Paris et al #2
Saturday morning, met Kathy and Richard for our trip to Versailles. Went by train from Gare du Nord. Walked from station to chateau, followed the signs for people avec billets, to discover there was an enormous queue which started near the front gates and looped three times. Such a nuisance (especially as it was a hot day) after wonderful pre-purchase experience at the Louvre. Queued for an hour, arrived at top of queue were people were trying to talk/push their way in. They checked our tickets (people who had queued in front of us did not have tickets and were denied entry) and we went through security. Finally arrived in chateau. Had been in royal palace with much better paintings the day before, so went through as quickly as we could (still fairly slowly due to crowds - in one bedroom, we had to inch past three tour groups as well as many people stopped because they had audio guides) to the Hall of Mirrors which is magnificent. Then queued up at Angelina's. A woman came along the queue asking if we wanted snack or restaurant. When the dozen people in front of me had opted for snack, I chose restaurant. We had a very nice lunch in elegant surroundings and more or less recovered from the morning's exertions - but crowds on the way to the exit. Were expecting to recover further in the gardens, but were told our tickets were valid only for the chateau (hardly anyone was being allowed in to the gardens - lots of ticket waving and frustration). We decided we were NOT going to queue for a ticket to the gardens, so went into town and coffee (Dad), beer (Richard), and banana splits (Kathy and me). Best banana split I have ever had - altho the banana was whole, not split.
Then by train back to Gare de Lyon and a rest before dinner at a brassiere to which K&R had taken Debs.
