Paris, Versailles and the Arc du Triumph

Paris is a city with something for everyone, no matter their age.  There are many ways to discover the city.  With our granddaughter we used bicycles, the metro, Segways, walking (and walking and walking), a boat ride, a cooking class, a museum, gardens,  and of course the elevator to see the Eiffel Tower.  This in only 3 1/2 days!  

Tom is getting comfortable with the Segway.

She took to the subway like a duck to water.  Youth!

Behind our granddaughter is the Dome des Invalides which is the Tomb of Napoleon

      

Another view of the Eiffel Tower during our Segway tour

This is considered Paris's wildest and raciest door, in Art Nouveau style built in 1901.

We took the Fat Tire Tour of Versailles.  Boarding the train to the city of Versailles we were given 40 minutes to conquer the amazingly fabulous Versailles Market.  The choices were endless and we purchased a variety of vegetarian salads, juicy cherries, cheeses and more food than we could possibly finish.  We picnicked on the grass, in the shade besides the large pools looking at the majestic Versailles in the distance. While we enjoyed our feast our guide gave us a history lesson on France and more specifically Versailles.

In the far distant background is the Chateau de Versailles

Le Grand Trianon was built in 1687 and is considered the most refined set of buildings in the entire Versailles estate.  Marie Antoinette preferred the Petit Trianon given to her by Louis XVI.

We were fortunate to have shade through part of our ride.

Hameau de la Reine or The Queen's Hamlet is a rustic retreat in the park of the Chateau de Versailles built for Marie Antoinette in 1783 near the Petit Trianon.  It served as a private meeting place for the queen and her closest friends.

The Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon and the Hameau showed an intimate Versailles away from the splendor of the court.  Marie Antoinette liked to find in these places the pleasures of a simple and rural life away from the etiquette of the court.

Part of the Hameau de la Reine

Temple de l'Amour is a garden folly in the Chateau de Versailles and more specifically in the Petit Trianon.  A French folly is a foolishness, or a costly, generally nonfunctional building that was erected to enhance a natural landscape.

Looking through the gold fence into the entrance of Versailles

The Versailles Hall of Mirrors is beautiful and always impressive.

We thought we were going to miss the Arc du Triumph.  Imagine our delight when we emerged from the metro in search of our restaurant for dinner and discover it right there.

She had hoped to be able to see the Arc du Triumph

We had a beautiful sunset appearing through the Arc du Triumph.

                         

I think ice cream is mandatory after a long hot day of sightseeing.

And just like that our granddaughter's visit ended, and she was headed back home. We look forward to her return for a future visit.  Meanwhile we are left with memories of a delightful young woman, a wonderful traveller, and a pleasure to have with us.