Paris day 2

It Today started a bit late due to a late night last night... we woke up about 10am.

First, a word about soap.

I like Ivory soap, and I hate the crappy soaps in hotels- all fancy smelling yet they refuse to raise even the slightest lather and you feel wierd all day. Amiright?

So you gotta bring your own soap.

But those soap containers are terrible; the bar stays wet and pretty soon all you have is a box of goo.

SO... I took two bars of Ivory and used the big kitchen knife to cut them in quarters. A quarter bar is good for a few days, and you just leave it in the shower when you depart. Crazy? Genius!

Ok, back to Paris.

Today we started with Versailles.

On the Metro we encountered the same Gypsy trio that we saw last midnight. They play songs on a French horn, alto sax, and accordion. They were good! But when they got on you could hear people disdainfully muttering "Roma". They play a couple songs then pass the cup.

Arriving about noon turned out well - the entry line was only about 20 min (it can stretch over 2 hrs at its worst)

Outside the outer gate

On the marble steps before the front door. The sun was out and the gilded ornamenture was on full display.

Bee liked the upholstery on many of the chairs and sofas

And the curtains around the king's bed. The beds are 2-3 feet thick but only about 5 feet square

The Hall of Mirrors... the most dazzling room in the whole wide world, even today. Must have been overwhelming 300 yrs ago.

Outside, overlooking the gardens and grand canal. The weather was perfect!

Walking to the Trianon, gotta be mile away, thru gardens and allees. Because we avoided the main paths, we saw few people, heard lots of birds, and generally felt like we had the place to ourselves

We poked around both Trianons, then found the Hamlet. We must have walked 5 miles including the palace and the grounds. After the Hamlet we paid the E4 to take the tram back to the palace... It was just too far to walk

Took the train back to Paris, got off at Champ du Mars, and walked thru side streets until... voila!

More walking!

We poked around le Tour then walked across the bridge to the Trocadero.

We got crepes with Nutella and whipped cream... Bee has wanted a crepe since we got here

We then walked ot the Arc de Triomphe

And walked down Champs Élysées. Weist have walked 10 miles today... I'll be interested to measure it when I get home 

Took the Metro to Montmatre, saw the Moulin Rouge, then poked up the hill to find some dinner 

Found a quiet sidewalk cafe. Dave had steak tartar! With raw egg yolk and capers!!!  It was goooood

Then the Metro back to the hotel at 9pm for an "early" night. It felt REALLY good to take our shoes off and stretch out on the bed!