The Palace

Big day today! It’s our palace visit. We bought a tour mainly because it will get us the fast track entry. We had to be there at 1020 am sharp! And we were but the guide was late. In the meantime, I started chatting to another guide and she tells me that in order tone guide, one must have a degree in history with a smattering knowledge of arts and architecture. In addition, one must also have a Masters degree. Shit, I hope they are being paid well and are not just relying on tips!

The tour took 2 hours and the guide (Gabrielle) was very good. Great English and passionate about her topic. Louis XIV built the palace, the XV enjoyed it and the XVI (along with Marie Antoinette) lost it along with his head. After the XVI, no king ever lived in the palace again. Napoleon didn’t want to live in the palace as it was a symbol of absolute monarchy excesses. Every thing in the palace was about extravagance and excess. Gold paint was the norm with colour co-ordinated furnishings. Thank God it wasn’t peak season as it was crowded enough. I bet it can be awfully hot and stuffy with the crowds in some of the smaller rooms. Bloody Chinese tourists are a major pain. It was like playing a rugby game with being bumped by them. It didn’t matter who they were, young girls, young boys, old women or old men with walking sticks. They all packed a great tackle. Sometimes, you just have stand your ground.

After the palace, we spilled out into the Gardens. Immense in size, geometrical and manicured. The original plan was to hire bikes and cycle around at our own pace and visit the attractions. We soon realised that we would not have time to do much with the bikes so we opted for the train. We managed to see the Grand Trianon and the little Trianon. More of the same really just on a smaller version of the palace. We should have allocated a fun day for the palace and a separate day for the grounds. We were lucky as the sun appeared for the afternoon when we were in the gardens. everything brightened up which made for better photos.

As I have said before. One needs to be fit to be tourist. I reckon we walked about 15 km and stood for hours and hours. My legs and feet and killing me. We were happy to head back to the Waldorf. Packed up the Kangoo (which is actually quite a nice little car) and headed out of Versailles, on the road to Amboise. We took the scenic route which is very nice but it took us 5 hours to travel just over 200 km! Out with the speaker and with the appropriate driving music, it still felt like 5 hours!

We stopped at the Buffalo Grill for dinner. This is a big change which is like Hog’s Breath Restaurants. If felt pretty weird ordering American diner food in French. I am quite surprise that the French even allow this chain to be established. I am sure they consider this food as culinary barbarism.

Finally arrived at our hotel (Le Choiseul) at 2300 hr. Again, Deb and Leonie did really well with the driving. It is a very quaint old stately home. A giant B and B really. Can’t see much in the dark but we certainly knew where rooms were after lugging the cases up 2 flights of stairs! Showered and crashed.

Exploring Ambrosie tomorrow and on with the 5 day cycle the day after.