We had our route planned. Ride our train into Paris, change to another train to take us back out and to Versailles. Getting from our train to the other was the most challenging part of this commute. Again, th
e
tunnel systems of the trains and subways of Paris are amazing. Reading
the French has become easier after 4 days, but their assumptions can
still leave one wondering which branch to take when the sign 100 feet
back indicated the way. We made our train, found some seats on the upper
level and relaxed for the 45 minute ride. AM took the opportunity to
snooze. I tried to take pictures of the changing scenery. The parts of
Paris we have seen so far are old, with buildings that are sometimes
hundreds of years old. The most modern skyscraper (the only skyscraper)
was Montparnasse Tower. As the train left this part of Paris we saw some
interesting mixes. The buildings became newer and taller - a more
modern part of Paris? Then we left that behind and started to see the
more rural, and charming, parts of suburban Paris. I am sure that each
of the stops had their own names, probably from the village (or villa)
that formed that particular community, just like Goussainville. But
unlike our ride to Goussainville, this way had many more interesting
stone houses and older apartment like buildings. Goussainville is in an
area that is more industrial, somewhat like Tukwilla, warehouses, large
buildings of industry. The settlements along the way to Versailles were
more rural, more houses, more people living in the area. I would've
liked to have stopped to look around, but we wanted maximum time at
Versailles, and we had no idea if there would be anything of real
interest, facilities or when the next train would come by (though that
last bit would've been easy enough to find out).
Arriving
at Versailles came quickly, at least more quickly than I had expected.
It was the end of that particular train line, the train stopped,
everyone got off and the train was cleaned and restocked before leaving.
We headed straight out
of the station,
took a look at a convenient map of the village (really a small city) and
started in the direction of the palace.
We had left Goussainville rather late, so upon seeing cafes we stopped for food. The food was again delicious, though AM didn't care for hers so much. Buckwheat savory crepes, cooked a little crisp. We continued on to the Palace and were in for amazement. As we approached, it became evident that this place was huge. It really was a small city of it's own! They have been renovating the outside and the gilded ornamentation was outstanding. I was, of course, taking pictures every where of everything. As we got close enough to note where we were supposed to enter I ran into some trouble: the camera wasn't working right. I could take a picture, but then I couldn't take another without turning the camera off, then back on. We did some trouble shooting, including looking up info from online. Tried a new card, tried a new battery, took out the 3V battery that I never knew about and tried cleaning and placing it back in. I couldn't get the screen in back to come up, no menu and I couldn't tell if the pictures I was taking were actually being saved...my camera was in a coma. We determined that the 3V battery was probably dead, a replacement might solve our problems. We went into the palace, directly to the gift shop, in the unlikely hopes that they might have a selection of batteries available. No luck. A storm was approaching so we ran inside the start of the tour to keep dry. Inside AM ran for the audiotour while SK and I stood in awe, snapping pictures everywhere. I continued to take pictures in the hopes that they were being saved, but it was inconvenient to turn the camera off, then on again each time, so my picture taking dwindled significantly. We couldn't go to the garden (rats!) because of the storm. That was one of the reasons I wanted to come to Versailles, to see the gardens! I did get to glimpse them through the windows and doors occasionally, but it would have been nice to walk along the paths and get lost in the labyrinths of topiary.
Inside Versailles has been made into one long museum, gallery after gallery of wall art, statues and historical notes. SK and I had long lost AM. Most of the exhibits are appropriate and chronistic, some though seemed anachronistic and out of place in this Renaissance/Victorian palace. The chandeliers made of melted plastic black or red knives forks and spoons was really interesting, but seemed odd to be in Versailles. The giant shoes made from cooking pots and lids were again interesting, but really seemed out of place in the Hall of Mirrors. It was crowded inside Versailles, I am sure many people were staying inside to keep out of the rain.
After the amazingly appointed Hall of Mirrors, which also had the best views of the gardens I had seen, we went through a series of rooms, including the bedrooms of the Kings and Queens who used this palace. More odd art work, including crayfish on a settee. I felt awed by the history of the rooms, the people who used to live here. SK and I wandered through an area that had an amazing display of porcelain containers. The colors were vibrant and the details interesting. These seemed more appropriate as a gallery in Versailles than the odd new stuff.
One odd art piece, interesting, but still off, was a pair of lion statues covered in crocheted doilies. I understand the craftsmanship and appreciate that, but why? Somehow SK and I missed a whole wing of the palace, AM got to see it though. SK and I take a little more time than AM (in fact it kind of goes like this - AM speeds through, cramming as much as possible into as little time as possible; I take lots of pictures, read a little of the signs of those pieces that really interest me, but move on quickly, keep moving most of the time; SK wants to read everything-just about-on every piece, lots of stopping and standing). We were outside waiting for AM for maybe 10 minutes when she caught up with us after seeing the last wing.
We then tried to find a cathedral in Versailles, and a place to sit for a bit, as well as a camera shop and a new battery for my camera. The pastry shop was very interesting, with an interesting proprietress who spoke a little English, Spanish and of course French. She was really nice, helpful and friendly. She didn't think her English was very good, and she didn't always have the word she was looking for, but I encouraged her that it just takes practice. She did't think there were any shops with the kind of battery we were looking for, but we could probably find it in Paris.
After sitting, eating, drinking tea we headed toward the station to get a train back to Paris. AM did check out the cathedral, which was just behind our pastry shop. I had an interesting conversation with the proprietress. She claimed her English was not very good, and sometimes she did not have a word for what she wanted to say, but I encouraged her to keep practicing, that's the best way to get better. She admitted that her Spanish and French were better. I then tried a little Spanish as well. She was not the first person we had met that spoke more of a different language other French and English. She was very nice, helpful and seemed to enjoy our company and business.
