Morning Start

Great news! My feet both worked today, although a bit sore! I have overnighted the good juju to those that helped.

This morning was an early one for us. Last night I talked to hotel reception to see how we could get to Versailles efficiently, since two different trains had significant closures. He recommended a route that went all the way to the northwest part of Paris, then transferred to a train going south. It would involve a 25-minute walk from the station to the Palace — all in all, an hour-and-a-half journey. So I called a BOLT, a cheaper, more popular rideshare.

Matt and I had a rough time sleeping. He was wired, I was restless, and there was an obnoxious woman outside cackling until the wee hours of the morning. I wanted to yell out the window, “Go home, *****!” But I’m a nice Christian girl and I don’t talk like that. So I just stayed snuggled under the covers thinking about it.

Versailles

Our BOLT ride picked us up at 7:30 am sharp. I worried about traffic, but apparently no one wakes up here until at least 9 am on weekends. We got to Versailles 45 minutes before it opened and found the only place with coffee — Brasserie Le Lyautey. It’s rated only a 4.0 on Google but a 5 in my heart for having chocolate croissants and making me an iced latte in 54-degree weather, even though it wasn’t on the menu.

We strolled back to the Palace and lined up for our 9:00 a.m. slot. It filled fast. We went from room to room admiring the art and learning about lifestyles of past monarchs and their entourage. This place is MASSIVE — and the gardens even bigger. I’ve added an XL garden like this to my Christmas wish list, along with several jewels and Chanel items from the Louvre. Every time I add something, Matt just smiles and nods.

Photos can’t really do it justice, but here’s a quick recap of its history:
Versailles started as Louis XIII’s chill hunting lodge, until his son Louis XIV decided, “Nah, I’m the Sun King, I need a palace so extra it blinds people.” So he built Versailles into the ultimate flex — big gardens, bigger mirrors, and nobles trapped in a fancy royal sleepover so they couldn’t plot against him. By the Revolution, Versailles had become less “royal paradise” and more “symbol of everything wrong,” which didn’t end well for its most famous residents. But now — gorgeous! It welcomes about 15 million visitors every year.

Eiffel Tower

We were on a time crunch, so we took another BOLT back to the Eiffel Tower for a quick lunch before our 2:30 p.m. entry.

The Eiffel Tower was the Eiffel Tower: exactly what you’d expect. Pretty huge up close. Wonderful to admire. But mostly queuing… and more queuing. At one point, the people behind us tried to take a selfie. I smiled in an attempt to photobomb, but got caught, and then the dad deliberately angled me out. I chuckled, which made them laugh too.

Also, a really cute duck tried to befriend Matt. Makes sense.

At the top, I expected cold and wind but ended up peeling off my jacket. The views were incredible — all of Paris spread out in every direction. It reminded me of my first day studying abroad in Paris in 2012, when the program coordinator called Paris a “small city.” Still makes me giggle.

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur

Next stop of the day was Sacré-Cœur and strolling around Montmartre. I never got a chance to visit the Basilica last time I was here. We took a train from our hotel based on Google Maps directions. When we got out at Château Rouge on the M4, it was a little scary; not as bad as the Seattle crackheads, but no shortage of sketchy-looking folks. As Matt put it, it was the “1st and 15th side of town.”

My phone decided to stop working again. “We just need to go west,” I mumbled to Matt as we oriented ourselves and turned our rings to the insides of our palms. Then finally, we found a staircase with about fifty-eleven flights. “It’s got to be at the top of the stairs,” I said to Matt confidently as we started our trek. With each step, the sketch level slightly decreased. But at the top we just ran into another circus: tourists, vendors, and “opportunists.” I caught a few people eyeing tourists’ pockets. Sacré-Cœur was interesting, but what’s nice about it is that it sits on the highest natural point in Paris, making for some amazing views of the city.

Dinner at Chez Marguerite

After photos, we headed down the hill in a safer direction. A few souvenirs may have been purchased, then we landed at Chez Marguerite for dinner. We used this opportunity to check off Paris must-haves, including escargot and foie gras. I’ve read about foie gras for years in nerdy nutrition books, so it was about time I tasted it — and it did not disappoint. We even considered ordering seconds.

We probably overdid it with food and sweets today. I may or may not have borrowed a Paris Eats Google Maps list from my foodie friend Jess… but hey, why try to figure it out on your own if there’s experts that can help? Here are some highlights!

Outfit of the Day

If you’re keeping score: my fashion sense is evolving. Today I wore a dress! Paired with Clark’s Cloudsteppers sandals and a denim jacket. It ain’t much, but it’s honest work.

Tomorrow we take the early train to Barcelona. It’s a long ride, but we’re excited for the views!