Nice Monday 8th Sept

 Paris: Tuesday 4th June

I see that I put May on my last post, Lucky I know what day it is really. Tuesday I had a trip organised to Versailles in the afternoon, leaving from the Rive Gauche, so walked to that side of the Seine in the morning to visit Jardins du Luxembourg, crossed a different bridge this time the Pont Neuf. Can still see Mr Eiffel from there!

The Jardins are quite lovely, very green from all the rain, the gardeners were out in full force planting up the beds in quite traditional flowers, petunias etc, so a lot of the beds were empty, was enjoyable watching them setting them out, looking at plans etc, throwing the plants into position.

This park is well known for the sailing boats on the lake/large pond, otherwise lots of sculptures and places to sit in the shade or wherever you want to place the chairs that are plentiful.

Interesting view for this one - you can see the garden bed in the background still only just planted, everything is being timed for the Olympics.

Loved all the green in this photo, with the bronze and the grass, made me turn my eyes upward - amazing!

Then walked across to the meeting point by the Eiffel Tower (again) for the bus journey to Versailles, was good to drive further down the Seine to see some more modern buildings along the way, Then we got to Versailles with thousands of other people, were escorted to the entrance and then given a time to be back at the parking for the bus, we had downloaded a visitors guide, but gave up on that quite quickly.

The buildings are huge, got my steps up walking around some of them, saw some bedrooms, I think this is one os the sisters. 

Then through Louis’ rooms, this was a trial, shuffling along with hundreds of others, not a pleasant experience. I liked how each of the rooms has been decorated in different colours with wallpaper and matching curtains, you can see some of them through the doors, and one of the rooms.

Made it to the Hall of mirrors along with everyone else, by now I just wanted to get outside to the gardens 

Proves I’ve been there, much easier to photograph the ceiling and chandeliers!

So out to the gardens, where I immediately regretted that I didn’t have more time when you realise the extent of them. An American lady I was talking to told me it was something like 6 kilometres to walk around the grand canal, so that was out of the question, I had already done more than my share of steps by then anyway but enjoyed the view over the orangery

then back along the length of the palace - see what I mean - huge 

Looking along the Grand Canal, some fountains were going but a lot weren’t which was a bit of a shame, the effect is not quite the same, but still pretty amazing view.

 

And even at Versailles that’s are renovating the garden ! The gardens were really the highlight, but not much fun being inside with all those other people,,, bloody tourists!

Looking back once outside and waiting for pick up time - a bit of bling 

Once back in Paris, it was an hours walk back to the hotel, but interesting walking along the Seine watching people going to parties along the riverside - it was only Tuesday!!