The Palace!!!

Rented a car at Charles De Gaulle airport and drove to Versailles. Wow!!! We actually did it. I have to admit that I was terrified to drive in Europe but took the plunge regardless. You see, my driving is marginal at the best of times - swirling traffic circles and angry honking french men could only make it more interesting. So armed with our 5th travelling partner Hilda (the TomTom navigation system) we drove through Paris and southwest to the palace.

The palace of Versailles is a must see. Often missing from a french traveller's itinerary, it puts historical works of art in perspective. Once you get into the palace, and get over the glitz and glam of the entrance, you can settle in with an auto attendant and get a real sense of what Louis the 14th was up to.




The Auto attendant is a cigarette package sized device where you are able to type in the room number as you go along and listen to a detailed description of the contents of the room and the historical events that go along with it. Imagine the sense of history you get as you stand in Marie Antoinette's chamber and see where she escaped when the townspeople came to kill her. Fabulous.

And you can see why the French were pissed. The whole idea that you can bamboozle people with their own resources forever, whether your Louis or the NDP only works for so long.  The palace is immense and the grounds even more so. Below is the eating chamber for the Louis where he would take his dinner (at 10pm each night) while others sat and watched.

The french have done a great job of keeping the gardens up but you can see that won't last forever. It's simply too much area to look after. As it is, the manicured gardens are at least the size 5 football fields and the grounds in general with their rows of trees, lakes, ponds, fountains etc. go on for kilometers around the castle.
 

Stevie was fascinated with this visit and was reluctant to leave. For her - it was like a textbook coming to life. I too have to admit that it piques your interest in European history buy bringing perspective to the little I do know about the reign of terror and the folks eating cake.

I took this picture of the back end of Louis rather than the front. Three cheers for the French who sent this joker packing. Don't let the door of the palace hit your ass on the way out!

Back on the road and drove to Montpelier. What a beautiful driver. The Loire river valley, the vineyards as far as the eye can see - its a beautiful place.