4 April 2008

In addition to the Metro system which serves much of central Paris, there is the RER which is the regional express system. The RER passes through the heart of Paris but is designed to serve the suburbs. It interconnects with the Metro but is useful if you intend to go outside the metropolitan area.

Today we went to Versailles but not to the Palace. Even so, we've just run across a lovely description of the Palace (in Frommer's Paris 2008) which is too good not to include:

Back in the grand siecle (the 17th century), all you needed was a sword, a hat, and a bribe for the guard at the gate. Provided you didn't look as if you had smallpox, you'd be admitted to the Chateau de Versailles, where you could stroll through salon after glittering salon--watching the Sun King rise--and dress and dine and do even more intimate things while you gossiped, danced, plotted, flirted and trysted.

Well, since Bruce had forgotten his sword, we visited the town of Versailles and had a most enjoyable day wandering around. The trip from central Paris to Versailles takes only about thirty minutes and costs 5 euro 60 return. Admission to the Chateau is 13 euro 50 so for just under 20 euros you can have a day out at the Chateau de Versailles. This compares more than favourably with the approximately 70 euros charged by the tour companies! The Chateau is about a five minute walk from the train station. Feeling more confident every day we are now investigating some other side trips (not through tour companies!).

Versailles is very bourgeoise. Just look at the town hall, the Mairie! Being within easy commuting distance of Paris, it attracts an executive class. We were interested to note that the Damart shop, one of which can be found in Elizabeth Street, Hobart was very up-market. Somehow it did not have quite the same feel as the rather frumpy shop in Hobart. C'est la vie!

In the centre of Versailles there is a wonderful market which takes up the entire central square. It was in full swing when we were there just before lunch and it is primarily a food market. Such stalls of vegetables, meats, cheeses and poultry would be hard to imagine had we not seen them.
After a busy day out we decided on a quiet night in. Although we have only been here a week, it seems longer - in the best sense of the word. Probably that is because we have returned to the same neighbourhood and there is a feeling of comfortable familiarity now.