Chateau de Versailles

We got an early start to join the masses at the Chateau de Versailles for the day... But our arrival in Versailles was a step up from the regular visit because we were met at the train station by Catherine, a long-time friend of Holly's family. Catherine and her husband Michel live right by the train station, and following our visit at the palace we were heading to Normandy with them for a few days. After Catherine and Michel treated us to tea and pastries, we headed to the gilded castle. We wandered through the gardens, complete with musical fountains, took a quick peak of the Petit and Grand Trianon estates, picnicked on the grounds, then got our chance to visit the main palace. Going from the appartments of the dauphin and dauphines to the State Appartments and the Hall of Mirrors provided a glimpse into the history of the French monarchy and the artists that created the beautiful decor. Compared to the solitude of mountain roads, it was quite the contrast, with the crowds at some points along the visit feeling quite overwhelming. We caught our breath over a mid-afternoon snack, then headed back to Catherine and Michel's to load up the car for the 2-hour drive to Saint-Valery-en-Caux.Read more