Good and Lost

Not human. They are allowed
 to be annoying and awake

VERSAILLES 

Went to see Versailles on Saturday. Got a bit of a late start, since Fridays hustle and bustle drained me (4 am is far too early for human life, methinks) 

Already made that mistake before.
Still have maps without wifi.

So I get dressed (today was another super hot day in Paris, although it was nothing compared to yesterday) and plan my route to Versailles, which includes taking screenshots of the directions so I can access them later. 

I buy my special ticket to Versailles and get there with no issue (although I was not able to figure out the self service ticket machine) and make the 35 minute journey to Versailles. 

It was beautiful and amazing, awe inspiring in size, and I could go on and on with adjectives. I skipped the audio tour because I am the kind of person that would have to listen to all of the recordings and it just would've been more of a challenge to complete rather than entertaining. Plus, I planned on getting out around 4ish and getting into a museum that didn't close until about 6:30 or so. 

But the palace was great (loved the hall of mirrors and the chandeliers especially) and I got a tonne of pictures and a bunch if not-so-good selfies, but those were fun too. Also, one of my selfies came out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

Underside of Chandelier. 

GARDENS

Focus today: Panoramic view
This is only a small piece of these gardens.

My visitor pass did not cover the garden, so I forked over €7 to get into the garden that had been tantalizing me through the windows of the palace and walked about some more. I don't even think I saw half of the gardens they were so huge (these gardens are large enough that they run mini trains and rent out golf carts if you so choose and have the money to do so). 

I walked the length of the gardens, got all the way to the point where the gardens officially ended and rewarded myself with some delicious ice cream. 

Then I trekked back through the garden and out towards the train station and meander through the souvenir shops and such. I grab a sandwich and did not particularly enjoy it because some guy kept coming around and asking for money and taking peoples leftovers. 

HOMEWARD BOUND?

I finally go to the station which is blocked off. The station is letting no one in to get on the trains and now I'm seriously starting to freak out because I am like 40 minutes out of the city and I've no idea what's happenng. My first thought was 'strike' and I was like 'oh no, oh no, oh no'.

I'm still not sure what it was because the employee told me to turn right and walk 15 minutes to the next station, so at least that nixed the strike idea, which made me feel better.

It was not simple or easy. Instead I wandered for the better part if 2 1/2 hours, looking into shops and taking pictures as I attempted to follow street signs and asked some 7-8 people about where to get (showed them a screenshot I took of the map outside the station because never would have remembered the name properly otherwise). 

It starts to rain. I have a fight with my emergency poncho (it wins) I ask my last person for directions and I FIND IT. 

Most beautiful train station in the world.

I ask for some more directions, because while I do know a way back I can clearly see it is not the best one for this new station. So instead I go towards another route and while I am waiting te line changes (thanking the 5+ years of metro service for being able to understand that an announcement followed by mass movement means a switch. The train that takes its place on line B is even better for me, so I get on it and get back to the hotel with no trouble. Missed all the museums and churches that day, but I made it back in one piece so I'll consider that a fair trade off. 

I am so much better at maps involving the underground and metros than I am with street signs. So much better. 

Never ask me for street directions. 

Please.