Versailles

Saturday – 26,000 steps

Today is the one day we have decided to get out of Paris and visit Versailles.

Very few people in subway this morning

First view of Versailles

We have prebooked a kings apartment tour, which gives us jump the line access to the Palais. It is approximate 1.5 hour tour. Lots of information about the palace, we had a great guide. We got access to rooms that you cannot see unless you are on the tour. For the extra 10 euro from a regular ticket it was well worth the price. 

Hidden entrance

On the tour we were able to go into the chapel

After our private tour we picked up our audio guides and joined the masses in the palace. It was incredibly crowded.

The hall of mirrors was packed, really made it not even enjoyable.

Hall of Mirrors, so many people!

We left the palace and went through the gardens. The gardens here are massive! We picked up some sandwiches and ice cream on the way walking through the gardens, ice cream eaten first so it didn’t melt. No way were we getting in the line again after our sandwiches for ice cream. 

Beautiful gardens, this is the small one

At the end of the gardens are the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon that are 2 smaller palaces that we enjoyed because there were so much fewer people here.

We then headed back towards the main palace through the gardens stopping along the way at different fountains that are turned on to music. This was why I picked today to go to Versailles, in hind site it probably would have been better to go during the week.

The weekend was so crowded, it was an absolutely beautiful day so locals and tourists were all out enjoying the gardens. 

View of main gardens from palace, on and on forever!

We leave the palace grounds and visit the Carriage House.

We are now done with the palace and crowds, start heading back to the train station and stop for some drinks at a little bar in Versailles. Lots of locals out with their children, dogs, and bikes, fun to mix in a little. 

Next off to the train station, some how we got home, not sure what train we got on but it did a different route than we came in on, but there was a stop at Invalides which we knew we could transfer to our metro line from. 

It is late by the time we get home, we are exhausted so just go to a little restaurant outside our apartment. Our meal is great, but dessert took way too long, should have just left after the main course. It was a great last night to a fantastic week.

Sunday 

No steps counted today. It is a early morning to get to the airport. We just walked with our luggage to the busy street down from us and got a cab. It has been an amazing trip, but we all need to go home for a rest. Can’t wait to see where WestJet adds its next destination to!