We then started back to the RER station to return to Paris.
Again, the ride back was quite pleasant, seemed shorter than I had expected.
Once back in Paris we were in for a repeat of the night before. The streets were crowded with parties. Bands were playing on almost every corner. It was one giant party outside. We found a cafe in a small little back road that wasn't packed and stopped for dinner. Watching the crowds from a distance was nicer than being in them.
We stayed late, waiting for the trains to not be so crowded. When we finally travelled home there were Metro security at every station, the trains ran slow as security got on at every stop. I was going through some pictures on my iPad and security from outside told me to put it away. I didn't understand why until the lady in front of us explained that there were thieves about. She even tucked her jewelry under her shirt and moved her purse to a position that would make it harder for a thief to grab from her.
We had left Goussainville rather late, so upon seeing cafes we stopped for food. The food was again delicious, though AM didn't care for hers so much. Buckwheat savory crepes, cooked a little crisp. We continued on to the Palace and were in for amazement. As we approached, it became evident that this place was huge. It really was a small city of it's own! They have been renovating the outside and the gilded ornamentation was outstanding. I was, of course, taking pictures every where of everything. As we got close enough to note where we were supposed to enter I ran into some trouble: the camera wasn't working right. I could take a picture, but then I couldn't take another without turning the camera off, then back on. We did some trouble shooting, including looking up info from online. Tried a new card, tried a new battery, took out the 3V battery that I never knew about and tried cleaning and placing it back in. I couldn't get the screen in back to come up, no menu and I couldn't tell if the pictures I was taking were actually being saved...my camera was in a coma. We determined that the 3V battery was probably dead, a replacement might solve our problems. We went into the palace, directly to the gift shop, in the unlikely hopes that they might have a selection of batteries available. No luck. A storm was approaching so we ran inside the start of the tour to keep dry. Inside AM ran for the audiotour while SK and I stood in awe, snapping pictures everywhere. I continued to take pictures in the hopes that they were being saved, but it was inconvenient to turn the camera off, then on again each time, so my picture taking dwindled significantly. We couldn't go to the garden (rats!) because of the storm. That was one of the reasons I wanted to come to Versailles, to see the gardens! I did get to glimpse them through the windows and doors occasionally, but it would have been nice to walk along the paths and get lost in the labyrinths of topiary.
Inside Versailles has been made into one long museum, gallery after gallery of wall art, statues and historical notes. SK and I had long lost AM. Most of the exhibits are appropriate and chronistic, some though seemed anachronistic and out of place in this Renaissance/Victorian palace. The chandeliers made of melted plastic black or red knives forks and spoons was really interesting, but seemed odd to be in Versailles. The giant shoes made from cooking pots and lids were again interesting, but really seemed out of place in the Hall of Mirrors. It was crowded inside Versailles, I am sure many people were staying inside to keep out of the rain.
After the amazingly appointed Hall of Mirrors, which also had the best views of the gardens I had seen, we went through a series of rooms, including the bedrooms of the Kings and Queens who used this palace. More odd art work, including crayfish on a settee. I felt awed by the history of the rooms, the people who used to live here. SK and I wandered through an area that had an amazing display of porcelain containers. The colors were vibrant and the details interesting. These seemed more appropriate as a gallery in Versailles than the odd new stuff.
One odd art piece, interesting, but still off, was a pair of lion statues covered in crocheted doilies. I understand the craftsmanship and appreciate that, but why? Somehow SK and I missed a whole wing of the palace, AM got to see it though. SK and I take a little more time than AM (in fact it kind of goes like this - AM speeds through, cramming as much as possible into as little time as possible; I take lots of pictures, read a little of the signs of those pieces that really interest me, but move on quickly, keep moving most of the time; SK wants to read everything-just about-on every piece, lots of stopping and standing). We were outside waiting for AM for maybe 10 minutes when she caught up with us after seeing the last wing.
We then tried to find a cathedral in Versailles, and a place to sit for a bit, as well as a camera shop and a new battery for my camera. The pastry shop was very interesting, with an interesting proprietress who spoke a little English, Spanish and of course French. She was really nice, helpful and friendly. She didn't think her English was very good, and she didn't always have the word she was looking for, but I encouraged her that it just takes practice. She did't think there were any shops with the kind of battery we were looking for, but we could probably find it in Paris.
After sitting, eating, drinking tea we headed toward the station to get a train back to Paris. AM did check out the cathedral, which was just behind our pastry shop. I had an interesting conversation with the proprietress. She claimed her English was not very good, and sometimes she did not have a word for what she wanted to say, but I encouraged her to keep practicing, that's the best way to get better. She admitted that her Spanish and French were better. I then tried a little Spanish as well. She was not the first person we had met that spoke more of a different language other French and English. She was very nice, helpful and seemed to enjoy our company and business.
We then started back to the RER station to return to Paris.
Again, the ride back was quite pleasant, seemed shorter than I had expected.
Once back in Paris we were in for a repeat of the night before. The streets were crowded with parties. Bands were playing on almost every corner. It was one giant party outside. We found a cafe in a small little back road that wasn't packed and stopped for dinner. Watching the crowds from a distance was nicer than being in them.
We stayed late, waiting for the trains to not be so crowded. When we finally travelled home there were Metro security at every station, the trains ran slow as security got on at every stop. I was going through some pictures on my iPad and security from outside told me to put it away. I didn't understand why until the lady in front of us explained that there were thieves about. She even tucked her jewelry under her shirt and moved her purse to a position that would make it harder for a thief to grab from her.
Makes me appreciate my own neighborhood - no need for security guards, usually.
