7.09.07

Today Matt and I left Michellle at home and headed off to Versaille. Avery easy train trip not as long as yesterday. The Palace and grounds are massive. It cover 800ha including grounds. It used to be 7,800ha a long time ago. We were going to hire a little golf cart to tour around in, but the ticket desk closed just as we got there. Typical French just shut up shop, no explanations!! Rather than walk around, way too tired for that we caught the petit train that stops at 4 different stops. It starts at the chateau, then lets you off at Marie-Antoinettes hamlet. This was ornately decorated in a very feminine style. At her hamlet there was also a dairy, fishery, barn, a farm a mill etc. Next stop was the Grande Trianon, this I think was their holiday house, not very far from home. A much more cosy residence than the palace. Last stop was the Grand canal. This took 11 years to construct and during Napoleons time housed 9 ships, gondolas and a vessel with 32 cannons aboard. All we saw were very hungry fish. We bought ham and cheese baguettes and sat on the edge of canal to eat them. Very picturesque setting. Back to the Chateau for a walk through the main bedrooms and the spectacular hall of mirrors. Early night tonight as a very early start tomorrow, off to Mont St-Michel…