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Today I got to explore Château de Versailles, once the largest palace in the world. The grounds are vast and show the level of self indulgence and greed exhibited by Louis XIV. To think that he ordered the building of the Château because "the Louvre wasn't big enough"! It's easy to see why the general populace eventually revolted.
Like so much of centre Paris, Verseilles has been constructed in a symmetrical fashion. You could chop the building in half and have exactly the sae layout on either side. Externally, life-size statues adorn the rooftops, eaves, and gardens. Internally no space is bare, no piece of furniture less than exquisite. Gold framed paintings adorn the hallways, walls and ceilings with scenes of cherubs and Kings, statues of the Bourbon family are ever present.
Then there is the hall of mirrors, birthplace of the League of Nations, and the place where the Treaty of Versailles was drawn up at the end of World War One. Unfortunately there was restoration work going on so I was unable to get any good pictures. How rude.
After I had exhausted myself of taking in the spoils of the disposed French Monarchs I wandered the Gardens, which appeared endless. Of the gardens I found the small ornate 'coliseum' if I can call it that, and a fountain (at the centre of which is a statue of what I think is Poseidon rearing up inchariot, being pulled by both horse and nymph) the most interesting.
The actual suburb of Versailles itself is also a nice place to explore. Wide, clean streets lined with tall, elegant trees that waver in the slightest of breezes filling the air with the peaceful sounds of leaves brushing against one another. Behind these, all the houses are shops are tall and pale; giving the impression of Wealth.
Eventually it was back to Paris, and I was able to take in the last of the sights. I began by visiting the Eglise du Dome, resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte. Inside you have the sarcophagi on a podium in the centre, behind which is a huge alter and a life-size statue of Napoleon.You can view the sarcophagi from two levels, one above, one below. I have been told this is because by looking down, you are bowing down to Napoleon, and by looking up you are looking up in awe of him. Which Napoleon liked, not that he was excessively arrogant at all?It's a shame he lost the war.
I managed to get completely lost when heading toward the Arc de Triomphe, not sure how I managed that. But I kept walking in the general direction I thought right, and found it. This meant that I got to see a part of Paris I wouldn't normally have seen, which was nice.
Fortunately the Arc was as you'd expected, complete chaos, horns bleating every few minutes. I stood watching the Arc and traffic for about 15minutes, and saw two accidents. I love France, and the French people, but the Arc de Triomphe proves they can't drive!
From here I walked down Champ-Elysees (it is considered bad luck to walk up it, because Hilter marched the Nazi's up the street upon their taking of Paris during World War Two), but refrained from shopping. Instead I made a beeline for the last two buildings I wished to see in Paris, the Opéra Garnier and Eglise Ste-Marie Madeline.
I made sure I got a good picture of the Opera House so I can compare it to the one in Vienna when I finally get there. That, sadly was my last day in Paris for now.
After a wash and change of clothes back at base camp, it was out for a three course meal with the group and then on to a show at Nouvelle Eve (Similar show to those at the Moulin Rouge, I saw the famous windmill. It's not very impressive). The main show was quite good, it worked like this: The dancers would sing and dance their way through a scene, then go off, a support act would come on, then it was the next scene. The female dancers were topless part of the time, but I found the support acts more interesting.
One woman was suspended above the stage on a rope and did loads of balancing & acrobatic moves, which had the jaws of most of the audience hanging, then there was a man pretending to be a statue with two heads that had a very strange (but very good) act. It's hard to describe, so go along and see. Be warned, they get male members of the audience on stage to dance for a prize. It's funny unless they choose you, fortunately I escaped. But the guy next to me didn't!
I've really enjoyed my time in Paris, most of us agree that we could easily spend another week here. But alas; onward. Tomorrow we journey south.
Carl.
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