22 January 1977 - Saturday
We were up a little late again this morning. Had breakfast and set out on our ventures. We caught a bus[1] to the Louvre and got there (about 10:40) still in time to join up with a tour in English. We saw the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, and a climax to the tour, the Mona Lisa. After that we looked at some of the other parts of the museum, seeing quite a few famous paintings or paintings by famous painters (Rubens, esp, also David, Ingres, Delacroix.)
We decided to try to get to Versailles. We got a bus to Les Invalides Metro Station, then caught the National Railway system commuter line to Versailles, putting us within a short walk to the Palace. This is the recommended route in Europe on $10 a Day for Eurail-pass holders. In fact, no one ever checked our tickets either coming or going, but perhaps they spot check the way they do on busses.
Before we got to the palace, we stopped at a little restaurant and had lunch (it was already 13:00). Susanna & I had very long hot dogs (two wieners in French bread).
Versailles Palace would probably be better in the spring or summer. We got there too late to see much. We signed up for a tour of the King’s chamber and went on that. I could barely get the drift of the narrative since it was all in French. Susanna was more fidgety than usual and didn’t have any space to move around in.
Not only that! Guards were all around to make sure no one touched anything. After the tour we found everything locked up, so we strolled around the gardens and headed for home. We got to the station just as a train was pulling out and hoped on it. At the Paris station, we got the bus back to our area.
For supper, we went to a Chinese restaurant down the street and got a meal that was very good. The parts weren’t so easily recognized.
Susanna and Alice had baths and have gone to bed. This pen has run out of ink.
[1] An inspector was on this bus. He looked at everyone’s ticket. This must be the way they con everyone into paying. Otherwise, I don’t see how they can tell who has paid and who hasn’t.
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