Day 2 Paris

Sunday  11th July.
Slept like a log all night.  Didn't stir at all.  Awoke feeling refreshed and ready to go.  Only problem was that it was 3:30 in the morning. That jet lag's a real pain!  Thought about reading for a while, but the only place I could think of that wouldn't wake everyone else was in the toilet.  Dozed on and off for a while until about 5:00am when everyone else started to wake up.
After a family conference over a bowl of cornflakes, we decided that today would be a day of culture and palaces.  The train station is just across the road from our apartment, and we headed out to the Musee D'Orsay, a museum of french impressionist artists situated in an old train station.  Sunday must be a popular day for art lovers, as we had to stand in line for about 45 minutes.  We finally got inside and were treated to an absolute magnificent collection of art, some of which, surprisingly, we recognised!  We saw Whistlers Mother, Monet's Waterlilies and Van Gough's self portrait, as well as many others which we recognised but did know the name of (Not in French anyway).  We also saw a few that made us seriously blush - Hope the boys weren't paying too much  attention. 
Had Crepes with chocolate and banana for lunch. - Banana, yum, almost forgot what it tastes like.  Everyone we have met has been so friendly, from the local french people that we have come across to the other tourists (Ireland, Brazil, Scotland, Columbia, Canada) that we have bumped into on our travels.   After lunch we took the train and headed off for the Versailles Palace.  During the train ride, we saw the original statue of Liberty, about 10% of the size of the one in the States.

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Once in Versailles, we walked down the avenue with beautiful trees either side and there it was, an absolutely magnificent and awe inspiring building.  - And an absolutely awe inspiring line of people waiting to get in.  The line snaked back and forth, back and forth, each segment about 100m long.  At least the line was moving fast, as we only had to wait for about an hour until we were inside.  Inside the palace all the rooms were very elaborately decorated, with woven silk curtains, gold leaf decorations and paintings by French masters on the walls.  Even the Mona Lisa used to hang there once upon a time.  The crowds inside were much like the crowds outside - I have a good appreciation for what a sardine must feel like!  Outside the palace there is a very large and decorative garden, many hectares long, with hedges and fountains.  The highlight however, is the hall of mirrors.  A huge corridor with painted ceilings and mirrors that appears to run for 100 metres.  A very spectacular place but we were glad to get back on the train to rest our sore feet. Enjoy some of our photos.