Extravagances

The Hall of Mirrors

Approaching the Grounds of Chateau Versailles

I am always so intrigued by the wealth and abundance of historic figures, for example, Marie Antoinette and the Kings who inhabited Chateau de Versailles in earlier centuries. Today, I spent a most beautiful day in Versailles, again experiencing the sights through the biking tour company, and again, well worth it! Our day began with a short train ride out to Versailles, bikes and all! We stopped for about an hour in the town of Versailles (separate from the nearby city of Versailles) to attend and purchase picnic goods from a colorful market. Our guide was super at pointing us in the right direction for truly amazing purchases. He even began by suggesting a nourishing pre-market snack of a crepe; my first one and memorable at that. I chose the Grand Marnier and Sugar type and oh my! Such a delight to taste buds, especially when the fellow making them kept adding more of the liqueur!

Cheese! Baguettes!

Onward to the wine market (are you seeing a trend here?) where I chose a fruity red from the Rhone region. Followed by the boulangerie, which I have to say is the best one I've been to yet. I didn't realize that baguettes can be so different from one place to the next. This one was heavenly and just out of the oven. I also bought a chocolate tarte. Onward to some other fresh options, a big back of cherries (under 2 euros!), and some recommended creamy cheese covered in raisins and oh so yummy. But wait, I'm getting ahead of the picnic.
We rode out of the town and circled the sight of the Chateau and it is rather large and beautifully landscaped but also has its own natural terrain. I love thinking about the history that took place where we were, it really is rather surreal. Our guide, Andrew, was really fun and shared interesting information and good tips throughout the tour.
So sitting by the water for our picnic was such a great scene to partake in as it was a warm day and we shared our food, voiced our wine preferences and just got to know the group. It was a delicious spread!!!

Marie Antoinette's Bedroom - can you imagine?

Golden Gates

The actual chateau is huge. Traditionally the gold was real, but it is now painted, as it was sold following the revolution in order for the people to gain some revenue from a country fallen. The extravagance is beyond description within the walls and the photos don't really capture the excess. The hall of mirrors is something else and in its time would have been beyond indulgent. Living in the times would have been quite something, if and only if, you were part of this in-crowd.

The Gardens at Versailles

It was a quick ride from the Chateau back to the townsite and we hopped onto the train back to Paris, rode our bikes back to the tour core and called it a day; and another good one. I'm beat from the heat, the activities and mostly, all that indulgence of food and drink!