9/6/2025 Since we want to leave fairly early we just have toast and tea/coffee for breakfast. I had done some research and found that taking an Uber all the way to Versailles wasn't a horrendous amount of money compared to public transportation. We'd have to take an Uber to get to the train station. Pay for the Uber and the train tickets. Once we arrive it's a 10-15 minute walk from the train station to the Chateau. Plus this would be easier on Richard. Uber from our apartment to Versailles. Cost 31.92€/$ We left around 8:30 am and got to Versailles at 9:10 am. My tickets for Versailles are for 9:30 am. Cost $74.69 I bought Passport tickets with timed entry. Included is the palace, Trianon estate, gardens, the park, and temporary exhibits.
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Statue Louis XIV at Versailles
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| We have a long walk from our Uber drop off to Versailles entrance |
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| Postcard |
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| Postcard |
Versailles. We walk slowly because it's not a smooth surface-quite uneven. There's a lot of people here. We get to the main entrance gate and enter. But wait! There's more walking we have to do to get to the entrance to the Palace! There are different lines to enter. We entered at A because we have timed entry admission tickets. There is a line for those with no ticket.
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| Line of people waiting to enter that don't already have admission ticket |
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Marble Courtyard
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| Hercules and Mars flank this clock overlooking the Marble Courtyard |
Versailles. Palace and the park/gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site. Center of power, art, and science in France during the 17th and 18th centuries. Per what I've read it's best to tour the Chateau first. Then the gardens. So that's what we are going to do. Photos ok but no flash. Inside we pass a lot of beautiful sculptures on our way to see the Royal Chapel. I get a brochure of Versailles.
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Horses of the Sun groomed by tritons
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Apollo Served by the Nymphs
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| Horses of the Sun drinking |
Royal Chapel. Chapel's first floor was reserved for the royal family and the ground floor for the court. The interior is decorated in white marble, gilding, and Baroque murals. Motifs beneath the frescoes glorify the deeds of Louis IX, flour de lis, Constantine, Charlemagne, and Louis XIV's monogram.
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| Wheelchair really helped |
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| Some views of the gardens from the palace windows |
Salons of Louis XIV. Consists of 7 rooms. Each dedicated to one of the known planets and their associated Roman deity.
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| King's bedchamber |
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In the Salon of Abundance
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| Veronese-Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee in the salon of Hercules |
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| Statue of Louis XIV in the costume of a Roman emperor-Salon of Venus |
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| Salon of Mars |
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| Rigaud-King Louis XIV in Salon of Apollo |
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| Stuccoed relief of Louis XIV riding to victory-Salon of War |
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| Salon of Peace |
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| Salon of Peace |
Hall of Mirrors. Great state occasions were held in this multi mirrored room stretching 233' along the west facade. There are 578 mirrors facing 17 windows reflecting light. Ceiling fresco shows the first 18 years of Louis XIV's reign in 30 scenes, 17 of which were military victories over the Dutch. Louis XIV alongside Classical figures. Looks out onto the gardens. The Treaty of Versailles was ratified here in 1919 ending WWI.
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View of the gardens from Hall of Mirrors window
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Queen's bedroom. Queen's apartments-residence for 3 queens of France: Maria Theresa wife of Louis XIV, Maria L. wife of Louis XV, and Marie Antoinette wife of Louis XVI.
We continue to visit other rooms.
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| Postcard |
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| Postcard |
Angelina's. Legendary for its hot chocolate. Central location is on Rue de Rivoli, Paris. Restaurant plus items for sale. Richard was not interested in a sit down drink/snack. I bought a gift box which included the iconic hot chocolate and a heart shaped decorative tin of chocolates filled with praline. Cost
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| Gift box of hot chocolate, chestnut cream, and crispy crepes covered with dark chocolate |
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| Tin of milk chocolate filled with praline |
Before exiting to visit the gardens we see this area.
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Gardens. Huge. Grand Canal. Fountains. Pick up brochure. I inquired about renting a golf cart to get around but the guy said not available so Richard decided to wait for me here while I enter and see the gardens. While I'm walking around I'm hoping to see the musical and water displays of the fountains. But nothing is happening. It's really hot. While wandering around admiring the hedges, tress, flowers I see people riding in what looks like golf carts! I decided to return to the entrance are. Back here I see a building with those golf carts. You can rent them! This would be so much easier for Richard and for me. I don't want him to miss this. I approached a staff person, explained that I need to get my husband to enter and show our Passport tickets. Richard finally sees me and came over. he was then allowed to enter right where I was with the guy I was talking to. We walked over to the rental place. These are electric golf style carts and rent by the hour. We're in line. We have to hand over Richard's driver's license as he will be driving the cart. Time is noted on the brochure we're given. The guy explains to Richard how to operate the cart. And in just a little bit of waiting time we are off in our cart. It has a canopy to protect us from the sun. This is so cool. There is a route you're supposed to take. If you don't stay on the route the cart will shut down until you back it up/whatever and get back on the route. We stop to admire several of the fountains and to watch the water shows. This was great! We returned to where we started. Time is noted. We're a bit over the 60 minutes so pay a bit more. Cost Well worth it if you're older and/or have mobility issues which hamper a lot of walking.
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The following are pictures of the gardens when I was walking around by myself.
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Walking to the Grand Canal
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These pictures are from when we are both driving around in the electric cart. We stop at some places to watch the fountain/water displays. It was really a great way to experience the gardens. Worth it and great for those who are older and/or have mobility issues. I was under the impression the shows were continuous but there are morning times and then afternoon times. We're in luck with the afternoon times.
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| Apollo |
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| Grand Canal |
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| Neptune |
There's more to see but I think we're ready to call it quits. It's been a hot, long day. It's around 3:45 pm. Uber back to our apartment. Cost 38.10€/$ Pass by the Eiffel Tower and other places.
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A Modo Mio. Reservation for 7:30 pm. Uber to the restaurant. Cost 13.80€/$ This place had good reviews for its thin crust pizza, some pasta dishes, and veal escalope. Started off with lemonade for Richard and a bellini for me. So far, so good. Basket of triangle shaped bread that was yummy. Richard got the oven cooked penne pasta with chicken. he said it was delicious and the food remained hot to the very last bite. I went with a fresh pasta dish-mezzaluna stuffed with ricotta and spinach. It was good but I had a taste of my husband's dish and to be honest his was better! Dessert. We both opted for the 1 scoop of gelato-strawberry for me and caramel for him. Nice way to end the meal. Service was wonderful. Nice atmosphere. Good choice for dinner. Cost 58.00€/$ Uber back to the apartment. Cost 23.07€/$
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Lots of pizza choices
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| Lemonade |
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Bellini
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| Fresh mezzaluna pasta stuffed with ricotta and spinach |
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| Oven baked penne pasta with chicken |
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Bread
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Caramel gelato
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| Strawberry gelato |
Back at the apartment Richard will go with me to Sacre Coeur tomorrow. I'm happy he's doing some sightseeing but I hope he's not over exerting himself. He's still taking his meds which appear to be helping with the infection but he's still coughing a lot.
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