Versailles

We spent the day at Versailles on Thursday. The sun even came with us! The
autumn leaves were almost glowing in the sunshine. We started at the main
Chateau and saw the Murimaki exhibition in the Kings rooms and the Hall of
Mirrors.

The contrasting colours and styles were amazing. It was a little hard for my brain
to take in, I think because of the combination of  such different forms of art (that
is about the extent of my art knowledge right there) but it seemed to work really
well.

For lunch, we took the little green train down the the Petit Trianon, a gift to
Queen Marie Antionette from her king Louis, for her to use as a retreat from her
life at the court. You could only attend the Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet
if she specifically invited you or gave you permission.

After lunch we walked to the Queen's Hamlet, a little village she had built for

herself so that she could experience true country life. Not all of the buildings are

still standing, but the ones that are give the impression of a Disney-like fantasy

land, that seem almost authentic but strangely false at the same time.

I could have spent hours there frolicking around her farm, where she famously

drank milk from Paris porcelain made by her cows on her farm.

The Tower

The Queens House

It was a day well spent. I can't wait to go back in Winter in the hope that it

snows, and spend the day exploring the castles more and maybe even hiring

bikes to ride around on! (I saw a few couples on tandem bikes - my dream!)