25: Versailles

Finally, we found a really helpful woman at the metro who gave us a great little çheat sheet' on how to get the train to Versailles - just a list of the stations where you need to change and the symbols for the lines that we needed to follow - a really good simple idea that worked perfectly.

We bought our entry tickets at the Info Centre - the queue here seemed less than the place near the station or at the actual gates - very impressive they are too!

Wow this place is really big - 2000 hectares and so much to see -  room after room of paintings, sculptures, furniture, mirrors - a pity there were so many other people there trying to see it as well, and a pity many are so inconsiderate [read rude] about pushing in front of you when they want to look at something you might happen to be looking at. 

We spent a couple of hours inside the palace, then headed out into the gardens (for a loo break and a bit of lunch), and then down to Grand Trianon and Petite Trianon.  It was nice to see that the parklands are open (for free) to the public for picnics, cycling, etc.  There were lots of Parisians out enjoying the sunshine. 

Yes Joey, this is a really big hedge!

Joey doing a bad impression of a topiary

This couple were having their wedding pics taken outside the Grand Trianon.  The poor bride was melting a little in the heat - very cute kids though!

The other Noble/Clegg party were also at Versaille on the same day, but got there an hour or so after us - the place is so big we never managed to catch up with each other!

We finished up a really great day with the Musical Fountain Shows - it was interesting to hear that Australia is not the only place with drought issues - at Versailles they have restricted the use of some of the fountains due to water shortages.