mind you, this was a HUGE walk, but at last we arrived weary and triumphant at the "Petite Palace." After being at Versailles, this palace does seem "petite" and secluded.

Yet, still I was insistent that we hadn't quite made it. Off we trucked again, becoming increasingly relaxed as the crowds began to dissipate, leaving us to wander the trees and wild flowers relatively alone. At last we peaked around a weeping willow and saw this gratifying dream scene!

I felt like we were in a Disney film as we walked around acres of ponds and cottages with vegetable and flower gardens inside their quaint walls. Apparently, Marie Antoinette would come here to her hamlet and pretend that she was a shepherdess. I can't blame her as I would have gladly chosen this peaceful and secluded area over the colossal palace any day!

We meandered along in a romantic daze, taking our sweet time in the storybook setting and attempting to capture the beauty on film.

Eventually, however, our fatigue overcame us and we began the uphill journey back to the palace. Just as we were about to exit the gates, I became curious about the western side of the gardens that we hadn't explored and bullied Burke into walking another hundred yards to go see it. I am so glad we did because THIS is what we saw!

Absolutely stunning! Despite my weariness, it was a day well spent soaking in the splendor of Versailles!