Sunday we went to Versailles.

I was really excited to see it but I didn’t know any of the history (bad on my part). People I was with tried to give me a little bit of background information while I was walking through. I had earphones, which helped.

It was very grand and baroque. But I couldn’t tell what was restored and what was original and we could only go through a very small part of the Chateau, the main castle. A lot of people who knew the history of Versailles and were really excited about seeing the castles were kind of dissapointed. They said the way they restored the castle made it more of a museum….. I am not really sure what they meant by that.

The Hall of Mirrors

The Chapel

It would have been fun to be able to wander around freely in the whole castle, but then you would get idiots like me who would be tempted to sit on the beds. they have those strict rules for a reason. I lightly joked about jumping on the king’s bed and got seriously shunned by one of the history buffs. I don’t think she knew I was kidding, or she just thought my joke was really stupid. in either case, I didn’t jump on the bed But I wanted to!

The chateau was King Louis XIII’s hunting lodge but his son Louie the XIV turned it into his home.

Louie the XIV

the grounds, the gardens were so big and beautiful! we tried to walk to Marie-Antoinette’s house. Every time we thought we were there we were only at a smaller mansion outside of her house.

By the time we got to the actual entrance of Marie’s house it was closed! I was a little disapointed but I know I will be back someday!

On our way to her house we walked through the fields where Marie would go to pretend she was poor! She would put on a “costume” and heard sheep around her house. I think that is hilarious! While she was living in outrageous extravagence the french common people were in extreme poverty. But she would PRETEND to be poor. No wonder the french be-headed here, she was NUTS!

But I think all of the royalty back then were crazy. There was one king who made a rule that he was the only one allowed to wear heels….. seriously.

We stayed on the grounds until a security gaurd told us we had to leave. But being only one of few to be at the gardens was amazing! i could really take in the sights without being distracted by heards of tourists.

All in all Versailles was great.

Today I am trying to get my hair cut and buy my ticket to amsterdam and then tonight we are going to a football (soccer) game! its france versus columbia. I don’t think its a huge game but it will be really interesting to attend.

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