Versailles

This morning we hopped on the RER and

headed out to Versailles.

Officially, Versailles is closed on Mondays.

But we were here for the gardens.

We have already been to the chateau

and felt we didn't need to see it again.

Europe at this time of year has been

so crowded.  Even more crowded than 

when I have been here in June.  This is

why we usually never go to Europe at this

time but this year was Wonderful's big 

birthday and we also wanted to visit 

Keukenhof.

So to visit the gardens without the tour 

groups and throngs of people was a delight.

(For people from New Jersey in the USA, it 

was like going down the shore in the winter,

my favorite time.)

The Orangerie and the Swiss Lake.

Stunning...

We strolled through vast allees of trees

and viewed tons of statues...

and fountains...

Then, it was time for this:

My favorite part of Versaille is

the Hamlet.

It was Marie Antoinette's escape from 

court life.  She would go here to act like

a peasant.

Renting bicycles is a great way to 

see out of the way places that would

be too far to walk to.

The end of the Grand Canal looking 

back to the Chateau.

As we were leaving the sun finally

came out ~ Murphy's Law.

Travel Tales: Biking Through Versailles

A Beautiful Spring Day in Versailles

A visit to Versailles is de rigueur for any trip to France.

The beautiful palace of Louis XIV is filled with fabulously decorated rooms.

Admiring the painted ceilings will make your neck ache.

After touring the palace we had our picnic lunch

al fresco overlooking the fountains.

To work off the baguette & cheeses, we hopped on bikes

to tour the palace gardens.

View from the back of the palace, I love the look of early Spring

in this photo, the grass is green but the trees still look like Winter.

We rode all the way to the end of the Grand Canal.

View from the end of the Grand Canal back to the palace.

Le Hameau (hamlet), this is where Marie Antoinette would

go to act like a peasant, or at least, MA's version of peasant life.

I want this to be my studio.