Versailles Chateau

It was a sleep in morning after our rainy night adventure last night; it was nearly 10 am before everyone was up this morning.   We decided to change the schedule and go to the Versailles Chateau today because of the predicted rainy weather for next week. 

By 11 am we were out the door and headed by Metro to the RER for our thirty-five minute train ride to the Chateau that is located to the southwest of Paris.   By noon we’d arrived and briskly walked the ten minutes from the train station to the Chateau.  We could see long before we entered that the predicted crowds had arrived and the wait for entrance, even with a Museum Pass, was at least several hours. 

We decided to bypass the Chateau and make this a visit of the sites in the gardens.   We’ll come back next Wednesday even in the rain for the tour of the main Chateau.   We easily walked into the gardens and found the Petit Train.  For a few Euros you can ride all the way through the gardens.  Our first stop was at the Grand Trianon, a very formal building that is sometimes closed to the public because it is used regularly for State Visits from prominent officials from other countries.  Several of our Presidents have stayed here during visits to France. 

After touring the buildings and grounds we climbed back on another train and bounced over to the Petit Trianon that was built for Marie Antoinette as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the main Chateau.

The Hameau de La Reine is on the grounds of the Petit Trianon.  One walks from there to the rustic group of home that were built in the 1700’s for the entertainment of Marie Antoinette so that she could enjoy the sense of “being one of the common folks” when she was visiting these houses that are like a miniature farming community.   You can’t enter these buildings; you only walk around them. 

They surround a large pond that has lots of hungry carps that love to catch the bread crumbs that are tossed by the tourists.  There are still gardens planted and harvested here along with farm animals in the dairy section.  Other than the fact that we were very cold; it was a delightful walk for about an hour to see all of the buildings.   We’d expected lots of sunshine today and had dressed accordingly.  Tomorrow we bring jackets no matter what the weatherman says.   Gloves would have been nice today!

Soon we were back on our Petit Train and bouncing along to the Grand Canal.  There we could have rented a boat…not our top choice today; there is a lovely restaurant there and we decided to have dinner as it was already 5 pm. 

We all decided on omelets and enjoyed our meal.

Soon we were back on the Petit Train for our final destination back at the Chateau; which by this time was already closed for the day.  We took a look at the large fountains and then because there were tiny raindrops beginning to fall we started our ten minute walk back to the train station.

Arrived home before 8 pm and have enjoyed a quiet evening here in the apartment. 

 Hope you enjoy the slideshow from today: 

Night Tour of the Eiffel Tower

We awoke to rain!   But the weatherman on the Internet had guaranteed us sunshine by 4 pm today!  By 11 am we were in the Metro in our rain gear headed for the Paris Garnier Opera House.  There we had a marvelous time on a self-guided tour for over an hour.  The girls marveled at the grand belle époque décor and I enjoyed watching the sparkles in their eyes!   

Back out into the rain we attempted to visit something new for me; across the street is a place called the “Paris Story”, an hour long movie about Paris.   Recommended to be the first thing you see about Paris.  But, alas, we were fifteen minutes late and they had closed the doors.  Rather than hang around we raced through ever growing puddles of rainwater towards our faithful Metro that soon took us to the Louvre for another visit.   Our guide…me…screwed up and we got off at the Louvre Rivoli instead of the Palis Royal Musee du Louvre so it was another race through the puddles and raindrops to the entrance.

Our first stop was at the cafeteria just inside of the Richelieu Section for some substance for our hungry bodies; it was after 2 pm.   Long lines and a definite lack of service but we persisted and soon we at the two little tables that Mary secured for us while we foraged for food!  Jane had picked up a cup of chocolate mousse which she shared with all of us; the drop of chocolate on her nose gave us all a chance to have a good laugh!

Relaxed and better able to cope with the real world, we soon headed out into the world of paintings.  First we visited the Dutch Painters in the Richelieu and then over to the Sully for the French Painters.  Our last goals was my request to see a favorite:  Aphrodite known as “Venus de Milo”.  She was on the ground floor in the Denon Section with the Greek and Roman Antiquities. 

It was nearly 5 pm and we had a date at 6:30 pm with a handsome young man…Bonnie’s son-in-law…so we hurried to the interior entrance to the Metro and a fast trip home to rest our tired feet!  Scott Glaser, Bonnie’s son-in-law, is a world traveler for his job; more hours on the road than home.  He was in Warsaw, Poland yesterday and stopped in Paris today to meet and entertain us for the evening.  Little did anyone know that God would open the skies and fill the streets of Paris with buckets of rain!   We’ve found that the weatherman can’t always be trusted to be 100% right all the time.   Just enjoy the results when he is!

