A round about just half a block away from our hotel, Novotel Chateau de Versailles. We didn't make it across the street to read the inscription to know what the momument is. But it was quite large and intresting. We took a quick snap with our phones in between car traffic.
One view of Versailles. On day one of our arrival to Versailles after a 45 minute car ride from the airport (Charles De Gaulle) in Paris, we went walking just to explore. Versaille was just a couple of blocks from our hotel. We arrived just as they were locking the gate as the inside tours were done for the day. We were ok with that as we would be touring this with the tour group later. We arrived a day earlier than the tour to have extra time to adjust, and recoup after the long flight. So we were able to see the outside. Even in this one picture, you can tell how large and grande it is, and that rehad is in process. After all, it was re-built by King Louis XIII, back in 1631...or at least that's when he started with his grand plan.
We continued to walk around and explore looking for a little cafe for an early dinner. The little patio area where the green awning is attracted us. We had a couple of glasses of wine and a lovely light dinner as we enjoyed the good weather. We chatted about what we would do the next day before meeting up with the tour director and the group. We planned an early dinner, walk back to the hotel and have a nightcap at the hotel bar before calling it a night.
Covid had other plans for us! Had we met up with the tour group the next day we would have had wine and gotten to know the group and director, and then headed to our first savory French dinner. The following day we would tour the private apartments of King Louis XIV, The Sun King. We would have seen the Hall of Mirrors and opulent bedchamber of the queen. That evening we would have viewed the Royal Gardens of Versailles with a twilight promenade and enjoyed the Baroque fountains.
As the tour group continued on their merry way, we spent 5 days of isolation in a hotel room, scrambling to make alternative flight arrangements to return home once the isolation period was over.
The tour was through Collette, a 12 day tour, "France Magnifique" using Marriott Vacation Club Points. We added a day in front of the tour and 2 days after. Now we wait to hear back from the travel insurance folks in hopes of getting our money back. I might add this tour was apparently doomed from the start, as it had been scheduled 5 different times thanks to Covid.
