The adventure continues!

Sunday morning, we met up with our lovely TAs by Saint Michel, who were kind enough to arrange this informal trip. Even though they were busy, they still took us there and made sure to help us ask all the questions we needed before going right back to Paris to work (seriously, shout out to Katie and Anneka for being the best)!

Meeting in front of the fountain reminds me of meeting at Ximen exit 6 in Taipei, definitely the student meet up spot, though much more quiet on a Sunday). Unfortunately, we learned the hard way that it is always a good idea to look up which stations are open/closed, as the nearest RER station was most definitely closed. A quick (ok, maybe not so quick) detour (walk to Odéon, métro to Javel) later, we were back on track on the RER C towards Versailles. But hey, at least this time we were actually going to Versailles on purpose

An all too familiar walk later, this time with less wind and rain, we were back at the château. Just as breathtaking, even despite the construction and mass of colorful umbrellas forming a snaking line through the courtyard.

The entire time, all of our fingers were crossed that the rather stormy skies would clear…and little pockets of hope shone through as we waited in line.

Although the line definitely took as long as it looked like it would take (unlike Louvre which surprisingly breezes by), we were able to take turns standing in line while groups of us went to go buy tickets for the garden (don’t remember how much they were, but it couldn’t have been more than 7€ for student tickets) as admission to the château itself was free with our student IDs. Perks of traveling in a large group!

Tip: check the website before you go, depending on the season and day of the week, prices vary (as in sometimes it is free!) and of course, always make sure to check for a student discount even when the histoire d’art fails (which is rare).

Before (too) long, we were finally past security and inside the golden gates!

From the inside…looking out (check out those little bits of blue sky peeping through the clouds!)

Unfortunately, even inside the gates, there were lines. But not to worry, this was only for the audio guide, and if you (like us) don’t care enough and would rather just do your own thing, you can walk right on through the doors and into the palace.

The walk starts off through a history of the palace, with rooms full of paintings, sculptures, models and videos explaining the different eras that passed through the château.

From the windows, I periodically caught peeks of the gardens beyond…and check out the sky to make sure it doesn’t start raining!

Then, it was up the stairs (hi Louis!)…

……and on to beautiful spaces like the chapel. (I almost cried)

It’s funny that after a few weeks in Europe, it almost feels like I’ve been desensitized by all of these beautiful and elaborate historical monuments. Walking into the extravagantly ornate rooms, I seem to anticipate the gilded ceilings and surplus of chandeliers. But whenever I remind myself of the context in history…of the fact that this isn’t just a museum, it was actually a palace filled with nobles of a different time living a different life and home to royals that leave their legacy in these inanimate objects, that’s when it hits me hard and the fact that I’m standing there, right where Marie Antoinette walked through centuries ago, is quite overwhelming.

And then this happens. (BRB HYPERVENTILATING)

The moment of truth. The moment I’ve been waiting for for as long as I can remember. I remember dreaming about the hall of mirrors during Art History in 10th grade…and finally, I stepped in to the breathtaking room (yes, it was still just as breathtaking despite the sea of people below!)

Under construction…feels like home #ucla.

It’s hard to imagine that these exhibition galleries were once just rooms in their own right. Imagine walking through these hallways every day…

The outside was calling our names!

While there are some dining options within the château, we decided to venture out into the gardens and out to the town to find a more affordable and less crowded option.

PS: As long as you keep your ticket, the guards at the gate will let you back in!

After walking around a bit, we decided to go to what seemed to be one of three places open on a Sunday, and the most crowded by far.

Perhaps we were missing home…or perhaps we were just hungry. But this restaurant américain definitely hit the spot. Not to mention the burgers were named after U.S. presidents.

We may or may not have ordered three Obama burgers…

After the very filling lunch and a quick ice cream break at a café next to the gate, it was back into the gardens, just in time for the fountains to come on.

In order to conserve resources, the fountains are only running from 11-12 and from 3:30 to 5:00 on the weekends. It is truly a magical Disney-like experience wandering through the gardens with the fountains on and classical music playing in the background. They also have special night shows on Saturdays that is on my list of things to do next time I’m in Paris!

Hmm..wait a minute. That casual arch standing in the middle of the garden doesn’t seem to belong in the 17th century oasis. Allow me to explain. Rather surprisingly, considering how highly the French value traditional culture and art, Versailles is hosting a modern art exhibition by Korean artist Lee Ufan. This year, the château and gardens host a series of installations, the most conspicuous being this sleek arch gracing the grand entrance to the gardens beyond. Who would have expected to see a world class contemporary art exhibition in Versailles? Then again, the juxtaposition of traditional baroque façades with modern works is also seen at the courtyard of Palais Royal back in Paris.

