Best of Burgundy Day 16
Best of Burgundy
DAY 16 - 10-04-05 - Monday - Train Ride/Versailles - Paris
We had agreed to meet for breakfast at 8 AM where we met Ciça, Pedro and Eduardo. The hotel takes care of all their guests very well, serving each of us a beverage and a generous selection of breads and pastries. Then we can get cheese, ham, fruit cocktail, juice, yogurts, and cereals to complement. By 9 we were ready to go. Eduardo and Ciça had done some homework the previous night, going to the Gare de Lyon to check on how we could go to Versailles and then cross checking with the hotel front desk to make sure which train would be the best.
We walked across to the station and took the #14 Line to Gare St. Lazare. When we arrived, we walked up to the main railroad station and it took us longer to get the tickets than to walk to the train and leave. The initial portion was somewhat busy and we had to stand. But in a station or two, we had seats and a very good ride to the Château de Versailles (the last home of the Kings of France).
At Versailles we had an opportunity to walk through the city, seeing people beginning their day, with many doing their daily shopping. We found a street market so we detoured through it seeing the citizens and photographing the products for sale. We did notice that the general population was somewhat older than we see in Paris. We continued through the wide tree lined city streets toward the Palace and had an opportunity to photograph the season changing trees and some young people enjoying the cool day.
Once we arrived at the Palace of Versailles we saw many tour buses, many vendors outside the gates and many people milling around the expansive cobblestone front entrance. We decide to get an individual, 20 Euro day pass, to see much of the residence. As we got closer we did not see anyone entering. Wondering why, we walked up trying to find the ticket window when we learned that the Museum was closed due to a general strike that had been called by the train workers and honored by the Versailles workers. This caused a great confusion to the tour groups but the five of us decided to walk around the building and see the gardens.
Other tourists had the same idea and we joined them in seeing the opulence of this estate as shown in their gardens. We began our walk about 11 AM and finished at 2:30, it is that large. We walked through the mail isle of the garden, by the big pools and the main lake at the bottom that stretches for thousands of yards. We spoke to many people, assisted some with family pictures and watched swans and other birds frolic in the waters.
At mid-afternoon we walked out of the grounds and wandered through the city looking for a place to eat. Eduardo had seen a Subway sandwich shop so we headed there. Even at 3 PM the proprietor had a line to the door ordering and waiting for their food. With Ciça and Eduardo's student cards we got a discount on the sandwiches, chips and soda. As we got our beverage cups, the owner informed us we had free refills. Eduardo responded with a loud "YES!!!" and my comment was "like the United States!" The owner responded with "it is an American company." We all laughed but enjoyed not having to pay 3 Euros for per beverage. The other difference was that the establishment was smoke free. I will say that the only thing that makes our meals the least bit uncomfortable is the cigarette smoke. But the restaurants in Paris serve excellent foods and we can live with the smoke for a few hours.
After our lunch, we walked some more and returned to the railroad station and waited 15 minutes for the train to depart. The ride back was uneventful, arriving at the Gare St. Lazare around 4:30. There was another street market just outside the door so we again took a slight detour before heading home. We took the Metro to Gare de Lyon, our hotel stop, and checked our email, worked on pictures and began the journal.
At 8:00 we met again to go to dinner. We walked away from the train station and found a new set of restaurants. When we saw a kebab restaurant, we again chose this Middle Eastern dish. This restaurant was Turkish so there was a little different taste but we all enjoyed our meal. We walked around a bit and then returned to the hotel at 10:00 PM.
Accommodations: Hotel Terminus Lyon - - - Meals: B
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