My first day back in France I went back to visit Versailles. This time I was able to get into the palace.
Bassin d’Apollon
Versailles from near the Bassin d’Apollon
Abduction of Persephone. This sculpture is in the middle of La Colonnade which is a little bit off the main path in the gardens. Even though there were many visitors enjoying the gardens there were only a handful of people here. Seeing this hidden gem makes me wonder what other fantastic pieces of the garden I wasn’t able to see during my brief visits.
Fifth Chapel in the Palace of Versailles
Fifth Chapel in the Palace of Versailles
Just one of many stunning paintings on the ceilings of nearly every room in the palace.
Beautiful Hallway. This was roped off so there was no way to access it. The long empty hallway looked very inviting when stuck in the crowds visiting the chateau.
Diana, Roman Goddess of the Hunt. The Chateau was originally a hunting lodge and Diana is a popular figure in the artwork at the Chateau.
My second day back in France I visited le Musee du Louvre. I found the sculptures inside the museum to be unbelievable. There are rooms full of fantastic sculptures which are far too numerous for me to show here. This isn’t meant to replace a visit to the museum but here is a fine sampling of some of the very best.
By the time I got back to Paris they had already removed the amazing picture from the Pyramid in front of le Musee du Louvre.
Winged Victory of Samothrace
Venus de Milo
Mona Lisa complete with a menagerie of people facing away from the most famous painting in the world. When you’re in the presence of greatness but you gotta get that selfie.
Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss
After leaving the museum I wandered Paris a little bit. I went to a fantastic little ice cream shop called Berthillon. It’s a wonderful place my sister recommended and well worth a visit if you enjoy ice cream. After that I made my way to a fantastic beer bar called Les Trois 8 for a pint. It’s a great place to visit if you’d like a beer in Paris. I followed that up with a final stop at La Fine Mouse for another pint before heading back to my hotel for the night. The next morning I flew back to the States.
