Europe 2010

Day 26		Thursday 15th July

Today we drove from Nevers to our hotel at Versailles – Mercure Hotel Parly 2. This is about 2 miles from the Chateau at Versailles. We arrived at Versailles and then got lost around the many small roads between Versailles and Le Chesnay where the hotel is. We eventually found the signs to it and managed to find the hotel. The journey was relatively straightforward, using mostly non Autoroutes to keep the toll costs down and also to see more of the countryside and villages along the way. We arrived here at about 2.00pm and have since unpacked, rested and looked around a large shopping centre (Parly 2) over the road from the hotel.

Miles travelled today – 164				Total tour miles – 2855

Day 27		Friday 16th July

We went by bus from the hotel to Versailles Palace, only a few miles away. There was a queue for tickets but we only had to wait for about 15 minutes. We went around the Palace first, with audio guide and 3 hours later we emerged amazed at the splendour. The Hall of Mirrors in particular was really amazing. With the crowds, guided tours, etc we did not finish in the Palace until about 1.00pm. We then went for lunch in the Grand Café in one of the Palace buildings, glad to sit down for a while. Afterwards, we went into the garden. After a quick look at the Parterres immediately by the Palace, we walked down to the Grand Canal. There are lots of groves alongside the Grand Canal with fountains, temple buildings, and tall hedgerows. These groves were very private because of the huge hedges and had features such as fountains and colonnades inside them. At the Grand Canal, we could see people in boats hired from one side of the lake. Meanwhile we walked up to the Grand Trianon, which was where the kings could be more relaxed and private. This building was very beautiful with its marble and light and airy rooms and furniture. This was followed by a walk to the Petit Trianon, a building most associated with Marie-Antoinette. Again this was very pretty and so we progressed to the Hameau or hamlet that she created. This was pretty and very much a wishful idea of what a farm was like. It had flowers everywhere but the house was in great need of restoration. After a drink, we walked back to the main house by a different route, seeing more of the park and gardens on the way. So it was that at 6 o’clock 2 tired people left Versailles by bus to return to the hotel. After a rest and wash, we ate in the local shopping centre but were not over impressed by French food.

Miles travelled today  – 0					Total trip miles – 2855