Thanks to the ship's 7am announcement that "the restaurant is open", we are up. Unfortunately, we still have several hours to go before we make land fall. We wasted away the hours being entertained by the throng of young backpackers practising their busking skills. Guitars, violin, drums. singing of course, accompanied by assorted jugglers, all on a makeshift stage, the top deck of the ship. They made no secret of the need for compensation for their efforts. Some efforts were clearly better than others...
The announcement to return to our cars is broadcast. The 18 hour crossing of the Atlantic turned out to be very easy and comfortable. Exiting the ship, I am talking to myself...remember.....drive on the right....drive on the right, after all we are in an English car, right hand drive! It just wouldn't be good to introduce ourselves to a french person by running into them.
Our goal for the day is to make it to Versailles, which is just under 4 hours from our current location. On the way, we stop in Bayeux, in the Calvados department of Normandy. Bayeux has a long and important history, most notably as the first French town to be liberated during D-day in WWII. A short distance from the village are the beaches, Juno, Utah, Omaha, Gold and Sword, where on June 6th, 1944 the allied forces launched their attack, ultimately ending the war. Every year on June 6th, there is a celebration here in Bayeux honouring those who lost their lives. The area is also the home to the largest British cemetery from the second world war. More than 4400 soldiers are buried there, most are British.
Tomorrow, we have booked a very special way to visit Versailles (since it was our second time there, we wanted a different experience). Luck had it that Johanne found a great cycling company called "Blue Bike Tours". Based in Paris, this innovative company's tour starts with a visit to the local market to pick up lunch, followed by a cycle throughout all the chateau's gardens. Our picnic lunch divides the day perfectly as the afternoon is spent touring all the buildings on the palace grounds!
We had never seen so much of Versailles before and our tour guide was outstanding, full of amusing anecdotes about the Royal's life. Plus, the bikes are really colourful as you can see (no one can miss us!)
I won't say more come and see for yourself.
Fast Facts From Johanne:
The site started as a hunting lodge by Louis 13 (famous Louis 14's(the Sun King) father). It was 30 km from Paris (a long way in those days of horse and carriage). The idea was to be far from the scrutiny of the populace. Louis 14 moved all the blu blood family and their entourage (including all the nobles in Paris to keep an eye on them.....) He amused them with lavish parties and entertainment. He is well known as the patron of the arts sponsering plays by Moliere as an exemple. The grounds of Versailles is larger than Paris, larger then the island of Manhattan! It cost 2 billion (in today's dollars) to build. The stables had 2,000 horses. The hall of mirrors (most famous room) had 17 solid silver chandeliers with 1,000 candles each! It took 50years to complete the construction.
Louis 14 died at 72, very old when you consider that life expectancy was age 40 at the time. His son Louis 15 took over in 1715 and continued the legacy (although his wife hated the decadence). The next one, Louis 16 thought the lifestyle was decadent and demolished the "stairway of indiscretion" leading to the king's bedroom.. His queen Marie-Antoinette was very young, frivolous, spending huge sums lot of money. Rumor has it that she wasn't getting pregnant because Louis "didn't know how to do it!" He was 13 when they got married....After they had counselling, they produced 4 children. The court etiquette was very rigid. Marie Antoinette's bedroom was the biggest because 200 courtiers were invited to witness the birth of the children. Common people were also allowed to pay to see the king waking up, stroll through the salons and watch the royals and nobles gossip, dance, plot, and flirt.
Marie-Antoinette had her own little village built. Think of a life size doll house, several of them. where she could pretend to be a milkmaid. There, she could walk the sheep with silk ribbons as leashes.... Some of her doll houses below.
The gardens we biked through had 1,400 fountains, a mile long Grand Canal complete with gondola rides.
We visited, Le Grand Trianon, where Nixon slept on his visit, in Madame de Pompadour's room (Louis 15's favorite mistress) and Le Petit Trianon used by Marie-Antoinette to escape the royal life.
The whole dream life ended in 1789 when thousands of women (and men disguised as women), marched onto Versailles. They figured no one would shoot women and they were right. The Royal's fate was a long imprisonment followed by a very public experience with the guillotine.
Contrary to popular belief Marie-Antoinette did not say "Let them eat cake".
Our visit complete, we're heading to Paris for a 2 day exploration of the city....not much time for exciting Paris..but we'll manage. Put on your best walking shoes and join us on this tour!
Sante
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