When I arrived there, a ceremony was going on. I still don’t know what it was for. It could be related to WWII. I googled it just now but couldn’t find much. I stayed there until it ended and then walked to Versailles.
A ceremony held near Versailles. It could be a WWII memorial service because it was held in front of a monument that says 1939 – 1945.
The queue at the ticket office of Versailles was long but the waiting time was reasonable maybe because I went there early. (My ticket shows that it was 9 a.m.) A lot of people tried to sell the tourists guided tours in front of the entrance of Versailles boasting that they could skip the queue, etc. but that cost at least EUR6 more than a normal ticket so I decided to use the audio guide and walk around by myself. I wasn’t in a hurry anyway. It’s interesting that I am still the same. If you remember my last day in Turkey, I made the same decision. Something in us never change.
It’s a huge palace. I was planning to stay here for the whole day until it closed.
La Chapelle Royale. A photo of La Chapelle Royale was printed on the back of my ticket. That’s why I could remember the name of this place. There are so many rooms in this palace. How can one remember all the names?
Inside Versailles
The Meal at the House of Simon by Paolo Veronese. “Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘You see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason, I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” – Luke 7:36-50
The State Apartments of the King and Queen, Hall of Mirrors, King’s Chamber. This is one of the famous spots in Versailles. Everyone who comes in admires the grandeur of this place.
This is quite a nice painting, well positioned. 🙂
According to Night at the Museum, all these statues will move at night. I wonder if they will feel tired after posing for the whole day. But one thing is certain that they have been having this sun tan for decades. 😛
What are you looking at? What’s in the sky?
When I googled Versailles, I saw a number of photos that looked like this one.
Where are you throwing the bow to?
Leaving the garden for Trianon. My goodness! Versailles was so big that I lost my bearings several times. I tried to find Grand Trianon but I ended up in Petit Trianon. I tried to leave Petit Trianon but I ended up going round and round inside that ‘labyrinth’. But I wasn’t the only one who was lost. I met a few tourists on my way to Grand Trianon and they said they couldn’t figure out the directions too so they couldn’t offer me any help. I wonder how the kings and queens found their ways. No, they didn’t need to know the directions. They relied on their servants. Poor those servants. They needed to have a very good sense of directions. I am glad that I wasn’t born as a servant of that time.
Petit Trianon. 😛
Grand Trianon. Finally! I found Grand Trianon 15 minutes before it was closed so I dashed into the rooms and speedily took a few pictures. Here’s one of them.
Goodbye Versailles
I was so exhausted that I had to drag myself as I left Versailles. I checked my mobile phone and found that I missed a few calls from my Deutsch classmate. She had arrived in Paris. I quickly went back to my hostel and took my bag and headed to our lodging in Bastille. When I checked in, the receptionist said that I didn’t reserve a room. ‘What?! But my friend has already checked in.’ I called my friend immediately and then I realised that I went to the right place but … on the wrong date. Oh, no! That was so embarrassing. Anyway, she was waiting for me at Gare du Nord. So there I went and met up with her. We were so loud when we saw each other that the people at the Metro station were looking at us, smiling, and … most importantly, covering their ears. 😀 These two crazy girls!
18 June 2008
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