Woke up to sun and was excited for a day at Versailles. Navigated my way though the metro and was quickly on the RER train to Versailles. Public transpiration here blows my mind. How can they do it so well and the us so poorly. I have never heard anyone say o you need a taxi to get there they always just say which train to take.
I worked on day 5’s blog on the train ride and watched as the train whisked us away from the Paris city center. Surprisingly, the entire train got off at Versailles.
Made the walk to the palace and was in awe as the gold gates came into view. The bright sun made all the gold glisten. Spectacular.
The palace loomed ahead as an equally intimidating ticket line double and triple backed on itself. However, with the museum pass i could head right to the security checkpoint. While annoying these almost pointless checkpoints are angels compared to TSA shoes and belts can stay as you pass through.
The crowd inside the palace was large and I hit the bathroom before getting trapped in the sea of tourists. I’m learning my lesson. Again I did not have to wait in line, not the museum pass this time but my gender.
There was a huge line at the information desk for maps where I watched her circle things and talk with each person. I went for the kill. Went to the side of the counter and pointed at a map, she glared and reluctantly handed me one after glaring at me and pointing at the line. Why they don’t just have them on a stand is beyond me. And I was off on my Rick steves audio tour. Free downloads by the way on iTunes.
I flew though the palace as it was packed, beautiful outside and I was still on museum overload. I did learn some interesting history from rick and got to stand in the rooms where it took place.
Then it was time for the gardens, they truly do look like they go on forever! I can’t even try and describe them. It was a Tuesday so they had the fountains turned on. While it was amazing even without the water on, seeing the gardens and fountains with the water running was spectacular. Before the water turned on at 230, I strolled through part of the gardens and then took a nap while listening to classical music by the grand canel. Life is rough.
Then fountain time. I hope to have some videos on YouTube soon. I will not even try and describe them, just book a plane ticket.While i have loved following Rick he is wrong here, he says no tuesdays because of crowds. The fountains are worth the crowds, sure the ticket line is long, but you have the museum pass anyway…Needless to say I can see why the French revolted. The whole complex is insane. They even built a second Palace to get away from the busyness of the first…..
they rent bikes and I believe my mom told me it was a good idea. She is very smart so i bet she did. What a great way to see the grounds. Forget the 80/20 rule this was the 98/2 rule. 98% of the people where on the smallest part of the grounds leaving HUGE open amazing deserted for me and the other 1.99%. Very easy to cruise around on a bike. Found some food and had a picnic. I would check next time to see what you are allowed to bring in, would have been better and cheaper.
walked around the main gardens some more and then headed for the exit. RER train sat for what seemed like forever and then we were off. I got off by the Eiffel tower so i could stroll thru the park. Great choice, very nice view of the tower and good people watching. I started planning my evening, sacrte-core, arc, norte dame. I settled on seeing the arc at night. I would go to the train station, back to the hostel to drop off stuff and change and then go walk and eat.
Headed to the train station to get my ticket to Interlaken….And this is where the honeymoon ends.
Waited in line and talked to the agent.
Me: “Internlaken please”
Her: “o Switzerland, very popular right now” “sorry no seats”
me trying not to panic “first class”
her “no”
me “the next day”
her : ” well maybe, but the railway is going on strike”
WHAT STRIKE, NOW I AM PANICKING. I NEED TO GET OUT OF FRANCE.
I quickly leave the station and hunt for an Internet cafe to try and find a plane, train, boat, kite, ferry anything that will get me to the alps. No luck, I knew there was one by the hostel so i headed there.
I found a flight and was close to booking but thought i would think about it and call my mom to see if she had any ideas. Talked to the guy at the hostel and said check the french rail site. Sure enough train to bern for 82 euro. Went back to cafe to book it, very hard to book travel without google translate on a french site, while getting harassed by a Spanish woman trying to have me translate an English flight booking page. Got it done thou. My goal is to cancel the ticket in the morning and use my eurail since i already paid 332 euro for that.The process was even worse than this, but i dont want to relive it or make you read it.
Ate a a super late dinner at 11 and the arc was long out of the question. I was even too late to make dinner at the restaurant i wanted to try near my hostel. O well the cafe I chose was great. Avocado shrimp appetiser and lamb leg for dinner with some wine. only like 20 euro. Put a better taste of France in my mouth. Bed time.
Fighting with France,
Paul
1 response so far ↓
1 Cindy Frazier // Jun 24, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Can’t wait to go back on a Tuesday and see the fountains! Glad you got in a bike ride….fun!
Xoxo,
Mom
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