Royalty, Art and the Tiny Windmill Manor
It was a very early morning as we made our way toward the legendary Palace of Versailles. We learned that late afternoon lineups can be ridiculous so we decided to make the best of our day and arrive early. An 8am train to the Palace of Versailles made this possible. When we arrived, we were absolute disbelief. We were astonished with amount of gold plated EVERYTHING. Well, not actually everything… but a significant amount of the façade’s detail was gold plated or gold leafed. Let me just say, that after visiting Versailles I can see why the French revolted. This place is absolute luxury. The beautiful columns, arched stone and marble ceilings, as well as floor to ceiling murals and paintings are just a few things that make Versailles magical. There are spectacular views to the massive gardens from almost every room in the palace. The abundance of natural light allows the space to be filled with an airy atmosphere that emanates royalty.
After visiting the gardens and palace we had the opportunity to take a rowboat in the man-made lake/small canal that was formed in the shape of a cross. We spent at least an hour in the row boat. The view from the water was amazing. The idea of being able to use a rowboat in your own backyard really appealed to me. Afterwards we headed towards Marie Antoinette's Estate and the guest residence. Windmills, streams, fish and pristine miniature gardens made this part of the journey bursting with colour and history. The splendor of the palace gave me the opportunity to imagine myself back in time walking around the gardens and ancient dwellings. I think the pictures explain the rest.
Our next stop was Musée d'Orsay. Hearing from good friends that the Musée d'Orsay is the spot we need to visit for all things art, we made sure to allow plenty of time for a long visit. There were famous works from all of France, the rest of the world and ancient historical sculptures. The museum was spectacular. Unfortunately as with most art museums I was unable to take pictures indoors although I did manage to get a few shots from the upper floor.
Whether its royalty or art you’re interested in, Paris is definitely in no short supply.
Also, make sure you purchase and listen to the soundtrack for 'Amelie' by Yann Tiersen on loop, it will make your French experience that much grander. Parisian it up!
Tomorrow is a new day full of the unknown,
-K