He had that look in his eye. The one where a bevy of questions are about to be unleashed.
"Mom, is Chateau de Versailles just a metro stop or is there a palace there?" O asked.
" Oh,there's an incredible palace there. Remember the French revolution sites we visited? This is the Palace that King Louis and Queen Marie-Antoinette lived plus two kings named Louis before that."
"Wouldn't it be great, the boy said, if we could go there? Just to look at it from the outside. I just want to see what it's like. Is it a long metro ride? It must be really something incredible."
"Not only can we go there but if you'd like we can go inside."
"Are you kidding me?" The boy bellowed.
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No I wasn't kidding, and when you're on vacation you have all the time in the world. So with that, I put two children and myself on a metro heading for the Palais de Versailles.
I cannot describe how massive this palace is. We came off the train, took a right hand turn, and were met by a huge alleyway of trees with the most spectacular golden palace at the end.
As we waited in line to go into the palace we were just completely overcome by all of the "real" gold lurking in the most incredible places.
Once the golden gates were behind us,
There was no place to go but inside.
As we walked down the hallway of this old and beautifully preserved palace, one couldn't help but think about who else walked these halls, and what were they thinking about? The halls and stairs went on forever as we headed to the beginning of our sojourn into the palace of Versailles.
Like kings, queens, aristocracy , and visitors before us, we came to the place where all visits begin at Versailles. These golden doors opened, waiting for us
to enter this glorious beauty of a chapel. It was called upon all people at court to begin their day at the mass known as matins. It is a double tiered "chapel" that champions a small cathedral.
I never did see the floor of this palace, which I hear wasn't anything special, because I just couldn't get over the celestial views in each room. The ceilings were just a wonder to behold.
As I was looking up, the children were looking out, as in out for where the king and queen lived. Though Marie Antoinette's apartments were being renovated, King Louis XVI's were fully furnished. The joy of seeing the actual place where the king played cards, ate, and slept was almost too much for the kids to bear.
Coming around the corner there was the most beautiful crystal chandelier.
It was then that I realized that we were in the most famous room of them all, The Hall of Mirrors. Even with people inside, it was just awe inspiring.
From within we could see the garden that awaited us . It was time to grab some lunch and head outside.
(to be continued)
