Napoleon's Chair

Today during our free afternoon Kim, Jen, Laura, Dawn, Michael, Aaron and I visited the Palace of Versailles! We went with the specific intent to see the Hall of Mirrors, though I also wanted to see where Marie-Antoinette had lived since I wrote an essay on her this year. The Palace was understandably packed to the brim with tourists, but I wasn't bothered because the experience was worth every second of crowding. We had a little bit of trouble finding the Palace at first as there was minimal signage after we got off the Metro. We found our way there though with the assistance of a tour company and found out it was just around the corner. The building is instantly recognizable, it's gold detailings glittering in the sun from over a football field away.
We headed for the Hall of Mirrors first, though along the way we got to see the thrones of many European royals and nobles of the time. One of the most exciting thrones for me personally was the throne of Tsar Nicholas II, as well as seeing Napoleon's throne and senate seat (which was marked with a large N, in case you forgot who was supposed to sit there).

We perused through the King and Queen's bedchambers, as well as through the Dauphine's Apartments and the rooms of the King's mistresses such as Madame du Pompadour. We got in a fight in the Gallery of Battles and marvelled at the gardens (though we did not actually tour them, merely gaze upon them throught the windows of the palace). Every aspect of the architecture and design was intricate and extravagant, evoking the memory of the royalty that once dwelled within those halls.

-Erin