Au Revoir, Paris. Bonjour, Normandy!

For our last day in Paris, we had saved one of the most visited sites in France--the palace of Versailles.  After researching various methods of visiting Versailles, we determined that the most appealing was the one that involved wheels and wine.  So, once more we met up with a Fat Tire bike tour, rode to the train station and headed west.

Our first stop, once we arrived in the town of Versailles, was at the market, where we loaded up on Camembert, melon, duck rillete, a bottle of red, and enough bread to ensure that we would not starve for many days.  We then packed our supplies and biked to the palace park entrance, cruising past Marie Antoinette's hamlet, the Grand and Petit Trianon, and finally settling in a shady spot by the Grand Canal with the impressive palace as our backdrop.  We proceeded to spend the next hour or so lounging in the soft cool grass, enjoying a leisurely picnic with our fellow tour members.  It was one of the highlights of the trip, and we were all left giggling at the idea of a tour in the United States actually encouraging drinking then bicycling.

Just before we all slipped into a post-lunch slumber, our tour guide rallied us back to our mounts, and we continued along the path around the canal, up to the palace.  At that point, we were issued our tickets and set loose in the interior.  It was... underwhelming.  I remember years ago, going to a touring exhibition that included a mock up of the Hall of Mirrors, and since that day dreaming of visiting it someday for myself.  Unfortunately, far too many people are allowed to enter the palace at one time, and instead of feeling the splendor and grandeur of the rooms, you are far too aware of all the sweating, elbowing tourists pressing in around you.  Fortunately, the Hall of Mirrors was a big enough room that we were able to catch our breath and appreciate the magnificence, but the rest of the experience was sorely lacking.  We agreed we would have been much happier lounging on the lawn for another hour instead.

To celebrate our last night in beautiful Paris, we made one last pass by our old friend Le Tour Eiffel, and then had the pleasure of meeting up with a lifelong friend of Colby's who just happened to be staying in a hotel in the same area as we were.  It was just one of those funny coincidences, only discovered through the power of Facebook status updates.  After talking over a bottle of wine, we went our separate ways and Colby and I metroed over to Montmarte, a little too late to catch the sunset, but in perfect time to gain a beautiful view of Paris at dusk.  Unfortunately, that's when a devil of a migraine hit me--and not just one of those bad headaches that people call migraines, but the full nausea, sensitivity to light. eye searing joy of the real deal.  I really wanted to find the Moulin Rouge, but when after dinner I was literally whimpering while walking down the street and trying not to cry every time we came in view of a streetlight, we decided to call it a night.  Not the best way for our time in Paris to draw to an end, but these things happen.
My head was still feeling slightly bruised and achy the next morning, but lucky for me it was a much quieter day.  We loaded up our car once more and made the hour and a half drive west to Giverny to visit Claude Monet's house and gardens.  I have a special place in my heart for Monet because his artwork always reminds me of my little sister, and I love his vibrant impressionist scenes.  So when I saw that his home lay on the drive to the D-day invasion beaches, we decided that we had time for a detour.
   
The garden was absolutely charming, and the waterlily pond and bridges were exactly what I'd always imagined.  We found that Normandy is sort of France's version of Seattle, and the frequent rain showers make for stunning plantlife.  We spent the better part of an hour weaving our way through the emerald, shadowy paths and it wasn't hard to see how a person could be inspired to paint masterpieces in such a setting.  With plenty of day still left ahead of us, we continued on in our journey and drove another couple of hours to the quaint town of Bayeux.  We had just enough time to visit the Notre Dame de Bayeux, and of course every history geek's favorite wall hanging, the Bayeux tapestry.  Sadly, this is also when we discovered that it is possible to travel with two camera batteries and still have both of them crap out on you at the same time, so I have no photographic evidence of that evening's adventures which also included my first encounter with escargot.  And it was AMAZING!

Comments

[Molly]

Your photos are stunning. I can't believe Giverny! Out of control beauty.

[Anne]

I totally agree with Molly. Your photos are stunning. It really sounds like the perfect trip!

[erin - heart in ireland]

absolutely gorgeous photos! i love that you went to monet's garden! he is one of my favorite artists. you make me want to go back to paris! i went in december and while i had a good time, it wasn't my favorite place in europe but seeing your pictures makes me want to go back in the spring/summer and do more outside of paris. We didn't go to Versailles because parts of it were under renovation and we only had 2 full days in paris. But we did take pictures outside the moulin rouge!

[Amy --- Just A Titch]

What beautiful photos! This makes me all sorts of excited for my trip to Paris in March :)

[Me]

Gorgeous!!

[A Super Girl]

So, I have to say, I'm so jealous of this trip and the way you write about it with such casual enjoyment. Especially since the trip was a bit of a spontaneous adventure. You guys seem so at ease, biking and walking and driving around. I remember my one trip to Europe and while it was fun, I don't remember feeling at ease to the point that I'd hop in a car and drive from Paris to Normandy. And making a quick detour to Claude Monet's? How fun.

I know it's really all about the pre-research, something I usually don't have energy for. Maybe I should have you start researching all my vacations!

[thoughtsappear]

I don't believe you about the escargot.

[Jessica]

Versailles is gorgeous! I cannot wait to see it in March, you made me so excited!!

[Solange]

Absolutely beautiful! So want to go back and just stroll through Monet's garden :)
I Loved escargot too! I love all your pictures :)