Versailles .... a very special Palace to remember

Sometimes it's good to break out on your own and see where your feet, or in this case train, might take you. During our Viking "Cities of Lights" cruise, we decided to create our own excursion and visit Versailles! We'd been to Paris the previous year and had intended on visiting Versailles when I became ill. We safely tucked away our train tickets and decided we would use them next year on our cruise.

The gardens were immense and just beginning to bloom. We were a little early in the season so there wasn't a lot of color yet, but the fountains were really a big highlight for me.

An interesting story about our visit....we arrived on a Sunday morning and the crowds were immense! We decided to tour the gardens and have lunch before we joined the entrance lines to the palace. Bad move on our part. The lines increased dramatically and there was a three hour wait time! By this time, and over 15,000 steps later according to my Fitbit, we decided to check out the bookstore and pick up a book to see what we missed. It was the logical choice for us. 

At the checkout counter, Justin casually asked if there was a back door to the palace entrance. I told the two French young men that I had tickets and this was our last day in Paris. They took pity on us, I think, and one quickly motioned us to follow him. Justin and I looked at each other in surprise as we followed him through a side door and arrived shortly at the security screening station! He spoke with the security guard at the metal detector and then he returned to us and told us to go to the front of the line. We looked at him as he reassured us that it was okay and we merged into the line. I offered him 10 Euros for his help, but he declined and quickly departed back to the gift store with a nod and a please enjoy.

We have always enjoyed our visits to France and have found the French to be charming, gracious, and welcoming.  

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