We got up early on the second day and took the metro to The Arc De Triumph. The Arc is the center of a huge round about that has 12 roads that lead into it. We walked all the way around and took pictures from every side.
We asked someone to take our picture with the Arc. Nice picture of half the Arc huh?
We did some shopping on the Champs Elysees. Genna got new jeans and I bought a T shirt for Reed. Suddenly we realized we had spent a little too much time shopping and then were late to meet our tour for the Palace of Versailles. Luckily, after a little running and a lot of worrying we caught the train and were able to meet up with the group right outside the train station!
The gold fence outside the palace was spectacular!
The gardens were HUGE and very impressive.
It was very cold and misting. The other people on our tour walked so slow. Genna, our tour guide and I were walking quickly to warm up, but then would have to wait for the others to catch up and get cold again.
We were grateful for a break and warm hot chocolate in the middle of the tour to warm up!
All of the statues in the garden were covered for winter. I am happy that we went and saw the gardens of Versailles, but I think it would be better to visit in a warmer month.
After the tour of the gardens we went inside the Palace. With our Polish Residency card it was free! There were lots of cool paintings on the ceilings. The furniture was pretty cool, but my favorite part was the Hall of Mirrors. At the time the palace was built mirrors were very rare and only made in Venice. So they brought Venetian mirror makers to France and filled the entire hallway with mirrors from the floor to the ceiling.
The Hall also looks cool from the outside because you can see the reflection of the garden. It looks like you are looking through the palace.
Before going back to the city we indulged in some great treats.
We bought an eclair, macaroons and crepes. Yummy!
The hall of mirrors was my fave also - There were lots of cool paintings - but they kinda all ran together after the Louvre and Versailles didn't they?
ReplyDeleteWe calle The Arch de Triompeh the Arch de Pickpocket - as on of the people I was with had her wallet stolen out of her purse on the way up that narrow stairwell.
Yeah. It's just a lot of horses and people with wigs after a while!
DeleteYikes! There were signs warning us to watch for pick pockets everywhere, but we didn't have any problems. We didn't go in the Arch we figured going to the top of the Eiffel tower was enough.