I went right as the castle ground were opening...talking to others they said you need a full day to really just see the gardens...well I'm making it a full day to see everything. One of the most breathtaking parts of the journey was walking up to the castle down Avenue de Paris and seeing the sun glistening against the golden gates...I was actually going to see Versailles.
I walk around the front gardens before purchasing my ticket and entering the castle, but even the first gardens are magnificient. Orange trees line the superbly manicured lawns with flowers blossoming arays of different colours. Of course I had to pick and try to eat one of the Versailles oranges...its just something I had to do.
After spending an hour in and amongst the gardens, I noticed how many people had already swarmed the ticket booth...whew thank goodness I already purchased my ticket...so I waltzed into the castle...looked and laughed at numerous paintings on the first floor, entered the second floor...and then...there it was...the hall of mirrors...Some of the complete majesty is lost with the hords of people, but still...the room takes your breath away. One mirror for every window...I believe thirteen to be exact. The light just makes everything in the room glisten.
The piece of art was that of a balloon animal, shaped as a dog...anyway I digress. The next stop for me was the Grand Trianon...I was again able to beat the crowds as there were only a handful of people gazing at this next magnificient building. After snapping some pictures I ventured inside...only to learn that there have been many dignitaries before me who have stood in the exact same place. Magaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Pierre Trudeau and others to just name a few. I was blown away at how many special events this place has hosted. After walking around the grounds a little, I ploped myself down for some lunch. Again I couldn't believe that I was viewing, let alone eating at the mindblowing castle of Versailles.
Boy this day was full of walking...I really don't know how many kilometers I walked, but if you ever look at an arial view of the castle...I walked every part...except for the forests in the back used for hunting. Ya afterwards my whole body ached...totally worth it though. I also got lucky with the next area of my excursion...the Petit Trianon...before this week no one except staff had ventured inside the Petit Trianon...it was just newly opened and I was fortunate enough to take a gander...really it was just another area for Marie Antoinette to sleep and keep her vast array of clothing...but non the less, it was still jaw dropping...mainly the staircase.
Time to take a look at the map...and set my gears into garden mode...since I was close I took off for Marie Antoinettes little garden play area. There I was able to see enormous fish, plush rasberries(which of course I tried), beautiful smelling flowers and fields of grapes for wine...which I snuck in and tried aswell...even though the first grape was the sourest thing I've ever tasted...the others weren't too bad, but I was very sceptical. I was at the far end of the grounds and its still mind-blowing to think of all the places built onto this land
Time to walk around the gardens...now this may sound like an easy feat, however the gardens aren't the local ones that are put together by your little ol neighbors. No this ones have to be fit for a king...therefore they are huge mazes full of flowers, fountains, rock formations and anything else a king could want. I decided to set my mode on wander and try not getting lost...well it turns out I like to explore areas that the average person doesn't get too see. Soooo I push through a rickety old wooden fence and begin to explore the back areas of the grounds that aren't shown on the map. A few statues and old foundations, but not a whole lot. On the other hand, I did find out first hand how well the grounds were protected from intruders...ya had to go back the way I came...good 45 minutes later.
One thing that I missed from Versailles was that none of the fountains were turned on...yes they're still beautiful, but for some reason water spraying out of a dragon's mouth just appeals to me...go figure right. My favorite of the fountains going in was the Neptune fountain, however that changed when I saw this crazy one with a golden greek god pushing himself out of rocks...have a look for yourself.
I was agast at how much time the gardeners must put into each and every garden since there's atleast 30 different areas worthy of huge flower arrangements, grass manicuration or special rock placements...I just wonder how they would have cut the grass hundreds of years ago without the machines like they have now...boy I bet that guy hated his job.
Another area of my excursion led me to an area that only allows people inside on very special occaisions...I think it's once every year or something...well this explorer isn't going to be outdone by some metal gates...I want to see what's inside...so I venture around the back, find a forrested opening...ohhh and what have we here...just big enough for me to squeeze through...hmmm guess it pays off eating only bread and crackers. It's turns out to be this huge outdoor ampa-theatre, where the seats are all grass and the rocks form the area where people would sing or perform.
I snuck in an snuck out snapping only one pictures just so I didn't disturb anything...or get caught.
Walking around the grounds sure tire's one's self out...so I found a plush grassy area by the huge resevoir of water at the back of the castle and I lied down...then fell asleep. Just enough time to recouperate myself and finish off the gardens and see the last fountain...the Neptune fountain. Turns out they were doing construction on it so I couldn't get a good picture...buuuut I guess that's what postcards are for. Guards are starting to shoo people off the grounds anyways, the suns going down and I grab just one more photo...still thinking to myself what a glorious day.
As I'm strolling back to the train station humming a nice tune to myself, I gaze upon a strange doorway...It's all full of boxes. I stop for a second and ponder if this is a mistake or if it's real...well I've been exploring all day lets go see. Turns out it's man made and is one of the weirdest things I've ever seen...very unique for a picture. After putting my camera away and look towards the road I see a swarm of tourists just gathering around the street wondering if they too could get a good picture...I strut on by and give them my permission to take a picture...well looks like I won't be the only one now with this...
Boy oh boy...Versailles was every little bit of what I imagined...next is Vimy Ridge and I don't really know what to expect...until next time.
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