Versailles and Saint Chappelle

Quiet day on Friday April 22.  Alain did a run and had another croissant from La Maison Stohrer patisserie.  I spent the afternoon with Kay, doing some window shopping.  Dinner at Robert et Louise with Ceta, Jess, and Ceta's friend Adam, who is on secondment from the federal government to the OECD (so lucky!!)

Me, Adam, Ceta and Jess at Robert et Louise

Saturday was a HUGE day.  Ceta, Jess, Alain and I went to Versailles to see the gardens.  We took Sandemans NewEurope Tour with about 38 people all younger than us.  Took the RER train out to Versailles.   When we first arrived, we were overwhelmed by all the people.  We learned that Louis XIV was a life long renovator- constantly building additions and knocking down other parts of the palace. It was still unfinished when he died in 1715.   The gardens are a bit like a maze- lots of groves where one turns a corner and voila- a surprise statute, water feature, etc.  Saw a great fountain display to classical music.  We were exhausted by the end of the tour as it was the warmest day in Paris so far- 25C!  Tyler, our guide, had lots of salacious details about Louis XIV, XV and XVI and their wives and many mistresses.  The line-up was too daunting to try and get into the Palace, so we headed back to Paris.

Louis XIV- the sun king at entrance to Versailles

The Grand Perspective- view from the top of the gardens

One of the wings of the palace

View looking back at the palace

The musical fountain show

Hommage to Apollo

Beauty and the frogs

Batter up!!

Ceta, me and Jess at the Ballroom Grove

Bird on manicured bush

Alain in front of another fountain

Then a brief rest and onto an amazing concert at Saint- Chappelle- the beautiful gothic church built in 1248.  The stained glass windows and carved religious figures were superb.  Ceta had gotten us all tickets in the VIP rows (1 and 2).  The concert featured pieces by Pachelbel, Albinoni, and Vivaldi's four seasons.  The 6 person string ensemble, Les Solistes Français, featured Paul Rouger, a superb violinist.  The ecoustics were amazing and Alain got a signed CD after the concert.   We had an after concert drink and then home to bed.

Ceta and Paul Rouger, the featured violinist

The most beautiful ceiling at Saint Chappelle

Les Solistes Francais