Thursday – 25th of July.

Guest writer: Ewoud Brand of s’Gravendeel.

We went to the Palace of  Versailles. It was a warm sunny day and driving the cars to Versailles we had the ‘ARKO’ (alle ramen kunnen open) or ( all window can open) on. In Versailles it was difficult to find the entrance of the car park and we had to go around the block and back again to find it.

The Palace looked impressive, big, lot of gold ornaments and a big fence. Lot of steps on the front.

It was crowded and full of people standing on the front of the Palace in line to going in. We bought our tickets, also having to wait in line. After that we split up with Willy and Dean who went to wait in line for the Palace, while the rest wanted to see the garden “Jardin” first. Walking around the Palace to the garden it seemed huge as well. A lot of long paths, high hedges and trees. Because it was so warm and a long distance to walk , we (Jenny, Ewout, Martin and I) decided to go driving. Astrid and Chris went on a train that went to the most attractive parts of the garden. The rest of us went on a electric golf car. So we saw all the fountains, large statues of ladies, men and animals. We had fun driving through the lanes with the high hedges and trees. Saw the canals and the Palace of Marie Antoinette. Although there were a lot of people in the garden it was not crowded. Only near the Palace where there  sitting a lot of people. Because the garden is able to be seen for free some people where jogging there as well.  The garden was enormous but we were disappointed as not a fountain was working.

Next we went in to the Palace, first waiting in a smaller line and moved into the rooms where it was very crowded. Almost every room was full of people, at least the part you were allowed to go in to. We only saw a (the) part of the castle that was open for public. Everything was big and grand. Lots of paintings, statues and painted ceiling’s, gold ornaments and a lot of wood. Video’s were showing in some room as were Miniatures of the Palace etc. Although we went to a lot of rooms we did not see the normal way of living with the everyday furnishings .

So the Palace and garden were impressive but perhaps not to everyone’s expectations.

After a warm day, long walks and waiting in line a lot, we went back to our luxurious holiday home to have a swim in the big swimming pool.

At the end it was a nice and fruitful day.

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