Friday 2nd January
Today we set a new record - on the street by 8am, which in this part of the world is before dawn. We march bravely off to Gare St Michel just as it starts to snow and yes, it is very cold. A mixture of thoughts - are we complete lunatics? Wow isn't this snow wonderful? Wow, isn't this snow crap! But comments are generally kept to ourselves except for Rose who is reveling in the conditions.
We find the right train line and board the train to Versailles. Yet again our theory of getting out early to beat the crowds seems flawed - we arrive at Versailles and there is the queue - not too bad though and it moves pretty quickly. We buy tickets to access the main palace, Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and a tour.
On entering the palace, the crowds are bad - a number of self guided tour groups trying to make their way through in groups of 20 or 30, moving through is difficult at best. However, we glance at the rooms, push our way past the bulk of the tour groups and the crowds lighten up a little for us to enjoy a few of the rooms and the Hall of Mirrors. We wander off to the garden and enjoy a walk about before a coffee and then join our guided tour. The tour is very interesting and takes us to parts of the palace where there is no public. A very pleasant sojourn.
We emerge into sunshine and blue skies - perfect for a walk down the grand canal and over to the Grand Trianon. Not many people have bought the full 'passport' to the palace so the crowds at the Trianon are negligable - wonderful - and a beautiful place it is too. On to the Petit Trianon and the crowds are also substantially reduced so we are able to enjoy this little cottage (comparatively speaking of course) where Marie Antoinette spent so much time.
The walk back to the palace and off to the train station is still bitterly cold despite the sun, but we safely arrive and catch the train back home. After a brief rest, we venture out once again and cross over to the beautiful little Isle St Louis where we find a wonderful little restaurant for a lovely meal.
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