Versailles, France

 

Versailles, France

 June 8th, 2017

     Five years ago we landed in Charles de Gaulle Aéroport, but we quickly left Paris and checked in at Trianon Palace Versailles. No, not the palace that we would be viewing the next day, but the Waldorf Astoria hotel. 
     We pulled up and saw that  Gordon Ramsey had a restaurant on the premises. We looked forward to a delicious breakfast the next morning.













 
  The foyer took our breath away, we knew that we were in for a treat with the Trianon Palace, and we certainly were. 


   
   


   
 
     We got to our room. There was nothing to unpack, as our bags didn't arrive until the following evening, so we took the that time as an opportunity to unwind in the side patio.

   






 Beer with seasoned mixed nuts and hot chocolate with fresh macarons, we were in heaven.






 Bon Appétit!





Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, we were excited to be waking up in France. We had a wonderful spread delivered to our room.



                                          Assiette "Petit Déjeuner Anglais"
                                                   Full English Breakfast


                                                          Œufs Bénédicte
                                                           Eggs Benedict


                                                   Pain-perdu aux épices
                                   Spiced French Toast with Almond Cream




 What a beautiful way to begin our morning! Full and relaxed, we leisurely got ready and walked down the street Allée des Moutons, which lead us straight to the gardens of Versailles Palace!




 
Le Petit Trianon











  Flowers of every shade were in bloom. Each area of the grounds had its own landscaping design and color scheme. There were sculptures and no shortage of things to see.





Eventually, in the gardens, we came across La Flottille. It was a great chance to rest our feet for a moment before we turned the corner and found that we had finally reached the palace!














  Le char d'Apollon




Roaming the gardens, we thought we knew the splendors of Versailles, but as we traversed the halls our breath was taken away by the detailed architecture, the beautiful artwork, and the exquisite historic furnishings. 




      Later to become last queen of France, Archduchess Marie Antoinette of Vienna married Dauphin Louis XVI at the young age of 15. Together, they became a symbol of all things lavish and luxurious.
       In the American Gilded age, the elites had décor reminiscent of Marie Antoinette in some form or other. The illustrious Henry Flagler married Mary Lily Kenan and built her a decadent home in Palm Beach, Florida. Mary Lily had her drawing room in the design of 18th century France, with a blue and silver color scheme. The notorious colors of the upper crust women’s beloved patron: Marie Antoinette.

      Marie Antoinette was not seen as such a kindred spirit to her subjects. Enjoying life to the fullest, she and the king emptied the coffers on a variety of frivolities.  During the French Revolution, “Madame Deficit” and her family were taken into custody. She had been charged with a list of crimes, some more unlikely than others, and was guillotined on October 16th, 1793.

     Though her past was a mix of joy and despair, she remains a symbol of beauty, the arts, and royalty to this day.




Walking through this opulent room, you can view jewels, goblets, swords, and crowns from centuries past in the casings. Or, you can look up and find your astrological sign painted onto the ceiling.

It was certainly worth taking a day to explore!




 The sights from the streets of Versailles



Peering into the windows, we were tempted more than once by their offerings.





  Works of Art!






Oh la la!



The people of Versailles have the luxury of fresh produce every day from open air markets






After a busy day, the delicious aromas wafted down the avenue to our noses; we ended our day on one of the many patios we passed in charming Versailles.


 If you ever find yourself in the area of Paris, a visit to Versailles is a must. It's only a short train ride away!













In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9


 

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