Versailles, you sigh, we all sigh.

A lovely fact about many popular museums in France (including the Louvre), is that European residents and sometimes nonresidents under 26 can enter free, or at least a discounted rate. I felt as spoiled as a little girl with her first tricycle entering the Palace of Versailles and its gardens, as well as the nearby Petit Trianon, a part of Marie Antoinette's estate.

upper part of the cathedral

We were guided (or more or less, pushed) by tens of other tourists, who were flashing away with their cameras, regardless of all the signs warning against bright lights damaging the portraiture and sculptures. Thrones, jewelry, plates, so many statues of royalty through the ages, portraits bigger than apartment buildings, intricately detailed paneling, marble, ivory, splendor.  The Palace was a terrific eyesore. We imagined enduring such richness, running down the hall of mirrors every day for dinner, sitting in the cathedral for service, and I have to say I wasn't enthused. Thus, I completely felt for MA and her Petit Trianon, to which she would retreat away from royal life, away from Louis XVI and all the public expectations.

A bullfrog's view of the Trianon

The Petit Trianon was the perfect size of wealth and beauty. The gardens were exquisite and contained a Temple of Love. One room in particular reminded me of Jane Austen life. I could absolutely see the ladies sitting on the puffy chairs, doing their embroidery, chatting about nonsense, sipping on their tea. 

               
The servants quarters were a treat as usually you only get to see the most splendiferous rooms. I imagined a prior life of walking down the cold stone hallways with a platter of food for her highness, whispering in the kitchen about scandalous rumors, and sleeping on a small cot in a simple room.

The Réchouffoir, or the Jane Austen room

A partial view of the gardens from the Palace

Afterwards we walked down to the Grand Canal, a colossal cross shaped riverbank where lovers could rent little boats or languish on the grass, eating sandwiches. We shared a panino and bolognaise flavoured chips. Delicieux.

Versailles was definitely the most breathtaking corner of Paris. If I could go back to the conversation with the lovely Sedonian woman from the bus stop, I would have changed my position to, forget the Champs Élysées, soak in Versailles.