Guess what - we just so happened to be in Paris during the city's marathon. About 60,000 runners hit the streets on Sunday morning so we were alerted by our Versailles travel group and told to avoid Ubers/taxis to get to our meet up spot. Eeks! No problem - we spoke with the front desk staff at our hotel and got directions for navigating the subway.
Guess what - we made it! With enough time to spare to grab some coffee and pastries. ;) Just look at these beauties - 10 out 10 reccomend.
We found our tour guide/travel group and took the train ride out of town.
We soon found ourselves at the gates of Versailles.
Over the top! Gold everywhere you looked!
This place was a former hunting grounds transformed into a palace!
This is the chapel where Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI.
The Palace has over 2000 rooms and we just saw a handful - full of royal art.
Look at these ornate ceilings!
The equestrian portrait of King Louis XIV - the King here is an army leader dominating the battle scene.
Queen Marie Leszczinska with a cute little pup!
The red room was the King's bed chamber. This guy literally thought that the world revolved around him - he would have a dressing ceremony each day and even take meetings with people while he was using the bathroom. Yikes.
In 1789, angry crowds from Paris and the revolution forced the King and Queen out of the Palace.
This was one of Marie Antoinette's private chambers.
Each room was somehow more ornate than the last!
At last we ventured into the Hall of Mirrors!
Hundreds of years ago, Venice held a strict monopoly on Mirrors.
Getting lots of mirrors into France was seen as a major triumph! The endless reflections of the King was supposed to intimidate foreign powers.
Of course this is where the famous Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending WWI.
We wrapped up the inside tour ...
...and pivoted to the vast grounds of French gardens and fountains.
There are hundreds of statues and more than 50 fountains on this property.
The Sun King was very involved with these gardens hundreds of years ago.
What an estate! The coolest sculpture museum space in the world!
They had fountains galore!
Look at me laughing - Dan is probably telling me that this is only slightly better than the Bellagio! ;)
You know that Daniel adores a dog and stag statue.
After our walks through the French gardens we set out for some lunch - egg + sausage and ham crepes for the win! Delish.
And ... a dessert nutella crepe for the finale!! Savory and sweet crepes are so good.
Meanwhile - back in Eau Claire the Storm kiddos and grandparents went to the movies! Fun!
We said goodbye to Versailles and headed back to the city.
We made it back to Paris with enough time to see the Military Museum.
Wow - what a site!
Just a humble lil burial place …
for one Napoleon Bonaparte!
Also lots of exhibits on the French Resistance during WWII and many knights in shining armor.
You know our boys would have been so excited to see these shields and swords!
The had suits of all sizes, including little kiddos!
We said good bye to all of the military treasures ...
... and walked by a few Lion door knockers on our way to dinner.
Dan and I decided that tonight was the night! We needed to sample escargot during our visit to France.
Bon Appetit!
Buckle up - we both tried! The verdict? These lil snails were garlicky and delicious! Yum!
This was one of my favorite meals of the entire trip - Beef Bourguignon! It melted in my mouth.
WoW! Cheers to another good day!
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