Château de Versailles

Oh, Versailles. Getting there was quite an adventure. We ended up getting charged 25euro because we were out of our zones without a ticket, and the guy that we were dealing with was the typical rude, arrogant French. I had read about this kind, but not yet encountered one like him. Anyway, this is George the banana in Carmen's purse. He went to Versailles with us.







This is the chapel where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were married.













And this is some of the horrific modern art through Versailles. A magenta balloon dog, wonderful. Not what I wanted to see sitting in the middle of the reception room...

Louis XIV was a nut, but I dig his style.

Look who I found in Versailes! Yeah, Michael Jackson. And Bubbles the freaking monkey.

View of Versailles.

Louis XIV wanted a larger than life palace. That is what he got. It is inhumane, just ginormous and totally unnecessary.

He also thought he was hot stuff. His posture shows he thinks he is sexy and a skillful dancer. Surprisingly, he was about 50-something-ish in this portrait.

The famous Hall of Mirrors. Orginially a terrace that looked out over the gardens, it was covered and the mirrors create the illusion that the hall is larger than it really is since it reflects the beautiful outdoor light. The mirrors were imported from Italy.

Chandelierrr.

Carmen and I in the really expensive, old mirrors.

Reflection of the Queen's Room in a mirror. Yes, it was the room of Marie Antoinette but other queens were here too, you know. Don't disrespect. Over 19 babies were born in this room, and it was custom to have about 200 people witness the birth. Talk about awkward.

Blow up toys on a chain link fence? I give up.

Alright, Jeff Koons, this modern art I can appreciate.

This is the original hunting Lodge of Louis III. Louis XIV built the rest of Versailles around his fathers lodge. You can notice the Louis III style because it is tricolore: the roof is blue, white stone and red brick. Also found in structures in Paris such as Place Dauphine and Place des Vosges. Damn I'm good.

Umm, outside Versailles...

... IT WAS WICKED COLD. And we were annoyed that we were charged 25euro. And we were cold. And we were hungry. Did I mention we were cold??

But the sky was gorgeours, simply stunning. And I don't have to give birth in front of 200 people. Hmm. Life's good.

BLAH

In order to get to Chambord we had to take a bus from a town called Blois. Blois to me, sounds like Blah. After we spent some time at Chambord, we returned to Blah Blois with time to spare. So we toured the Blois chateau.

The porcupine represents one of the kings. Henri, Fancois, Louis, I don't remember.

Really pretty stained glass. See the fleur de lys in the center?

Becca Violates Art #1

The gargoyles were asking for it.

Becca Violates Art #2

We have matching MOUSTACHES !!

Hercules.... or honey you should say HUNKules ! (I can't help the Disney references, they just spill out) Disney has brainwashed me into thinking that Hercules was this young, dashing clothed man. This says he's old, naked and bearded.

Looking up a ceiling. Of course.

The midge door !!!

Of course there's going to be a window pictures in here.

Yaaay art with my name in it !!!!!

Voulez-vouz couchez avec moi, c'est soir ?

I had to.

Gorgeous floor.

Chambord

The skyline of Chambord is truly breathtaking.




































And the double-helix staircase is really incredible too. I just thought it was a windy staircase and didn't understand why it was so cool.

































Looking up the center...







































Then Prof. Mitchell made me go down one side, and he and Courtney went down another. We were on two different staircases !
















































It took so long for this place to be built. At one point, it was abandonded for 70 years.

Looking out over the fields.














Moat!



















"I use antlers in all of my decorating..." Yes, another Beauty and the Beast reference.


















I love old windows. :)














Looking up a chandelier.

Chenonceau

This is how I walked around Chenonceau today, with a cloth wrapped around my eyes. Just kidding!! I did walk around with my sunglasses on at all times to cover up my swollen eye. Which has gone down considerably, I am quite glad. There is a little bit of bruising, but I'm hoping by tomorrow I'll be able to cover it up.

This is the chateaux of Chenonceau. It is absolutely magnificent, dahhling. I think there were a bunch of women who lived here, and the one decided that she wanted to be able to stand over the water, hence the beautiful arches.

The gardens were great, there was a bunch of nature which caused me to sneeze my way around, but I enjoyed it regardless.

I love the symmetry found in the gardens. I wouldn't have the patience to do that, so I really respect people planning that out.

A pretty pot of flowers.

More jardin.

Attempt at a fountain: fail.

We found an old wine cellar that you could walk around in (cue massive amount sneezing) but it was fun to look at the huge barrels.

Me and the well! I live the Disney dream everywhere, man. Here I am the embodiment of Snow White. I'll spare you the singing though.

Looking up at the chateau.

Stained glass inside.

I noticed that some of the floors had designs on the perimeter of the room. I wonder if this once covered the entire floor...

Looking through the window.

I touched the really old wall, bwahahaha.

This is the totally awesome floor on the part that stretches out over the water.

Photography gone awry. After Chenonceau Prof. Mitchell anounced that we were going to the city Tours (pronounced Tour). We decided to go to a resteraunt and spend the entire two and half hours there, and we did. Which ended up being a very good decision on our part because it poured.

Tomorrow we have class, but only in the morning. Afterward we are going to the David D'Angers museum and then we have the rest of the day to ourselves (I'm seeing... I'm seeing... MONOPRIX). However, before all that, I have to do a lot of reading for class and write two papers, one of them in French. And so, I bid thee adieu for now. Bisous !!