Given that the palace wasn't open yesterday we checked the website last night and found that today was in fact a day that both the palace was open and most excitingly, the fountains would be going!! They call it Les Grandes Eaux Musicales - the Musical Fountains Show.
Off we went, back on the train and back into Versailles town again to buy picnic supplies. Oh happy, oh joy... the markets were on!!! They were absolutely incredible, with beautiful fresh produce, fish, meat, cheese, bread... aaaahhhh!!! delicious!! The strawberries!! sweet! I kept my happy streak going and indulged in my third chocolate eclair per day for third day...!
Inside Versailles, we started by watching the fountains start up and listening to the beautiful classical music emanating from the hedges... such a beautiful atmosphere... fountains, music and marble statues. We wandered around through the gardens again listening to the music, and soaking it all in. One of the fountains was actually a series of fountains playing along with the music - it was fantastic!! almost impossible to capture on film, but amazing.
We wandered over to the Grand Trianon, and the Petit Trianon - basically the little palaces that the king and queen built so they could escape the hustle and bustle of court. The Petite Trianon was Marie Antoinette's estate and the gardens around it are beautiful. My theory of them being a little bored was born out when we saw the little village of thatched cottages including mill and lighthouse that they built out in the garden... just for fun!! We had a picnic overlooking the lake and this peaceful scene. Baguette and cheese!! yum!
The whole scene was beautiful and peaceful, except if you got too close to the edge of the small lake where you were virtually attacked by massive fish - a little creepy!
We had a look through the palace itself after this, the opulence is incredible! The wall hangings, gold gilt everywhere and mirrors.
We headed back into Versailles town to make the most of the wonderful markets and purchased, among other things, quite possibly the most amazing goat cheese of my life!! We ate it later at wine and cheese o'clock with fresh baguette and honey... words fail me... The blue cheese and tomme de brebris... aaahhhh!
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