Paris: Day 2
27 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Europe, France Tags: Louvre, Marie Antoinette, Paris, Versaille
Sunday, July 31, 2011
The Louvre
I started the day bright and early in order to visit the Louvre and Versaille. Both sights are closed on Mondays, and my travel guide book suggested to visit the Louvre early because there would be less tourists. The travel guide book was correct. I think that I was the first time in Europe that I didn’t have to squeeze between people, or take a picture with a ton of people in the background. For example, I took several shots outside of the infamous entrance.
I also got to see the Mona Lisa and take a picture of it. I had read and been told that it’s hard to actually see it because of the crowd.
Anyways, I spent about a few hours there and grabbed lunch before I left for Versaille. The Louvre is amazing but after the Vatican City, I was a little tired of looking at art pieces. But more importantly, I simply did not have time to spend the whole day there.
Versaille
This picture captures Versaille in its essence.
Several parts of the building was closed, but I was pretty satisfied with what I saw. Every single room in the palace was unique and beautiful. Furthermore, the artifacts completed the look of each room making the entire palace amazing.
{The Hall of Mirrors}
{The Queen’s Bedchamber}
After visiting the interior, I tried to see/walk through the massive garden, but they were charging entrance fee because there was going to be a show later that day. There was no way I was going to pay 9 euro or so to just walk around the garden; it was not worth it. Instead, I headed to Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s house. Like prior situations, it took me forever to find those them. I had wanted to walk through the garden to see them, but because I couldn’t enter the garden, I had to walk around to find it. It was rather complicated.
Grand & Petit Trianon
The Trianon had a fashion display of outfits from well-known designers; this was one of my reasons for visiting it. But I discovered that there wasn’t much to it. It had a small collection – maybe 20 or so outfits, and we were not permitted to take pictures. =( However, I was able to take pictures of the rooms.
Marie Antoinette’s House/The Queen’s Hamlet
After Trianon, I walked East? (I really don’t know my directions.) Anyways, I walked for a bit to see Marie Antoinette’s House – technically a “village”, which she used as a playhouse. The “house” was surrounded by a garden, perfect for a picnic or just to relax.
After exploring the area, I headed back to the train stop. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to cut through the garden, but I decided to give it a try. It was a success. Most people were gone and there was no one monitoring the area to ensure that tourists have paid to enter the garden.
