Petit hameau de la Reine ("Little hamlet of the Queen") was a retreat for Marie Antoniette on the grounds of Versailles.
Grounds of the Palace of Versailles
I was looking forward to this tour, but it ended up being one of my worse experiences. Because of the enormous crowds, I could not see anything or enjoy my tour as we were "pushed" along and was not able to stand anywhere for a long period of time.
This is the famous palace garden. I was happy to get out of the palace for some fresh air.
Here is another picture of the garden from a 2nd floor palace window. Since I couldn't see much of the interior, at least I was able to peek outside one of the open windows. Sigh!
Yes the tour sounds gruesome - reminds me of when we hearded round the Hermitage in St Petersburg - so much to see but little time to stand and appreciate. The view from the open window - a welcome relief from the crowds indeed.
hey, sorry that the tour wasn't good, i like to travel the non-toursit way... and kick it with locals, they always know the best spots anyway and how to go to the touristy spots without being a tourist.
Yikes...the crowds would have done me in as well. Beautiful photos, though...and the one in which you show the crowd makes me need to take a deep breath itself. Wonderful V!
Even if you don't like crowds, you still photograph them well. I don't like them either, which makes internet Christmas shopping all the more attractive.
I loved the visit to Versailles when I was there..but it was NOT crowded as we went in March...I loved looking at Marie Antoinette's "playgrounds". How sad her life must have been , really.....but an unbelievable palace. The hall of mirrors was under construction when we were there....
Hpy, I guess the trick is not to go during the summer. I have seen pictures of Versailles when there was only a few tourists walking around. It must've have been winter or early spring.
Thanks Dot. It is a beautiful place, but unfortunately we were on a tight time schedule and couldn't really just hang out and just enjoy more of the view.
Thanks Kate Isis. I appreciate your comments. I guess suffering through the crowds was better than not have gone at all. Luckily neither I nor anyone freaked out and start a stampede.
Thanks Christine. From the photo, you can see the funneling effect where a mass of people were trying to go through a small doorway. We had to do this a number of times. Needless to say, we couldn't hear a word our tour guide was saying as half a dozen guides were speaking at the same time.
kml, I would've loved to roam the garden and the courtyard, but people were everywhere so it would almost be impossible to not include a crowd in my photos. Haha!
Hello NYCIndividual. Welcome to ABC Wednesdays. I'll add you on my blogroll. I love to travel too. Your pictures of Pompeii are interesting and I can kick myself for missing a chance to visit Italy.
Digital Flower Pictures, thanks for your comments. I've never been to Connecticut so it's dreary to me. I figure I'd still go on these tours or I might not be able to go at all. Thanks for the holiday greetings. Same to you. All photographers can use new camera gear anytime!
Neva, I think this gives us an excuse to visit Versailles again. The mirrors should be back up now. :) I guess the trick is to go in March when the crowd is at its minimum.
Thanks for the memories of Versailles, the crowded indoors and the spacious outdoors. I've taken students there a couple of times, once when it wasn't quite so crowded. The difference was pleasant, to say the least. The trees at the end of that view from the courtyard, the ones along the sidewalks, had been trimmed back in between my first and second visits--the change was totally unreal. You couldn't see the rows of statues like you can in your photo, and I never lucked out and saw the fountains on, either. Great photo!
Lynette, I'm glad this brought back memories for you. You are so lucky to have visited this place so many times. Thanks for pointing out the differences since your last visit. I seem to remember that the fountains are turned on only during certain times. I guess I lucked out and didn't realize it.
Terrific V post. How sad it wasn't the best memory. Its a beautiful place though.
ReplyDeleteThe garden is lovely, but yes, I that the crowd was there, too.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhhhhhhhh! Crowds. I can not stand such claustrophobic situations, I too would have had to get away from it all.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics though.
Yes the tour sounds gruesome - reminds me of when we hearded round the Hermitage in St Petersburg - so much to see but little time to stand and appreciate. The view from the open window - a welcome relief from the crowds indeed.
ReplyDeleteVersailles appears to be a beautiful place. Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteSorry the trip didn't go well but you still got some beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeletehey, sorry that the tour wasn't good, i like to travel the non-toursit way... and kick it with locals, they always know the best spots anyway and how to go to the touristy spots without being a tourist.
ReplyDeletejim baker
What a beautiful place and nice V, i didn't find anything this beautiful in fact mine is very blah..
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the kind words on our loss
Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI can't abide large crowds so this tour woudl have freaked me just a little. However it looks well worth the trip.
