Day 24 VersaillesI (Mom) had purchased tickets online for the three of us to go to the Palace of Versailles. Unfortunately, Lori couldn't go with her hurt ankle, so Mom and Emily went. We got up bright and early and headed over to the Metro to catch the transit to Versailles. Our plan was to get there early to avoid some of the lines. It was a good plan, but was poorly executed. We got on the wrong train and rode it to the end of the line all the while getting very nervous there weren't many people on board! When we were all asked to disembark, we knew for certain this train wasn't going to Versailles! Wow. So, we took it back to where we started and found the right train! By the time we actually got to Versailles, it was close to lunch and we were hungry and desperately had to use the bathroom ( all of the ones on the train were locked). So we headed for a familiar place: McDonalds. There was a line to use the restrooms and we decided to eat at the restaurant before we headed to the palace. Despite our insistence that we wouldn't, we found ourselves eating a very delicious meal at McDonalds in Paris! (*This is one of many reasons we are so thankful to have the opportunity to go on a Rick Steves Tour. With the difficulty we had in getting to Versailles we cannot imagine trying to take on Europe by ourselves. Heck, even getting into all of these wonderful places was so much easier with RS as we did not have to wait in lines. Other benefits included: having hotels planned for us, travel from location to location, and having friendly and helpful guides along the way. This is a very short list of benefits as there are so many more. I am very thankful to Rick Steves Tours. You make Europe possible!)
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When we first got to the palace, I joked that we must have gone to Paris Disneyland by mistake because the line was very much like ones I have seen at Disneyland. It wound back and forth like a very long snake and we had trouble finding the end of it to begin our wait! I don't want to say that going to Versailles was a mistake, but the crowds there really diminish the experience.
We were in line a very long time which is something we did not have to deal with most of our time in Europe as Rick Steves tours help you skip most of those pesky lines. By this time, we were wishing we'd gotten a tour of Versailles, but we stuck it out and finally got in. We went straight to what we thought was the Palace ( we weren't given a map and my online map was written in French). Once we got inside, we found... more lines.
We were in line a very long time which is something we did not have to deal with most of our time in Europe as Rick Steves tours help you skip most of those pesky lines. By this time, we were wishing we'd gotten a tour of Versailles, but we stuck it out and finally got in. We went straight to what we thought was the Palace ( we weren't given a map and my online map was written in French). Once we got inside, we found... more lines.
I know Rick says no Grumps, but I was getting seriously grumpy by this point. We followed the crowds from room to room, standing on our tippy toes trying to see beyond the never ending tour groups which seemed to be at the foreground of every single room we entered. When we finally got to the Hall of Mirrors, it was the first time I recall being able to spread my arms out. For a gal from Montana, this is pretty important!
I wish I had spent more time learning about what I would see in each room ahead of time , or taken a guided tour with an English guide. We really didn't know what we were looking at in each room or whose bedroom we were looking at. In my mind, the tour of the Paris Opera House was so much more enjoyable and I actually understood what I was viewing. Just something to think about to those of you planning a trip to Versailles. We did enjoy the gardens and the outdoors very much, but we weren't able to visit some of the other buildings on the grounds thanks to our late arrival and crowds. We did very much enjoy the fountains and the fountain shows. The Palace is stunning from the gardens! Go and enjoy, but prepare! |
Meanwhile, back in Paris, Lori spent the day relaxing. At the time we were in Paris they were having the French Open, a special tennis tournament (that is the reason there was a large tennis ball hanging from the Eiffel Tower), so I watched some of that.
However, a day in Paris cannot be spent entirely inside. After a bit I made my way out into the bright, sunny day. I found myself walking the now familiar street to the Eiffel Tower. My plan was to walk to the base of the Eiffel Tower and check out that area. On my way I ran into a couple from our Rick Steves Tour. It was nice to see the two of them again and to exchange a few quick words and well wishes. At the base of the Eiffel Tower I found long lines and large crowds. I did not linger for very long though as my stomach was calling me back to the busy street near our hotel. From there I stopped at our favorite grocery store as well as my favorite bakery. I got some Clementine juice, a baguette sandwich, and a delicious dessert to finish it off. |
Some final notes concerning the flight home. We hired a shuttle to get us to the airport. We were the first of three stops. By the time we arrived at the airport we were having to run through every line. On multiple occasions we were allowed to pass others to avoid missing our flight. We were running the entire time. Please be sure to leave and provide yourself with PLENTY of time to get through all the various steps. The Charles de Gaulle Airport is a bit complex as well as huge. Once we got on the flight it was smooth sailing (well, flying) from that point on!.