Day 8 - The Palace of Versailles... and more!
The day started out a little wet and overcast. Nevertheless we boarded our bus and drove over to our first tour of the day, the Palace of Versailles. The queue was backed up so they gave us a time to come back and told us to amuse ourselves. So we decided to tour the open gardens for a bit which were just beautiful. Reappeared at the appointed time and were allowed entrance to the palace. Words do not do it justice...After lunch, I decided I needed a nap so I stayed onboard. Intrepid Angela went on the afternoon tour too, this one to the Chateau de Malmaison, Empress Josephine's little hideaway.
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| Welcome to the Palace of Versailles. A little wet and the lines were long. Our tour group had a reservation but the rain slowed things down. They asked our group to come back a little bit later... | ... so we decided to tour the Versailles gardens first! Maybe because of the rain the gardens were pretty empty when we got there which was pretty nice. And then it stopped raining which was even better! |
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| Our visit was in late September but the gardens were still in great shape! A view off the balcony at the back of the Palace of a portion of the "Escaliers des Cent Marches" and the "Orangerie"... | ... and another view from a bit further away in the gardens. |
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| The central Fountain of Latona | Another view across the fountain looking back at the Palace... |
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Angela posing at the Bassin de Flore |
Back in the Orangerie? John posing at a set of BIG doors, flanked by some palm trees... |
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At the appointed hour, entering the Palace of Versailles - "To all the glories of France" |
Wow... |
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... wow |
I could use this desk in my study... |
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... and maybe this obelisk as well! |
After climbing the Ambassador's Staircase, on our way to the King's State Apartments... |
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| The Hall of Mirrors |
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After lunch, Angela toured the Chateau de Malmaison, the former residence of Empress Josephine. |
Close up of the flowers, they look so nice! |
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A painting of the lady of the house... |
... and her main dining room. |
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Josephine's chamber/bedroom |
Napolean dressed up as an emperor... |