Yikes...the crowds would have done me in as well. Beautiful photos, though...and the one in which you show the crowd makes me need to take a deep breath itself. Wonderful V!
ReplyDeleteAnother place I have always wanted to see. I have been twice to Paris - third time does it!
ReplyDeleteYou have convinced me.
It looks to be a very popular tourist attraction. The gardens are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteEven if you don't like crowds, you still photograph them well. I don't like them either, which makes internet Christmas shopping all the more attractive.
ReplyDeleteExcellent "V" post. It's very interesting place to visit. I wish I could be there sometime.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
DSM
I just joined ABC Wednesday and thought I would stop by.
ReplyDeleteI miss traveling! Paris can be so beautiful if you go to the right places! I loved Versailles. I wish I could go back again!
Whoa, almost missed coming here. I always enjoy my visit since you take me away from dull, dreary Connecticut.
ReplyDeleteI won't even go tours like that anymore. Wifey doesn't even ask.
Have a great Holiday and I hope Santa brings you some new camera gear. ;)
I loved the visit to Versailles when I was there..but it was NOT crowded as we went in March...I loved looking at Marie Antoinette's "playgrounds". How sad her life must have been , really.....but an unbelievable palace. The hall of mirrors was under construction when we were there....
ReplyDeletePhotowannabe, I guess I rather have gone than not. Perhaps I can go back some day when it's not so crowded.
ReplyDeleteHpy, I guess the trick is not to go during the summer. I have seen pictures of Versailles when there was only a few tourists walking around. It must've have been winter or early spring.
ReplyDeleteDenise, luckily I don't suffer from claustrophobia, but I remember it being extremely hot so I was glad for the open window.
ReplyDeleteGerald, yes it's ironic that all the tourists were there to visit this beautiful place, but we ended up not seeing anything.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea. It is a beautiful place that pictures couldn't do it justice.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dot. It is a beautiful place, but unfortunately we were on a tight time schedule and couldn't really just hang out and just enjoy more of the view.
ReplyDeleteJim, I would love to travel the non-touristy way too, but going with family members who do not like that method of travel doesn't help.
ReplyDeleteLilli & Nevada, thank you for your reply under the circumstances. Every post is a good post so I wouldn't worry about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate Isis. I appreciate your comments. I guess suffering through the crowds was better than not have gone at all. Luckily neither I nor anyone freaked out and start a stampede.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine. From the photo, you can see the funneling effect where a mass of people were trying to go through a small doorway. We had to do this a number of times. Needless to say, we couldn't hear a word our tour guide was saying as half a dozen guides were speaking at the same time.
ReplyDeleteRunee, glad I was able to convince you to go back. Make sure it's not during the height of the tourist season. :)
ReplyDeletekml, I would've loved to roam the garden and the courtyard, but people were everywhere so it would almost be impossible to not include a crowd in my photos. Haha!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, hurrah for internet shopping! I don't mind crowds, but not in my landscape pictures. :P
ReplyDeleteDigitalShutterMania, I want to go back too. There is just so much to see around the world.
ReplyDeleteHello NYCIndividual. Welcome to ABC Wednesdays. I'll add you on my blogroll. I love to travel too. Your pictures of Pompeii are interesting and I can kick myself for missing a chance to visit Italy.
ReplyDeleteDigital Flower Pictures, thanks for your comments. I've never been to Connecticut so it's dreary to me. I figure I'd still go on these tours or I might not be able to go at all. Thanks for the holiday greetings. Same to you. All photographers can use new camera gear anytime!
ReplyDeleteNeva, I think this gives us an excuse to visit Versailles again. The mirrors should be back up now. :) I guess the trick is to go in March when the crowd is at its minimum.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories of Versailles, the crowded indoors and the spacious outdoors. I've taken students there a couple of times, once when it wasn't quite so crowded. The difference was pleasant, to say the least. The trees at the end of that view from the courtyard, the ones along the sidewalks, had been trimmed back in between my first and second visits--the change was totally unreal. You couldn't see the rows of statues like you can in your photo, and I never lucked out and saw the fountains on, either. Great photo!
ReplyDeletecrowds are a problem! but the palace is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly an amazing place; so much opulence!!
ReplyDeleteLynette, I'm glad this brought back memories for you. You are so lucky to have visited this place so many times. Thanks for pointing out the differences since your last visit. I seem to remember that the fountains are turned on only during certain times. I guess I lucked out and didn't realize it.
ReplyDeleteLara, we all came for the same reasons, but it was a little ridiculous with so many people.
ReplyDeleteKate, royalty really knows how to decorate. We common people came just to admire.
ReplyDelete