Day 30 of 30: Castle Dreams and Catfish Tales

 I hate to admit it but I’ve been eying this tourist mecca with mad intentions. Versailles was promised to be a show stopper and a place one dare not leave out of the itinerary.  With my departure soon approaching, I feared it was not possible. In come my favorite Frenchie to save the day. It was an unforgiving 90 minute trek there from metro to metro to suburban train. Sweaty, hot, dirty, smelly mess of a voyage. Had it not been so damn beautiful, I would have cursed the very thought of it. 

Massive crowds swarmed upon the castle right from out the train gates. I imagined something grand but what I encountered was much more grandiose than I’d dreamed. Vast gardens, ponds, fountains, farms. Had the castle not been there it would have still been well worth the trip. The day was sunny and warm with an occasional breeze to lift your sweaty spirits. We planned ahead on the advice of my awesome gal pal Camilla, and packed a picnic lunch to enjoy in the gardens. We planted ourselves carefully along the lake with a view of the paddle boats and other picnic loungers. 

In we plop our toes to graze the water and up come gigantic catfish hoping to feast. Mouths wide open , some upwards of 2 feet in length. We personify them and imagine the tales they could tell could they do more them slap around those monstrous jaws. 300 plus years of history to tell, a revolution and the end of true monarchy. 

Handy map in tow we venture from garden to garden, along hedged paths and impressive water fixtures. We visited a farm area that Marie Antoinette commissioned. Entirely different from the embellished and ornate building and such found all of over the rest of the grounds. Quite obviously intended as an escape. How beautifully executed with its humble building and colorful flowers, vegetable beds and vineyards. Farm animals all about. 

When we were good and tired of the sun, we head to the Chateau. In we go to find cramped room after cramped room of massive tourist crowds. It was so packed that you couldn’t even stand long enough to truly appreciate the experience. And this being that we waited until all the lines died down. Had we come a couple hours earlier I would have walked right out in fear of a crowd bursting panic attack. There are times when if there are more than 5 people in a grocery aisle, I throw up my hands in defeat and go hungry, so you can only imagine. All of them hardly moving, with their cameras high in the air capturing, every step along the way. We stay hugged up to the wall and cruise through with speed and determination. 

 

From there back home to feast at a local café. My favorite of the area, always a smile and always cold water. Ahhh…success! Back to the casita to watch Sofia Copolla’s Marie Antoinette. Filmed entirely at Versailles, it was a perfect way to enjoy this awesome flick and a perfect ending to this excellent day. Special thanks to the Frenchie that made it all possible and who executed the impromptu itinerary with stealth and class.