I would have loved to have seen these gardens during the summer. Even in winter, they were amazing in their meticulous geometry (nature, here, is UNDER CONTROL) and their sheer size (about 2,200 acres).
This is the show-stopper: A gallery running the length of the palace, lined with windows, mirrors and gilt torch-bearers, and topped with crystal chandeliers floating beneath a ceiling painted with the glories of France.
Because all the pelouses were interdites, we had our picnic on a stone bench on the side of the gravel walkway. We watched all the tourists milling around and wished they were in powdered wigs and giant dresses. Jambon fromage sur baguette Gaufre liegoise(I love you Belgium!)
La chapelleBuilt toward the end of Louis XIV’s reign, when he became somewhat of a religious fanatic (probably under the influence of his mistress… a less lovely accomplishment was his revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which had allowed for religious freedom in France since Henri IV). Ceilings Apotheosis of Hercules King’s Bedroom Queen’s Bedroom Marie-Antoinette escaped […]
We visited Versailles today and in so doing filled a conspicuous gap in my exposure to French culture. For all the time I’ve spent living and traveling in France, I had never been to Versailles. During previous trips to Paris I’d either been otherwise engaged (for example, in tracking down Martinicans to interview for a […]
Pont du Caroussel; the Louvre is on the left Pont Neuf and Ile de la Cite Institut Francais Locks on the bridge Lychees always make me think of eyeballs and/or brains Eglise St. Eustache Centre Pompidou Look what I can see! And look, it’s a roving spotlight…
On the balcony of our hotel room — photo courtesy of Amanda.
The key to overcoming jet lag is to force yourself to operate on local time as soon as you arrive. So instead of going to bed at the unheard-of hour of 8:30pm (as my body very much wants to do), I’ll post a few pictures from today. We arrived safe and sound in Paris around […]
Just landed – on the RER toward our hotel.
Today, between travel preparations and choir concerts, I baked a cake. I’d decided that after years of hearing about the Davis family chocolate cake, Amanda finally should have a chance to see if it lives up to the hype. We have less than 24 hours to finish it. Yum!
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 