Paris - Tuesday 9/23

9/23/2014 Tuesday

 

We took a Go Ahead tour to Versailles.  Traffic was horrible getting there but Isabel, our guide, was wonderful talling us all about French history.  When we got to Versailles it was mobbed.  We were divided into 2 groups.  One group of 7 and one of 25 (this was dictated  by Versailles).  We were in the group of 25 so we had an hour in the gardens before going int the house.  They were lovely and would have been even better except for the construction that was going on.  Finally it was our turn to go into Versailles and it was so crowded it was unbearable.  We lost our guide, Isabel, in the Hall of Mirrors.  We spent a few minutes looking for her and the rest of the group but couldn’t find her so we just walked through the rest ourselves and then went to the designated meeting place.  Went back to the hotel and went to lunch at the little café next to the hotel.

 

Lunch

Queyrelou

Alysee (wine)

We shared 2 Entrees (Appetizers)

Tomates Mozzarella

Foie gras entire de carnard

And of course bread

 

We had planned to go to a museum in the afternoon but ended up not having time as we had a 7:30 PM dinner reservation on the other side of town.  Se we took the metro to Madeleine, which is an exclusive shopping district.  I wanted to visit the gourmet food stores we had heard about.  A mistake since I didn’t really find out exactly where these food shops were.  We ended up at the Opera House.  Beautiful, ornate, lots of steps.  While on a smaller scale, the Opera House rivals Versailles in the interior halls and rooms.

 

Went back to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes and then off to dinner in a taxi to the other side of Paris.  You wouldn’t believe the traffic in Paris.  It is amazing that anyone gets where they want to go.

 

Dinner

Chez Geraud

Entre (appetizer)

Bob:  Terrine De Lapin (rabbit)

Iris: Gnocchis A La Parisienne (Gnocchis with Escargot)

Plate

Bob: Souris  D’Agneau Cpmtote (Lamb Shank)

Iris: Supreme De Volaille (chicken)

Wine:  Aoc Ventoux

Dessert:  Paris-Brest (we shared) Ring shaped éclair filled with praline cream

 

We came back to the hotel and crashed.  I must say by this time my feet were hurting so bad.  The brace worked as far as my ankle was concerned but it rubbed the ball of my foot so bad.  It took me several days before I could find the solution to the problem and by that time it was really too late as my right foot constantly hurt.

 

Our 1st glimpse of Versailles

The hordes waiting to get into Versailles on this
beautiful September morning

Looking at Versailles from the gardens

Gardens at Versailles

More of the gardens at Versailles

Versailles Gardens

Versailles Gardens

The Hall of Mirrors in Versailles

Me at Versailles

The Opera House

The Opera House
Doesn't this remind you of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

The Opera House

Me at Dinner at Chez Geraud

Chez Geraud