I must say that at first, I was kind of turned off by the sudden interruption of the Baroque era ambiance, but after learning more about the exhibition, I have come to respect the French way of incorporating the old and new, each so beautiful on their own, in a stark and startling way.

Unfortunately, the iconic Latone fountain was under construction, but the expanse of land as far as the eye can see still contributed to the extravagance of the experience.

Walking through the hedges, I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone ever got lost. Even with a map, the garden seemed rather maze-like.

We reached the end of the fountains part of the garden (the division seems rather arbitrary on the map, but from what I understand, beyond the fountains portion, it is no longer ticketed, so again, if you want to re-enter that area, be sure to keep your ticket!).

But this was hardly the end. The large pond allowed for boat rentals while the nearby cafés provided plenty of space to linger and enjoy a day out in the gardens.

Beyond this area, if you walk to the right side of the water (facing away from the château) and turn right on to the large path, you will eventually reach the Grand Trianon, also known as the formerly porcelain and now pink palace where Louis XIV and his mistress escaped and where many a royal woman called home. Entrance requires another ticket, but was free with our student IDs.

I suppose that compared to the château, this was a rather humble abode…but to me it seemed like a grand real-life dollhouse-mansion. Overall, the museum was a great experience, much more quiet than the main palace and very charming. I can see why royals liked to escape the bustle of the court in this fairytale getaway.

Of course the most famous royal to find an oasis is Marie Antoinette, who preferred the Petit Trianon and also build a little estate in the Hamlet.

So very picturesque.

We found a cat chilling on the grass on our way back towards the fountains.

Unfortunately, by the time we got back, the fountains had already been turned off. However, the one fountain that had water dances was still putting on a show.

As we wandered back towards the château, we found a little piece of home. Possibly the only palm trees I saw since boarding the plane at LAX. It seemed so out of place that the familiar silhouettes looked rightfully exotic.

This was at the entrance of the orchards, which were (if you are facing the château) on the right part of the gardens close to the château. I can’t explain why, but I think this was my favorite part of the gardens. Perhaps it was because of the serene emptiness at the time, or because it was unexpected, or because it smelled lovely in the light sunshower.

By this time, we had walked who know’s how many miles and were ready, though reluctant to say goodbye to Versailles. One (okay, maybe a few) final glance at the expansive gardens, and it was back through to the courtyard in the front and out to the RER station.

It was already past 6 pm, believe it or not.

We made it back to Paris within an hour, and decided on the train to go to Berthillon on Ile Saint-Louis. So we got off at Invalides and walked over to Concorde. Yes, sometimes the fastest way to transfer lignes is by simply getting up (above ground) and walking.

But this walk also led us to my favorite bridge–Pont Alexandre III. It is just such an obnoxiously ornate bridge. I just. can’t. even.

The pont connects Invalides with Grand Palais/Petit Palais.

Seriously, how is this thing real? Like if we were at Disney I would be more okay with it because the magic was made for tourists. But this bridge simply exists for the sake of existing. It’s not Vegas. It’s real. I just need to keep on telling myself that.

And of course from this perfect bridge, you get a great view of the Tour Eiffel.

And if the moment weren’t magical enough, here is a rainbow extending over the Seine and a bridge and groom strolling along the river.

When I was finally able to tear my eyes off Pont Alexandre III, I was met with Concorde. Boom.
But I couldn’t help stealing glances back…

Hands down, the most beautiful spot in Paris. Nestled between, well, everything, you get a great view of the Tour Eiffel and Pont Alexandre III, Concorde, Madeleine, Tuileries, Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe, and the Seine all the way into the (not so) distant Cité.

Also, the sun hit everything perfectly, lighting up the buildings against the cloudy sky. Well, actually, one half of the sky was blue with wispier clouds while the other half was a darker grey, heavy with clouds, but broken up by a bright rainbow. Check it out.

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Ok, I’m finally done gushing about how perfect this place is. My camera also decided it was time to call it a day. We rushed over to Ile Saint-Louis, only to find that Berthillon closes at a ridiculously early time (no surprise there). We ended up stopping by a small grocery mart and calling it a day, each going our own way back to our host families. I don’t think I ever got up as soon as I sat down. Well, except for to take this picture.

Now how’s that for a staycation? The weekend was a success. Even without traveling too far we were able to explore au-delà de, beyond, Paris.

Bonne nuit.