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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Paris}Versailles

Our second day in Paris we got up early and took the train out to Versailles - about an hour outside of Paris. Versailles was the home of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette.

Remember how I said the Eiffel Tower was HUGE, well, Versailles is HUGE too! Just in a different way.

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There is nothing little about the palace. Everything is large, grand, opulent and dare I say overdone!

Versailles is really a museum with amazing artwork covering every surface.

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Not only is there artwork covering every wall but the artwork covers the ceilings too.

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Look at Marie Antoinette's bed!

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It is easy to get lost in the grandness of everything! The Hall of Mirrors was spectacular.

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It is easy to miss some of the simple details that are so lovely.

Even the hardware on the windows is pretty.

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And the views out into the garden were amazing and breathtaking.

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More lovely windows with more lovely views....

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and lots of lovely stairways too....

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After the tour of the palace we headed out to the gardens. Now I thought the palace was HUGE but it is nothing in comparison to the gardens. They went on for miles. In fact they are so large that we decided to rent a golf cart to drive around!

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French gardens are so different than English gardens. Much more formal, tight and rigid but still beautiful. Not many flowers but lots of lovely manicured and sculpted lawns and trees.

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After our morning in Versailles we hoped back on the train and headed back into Paris for a few more hours of sightseeing before we took the Chunnel back to London to head home the next morning.

Vive la France!

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