After a whirlwind two day tour of Paris, we took the train over to nearby Versailles intending to rent a car and drive to Chartres.
Because we toured the fantastic Impressionist exhibit at Musee D’Orsay in the morning, we arrived in Versailles mid-afternoon.
None of us were ready to drag our suitcases through town to the car rental agency, so we instead went to the newly remodeled Hotel Ibis directly across from the rail station, where we saw a poster advertising 59 euros per double occupancy room per night for weekends, which was a true bargain compared to Paris.
We welcomed the impersonal but efficient rooms with their crisp linens and bright bathrooms.
What the Ibis lacked in charm it made up for in location near the palace and lots of charming streets.
We unpacked our bags and wandered over to the palace, where we signed up for a tour.
A beautiful chateau steeped in history from stories of the last days of Marie Antoinette to the glory of Napoleon and beyond, this is truly a “can’t-miss” destination.A light snow began to fall, giving us a unique view of the gorgeous grounds.
For dinner that night, we enjoyed crepes at a nearby crepery.
We made the kids happy by giving them enough money to spend an hour at an internet café, where they exchanged instant messages with their friends back home.
Later, we all met for ice cream at McDonald's.
The next morning, I walked through the serene grounds of the Palace at Versailles before awaking the rest of the family.
The well-manicured grounds certainly must have made the royal hunting trips a civilized experience.
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