Rick Steves Best of Paris in 7 Days Tour Scrapbook!
Day 5: Thanksgiving in
Versailles
Day 5: Thanksgiving in
Versailles
To be honest, this was the part of the tour I was most excited for! I remember being so fascinated by the French Revolution in school and even more so, the film Marie Antoinette. The sky was a perfect blue, the crisp air filled with excitement. As I approached the palace, it stood grand and gold-gilded, just as I had imagined. If I needed a reason to be grateful this Thanksgiving Day, this was it.
Another bird trying to get in on the action!
Inside...
Nothing but decadence
Built in the 17th century by Louis XIV, Versailles was designed to be the ultimate symbol of royal power and luxury. Some of the rooms exude a regal masculinity, and others, an explosion of delicate femininity. From the Hall of Mirrors and the chandeliers to ceilings so detailed you might need a chiropractor after staring in awe —it was a feast for the eyes at every turn! If you are overwhelmed by the sheer ornateness in these pictures, it pales in comparison to seeing it all in person!
Hall of Mirrors!
The perfect room for inconspicuous selfies
A Walk About the Grounds!
The vast outdoors of the palace is the next stop -- complete with perfectly trimmed hedges, endless fountains, and so many marble statues! Walking the grounds would’ve been ambitious as the space is incredibly huge. Thankfully there is a cart train that circles the park periodically with stops at a few of the retreats royalty had right in their backyards.
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The Grand Trianon & Petit Trianon
The first two stops on the train took us to The Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon. The Grand Trianon, built by Louis XIV, is almost entirely pink marble on the outside. It served as royal retreat for him, and understandably so, as the main palace would overwhelm anyone's senses. The retreat is still grand but very intimate. Then there’s the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s personal hideaway. Her touch and style is very present, with beautiful gardens and bright lovely colorful decor!
The Queen's Hamlet
One of the last stops tucked away from Versailles’ grandeur is the Queen’s Hamlet! Built for Marie Antoinette as her additional personal escape, this charming little village was supposed to feel like the French country. Her interpretation is a bit more fantastical than reality, but it's lovely and familiar nonetheless with quaint cottages, winding streams, and a lake! It reminded me of Belle's provential town in Beauty and the Beast. Walking past thatched-roof houses, I could absolutely see the allure. Her own little storybook village.
After the excitement of Versailles, I took the trains back into Paris. I made a stop at The Musée du Quai Branly and checked out their exhibit on Zombies which was very interesting - but my phone died so I have no pictures for that sadly. After that, I went back to the hotel to ponder my Thanksgiving meal...
TABLE FOR 1
One of the perks of traveling during the holiday season is less crowds, but being a solo traveller on a holiday also means you might be alone for dinner. Sometimes Rick Steves Tours plan for a Thanksgiving meal with the group, but this time, dinner rested in my own hands. So, I FaceTimed my family to express my love and then headed just next door to Bistrot des Fables for a yummy plate. I was thankful for my trip, my wonderful meal, and the pretty wonderful company of new friends on the trip. So grateful that it made me sad to think there was only one more full day of the tour left!