So it was back out into the rain at 6:15 pm to meet Scott at the Sud Tower on the Eiffel Tower.  Connecting with text on Jane’s cell phone he located us and led us out from under the tower towards the restaurants in the nearby Rue Cler area.  He’d chosen well and we first stopped for a drink at one of his favorites; he stays in this area often when in Paris on business, and then over to the Le Clos des Gourmets Restaurant for dinner at 7 pm.    Truly a five star gourmet event!   In honor of Mr. Jim I had my first duck in Paris:  Pan fried duck foie gras on a Rosemary skewer, quinoa and apricot compote and a dessert cheese plate.  Yes, the duck is a bit on the fatty side but must admit I enjoyed every bite!

Soon it was 9:15 pm and we had tickets, purchased months ago before the trip began, for a nighttime accent up the Eiffel Tower to see the views at 9:30 pm.  Yes…it was still raining as we bid au revoir to Scott and headed back into the rain with umbrellas and plastic rain ponchos flying behind us as we raced through the streets back to the towers.   

Arrived and walked right in with other “drowned rats” who were there to see the sights of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.  No waiting around until we reached the second elevators on the second floor and then the wait was short.  Soon we were braving the elements on the deck of the top of the tower!   Wind and rain blowing into our faces but what fun we were having!

Back down and the long, wet walk to the Metro but finally we were home just minutes before midnight!  The apartment is full of wet plastic and clothes hanging all around me as I sit here this morning while the others sleep.  It’s 9:30 am…and I’ve enjoyed sharing our story with you.  Since it’s not raining, we may go to Versailles today.  Will decide when they all wake up.    And Scott, if you’re reading this, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the best dining experience ever in Paris. 

Hope you enjoy the slideshow: 

A Rainy Museum Day in Paris

We woke this morning to a rainy day.   Mary had gone out while we were still asleep and purchased croissants for each of us to enjoy with our breakfast.  It was nearly 11 am before we opened our umbrellas and headed for the Metro.  Mary is using her green poncho instead of an umbrella! 

Our first stop was at the Eglise Saint Etienne du Mont that has the beautiful interior that Jim and I enjoyed so much last week.   This is also the church featured in the movie “Midnight in Paris” where the car appeared at midnight for the beginning of the adventure each night.

Then we walked over to the Pantheon, a church prior to the Revolution that now houses most of the tombs of famous French Authors and other famous people.  It is undergoing renovations right now and the pendulum that normal hangs from the large dome is out for repairs!  

 We also purchased our six day Museum Passes while we were there. 

Leaving the Pantheon we walked back to our Metro stop through the Sorbonne for a short ride to visit the Eugene Delacroix Museum in his home.   Small and lovely even in the rain. 

Soon we were hungry and considered eating at the Duex Magots until we reviewed the prices on the menu.  Figuring the Lipps across the street was about the same we walked down the Rue de Seine pass the art galleries all the way to the River. 

Then we headed towards Notre Dame looking for a small restaurant called Quai 21 that Jim found for us last year.  Oops…closed.   It was now nearly 3 pm and we were very hungry so we walked another block and found a lovely restaurant on the corner called Pizza Marzano where we enjoyed a delightful lunch/early dinner.

Soon we were off to our final museum of the day:  The Louvre.   On Friday it is open until 9:30 pm so we were pulling out the stops and staying out late.   We breezed in using our Museum Pass and enjoyed several hours.  We first looked for the Winged Victory…it is out for restoration!  

Then we went to see the famous Mona Lisa; the crowd was slim so we got a very good view and excellent photos.  Then off to find the Napoleon Apartments.   The girls really enjoyed seeing the extravagant display of wealth.   We found the Café nearby and decided that it was time for dessert.  We each enjoyed a lavish dish of ice cream, fruits and cream.   Museum restaurants are very elegant!

By this time it was well after 8 pm and we decided we’d come back tomorrow to find the Dutch and French paintings that we were looking for.  Home by Metro and evening chores. 

We did a load of laundry in the machine that first took searching on the internet to figure out how to work this French machine!  Jane finally found it and voila….we had a load of clean laundry done by midnight.  Hoping it will dry soon as it’s hanging all over the apartment!  May do a run to the Laundromat tomorrow morning to dry them.

A fun evening; very late for some of us but good time as we had wine and cheese about 11 pm.  Computer time is important to all of us each evening and most importantly; charging all of the electronics we use all day long!

Hope you enjoy the slideshow: