May 24, 2025: Brussels to Paris and Versailles

We started the day in Brussels. We intended to walk over to the Grand Place first thing in the morning, but everyone was sleeping and sleeping hard, so we decided that sleep was more important. Mom got up and showered first, and then I got in the shower. When I got out, Mom was back asleep with everyone else. I thought that sounded like a good idea too, but it was just after 9 am, and my mind didn’t want to sleep. Instead, I read a book until 9:45 a.m. I had to wake Brian up! And then at 10, I woke up Michael and then Rachel. I let Gabe wake up to our collective noise, which didn’t take long (and I was SOOOOOO glad that he slept that long!). We quickly got ready, but it took longer to back up than I thought it would. We rushed to the train station and straight to the Eurostar without getting the Belgium Waffles that we planned to get and without eating a good breakfast (I had brought some Pop Tarts from home (I only get them when we go on a trip), and so the kids and I had those, and Mom and Brian ate a granola bar and Protein bar, respectively. 

We made it to Paris, and then we had to figure out if we could drop our luggage off at our temporary apartment. While Brian called the apartment people, Mom and I turned to google to try to figure out how to get to it. We eventually figured out where to buy a ticket and where to go to catch the proper metro line.

It didn’t take long to get to our new place, but once we got there, we were pretty hungry—and had 6 flights of stairs to climb with our heavy luggage. And the stairs were the spiral staircase kind with triangle like steps and very shallow treads. It was brutal, especially on empty stomachs! We had originally booked a different place, but yesterday, we received word that they were moving us to a new place due to flooding. They assured us that the bed situation was similar, but I’m 90% sure that the place I booked didn’t have two sleeper sofa/futon beds. I really made sure my mom didn’t have to sleep on a bed like that, so I’m a little grumpy about the change. The 6 flights of stairs didn’t help. We keep reminding ourselves that our new standard of bed is that it is flat (trying to sleep sitting up on an overnight flight has helped us appreciate actual beds).

Once we made it up to the apartment and put our bags down, we realized that we only had 15 minutes until our guide would be there to pick us up. So, we quickly worked on using the bathroom, and then Mom and I headed out to find food. We picked a nearby sandwich shop that looked like it would be quick (but wasn’t as quick as we had hoped). Our guide, Eleanore, was so kind and gracious to wait for us and let us scarf our sandwiches down before we got in the van to head to Versailles.

On the way to Versailles, we passed by the Eiffel Tower, and boy was everyone excited! It was so fun watching it get bigger and then being able to pass really close to it. I wish we had been able to capture the reactions on video! It was a highlight for sure.  

Our tour guide was delightful and kept us entertained through most of the drive. We finally got to Versailles and WOW! We had seen pictures, but nothing prepared us for the incredible size and magnificence of it. Our jaws dropped and our eyes were alight with awe and delight. We had finally made it here! 

We took a picture in front of the gate while Eleanore got our tickets,

and then we skipped the line like VIPs. After a quick potty break and distribution of head sets for us to hear her, [we started our tour.]

(August 3) Eleanore started by giving us some historical background of Versailles. It was originally a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, and then Louis XIV transformed it into the luxurious palace it is now. We learned how Louis XIV became king at age 5, with his mother acting as regent, and when he was 10, someone broke into his bedroom, which freaked his mother out and led Louis XIV, the Sun King, to have a great mistrust of people. Versailles became a gilded smoke and mirrors show so he could keep a close watch on all the aristocracy, avoiding betrayals and loss of his power.  Louis XIV's great grandson became the next king upon the Sun King's death. Louis XV was also 5 when he became king, but he was much, much more frugal and much more conservative than his great-grandfather, but years of over the top opulence and spending during Louis's XIV's reign left France in a rough position, and so by the time Louis XVI came to power, France was a powder keg about to explode with a revolution. 

We got to peak at the chapel within Versailles

and then we (back to our May account) toured the King’s Apartments,

Eleanore teaching us about Palace Life

Eleanore showing us what the ladies used during parties to relieve themselves. We will never see gravy boats the same again! 

the Hall of Mirrors,

Looking posh in the Hall of Mirrors. The Royal Apartments are on the other side of the wall of mirrors. 

Rachel's face after hearing another crazy and gross fact about Versailles, maybe about how a crowd gathered to watch the King take care of business first thing in the morning

and the Queen’s Apartments. [This is how Marie Antoinette had it decorated].

We saw the Napoleon galleries,

Copy of Jacques-Louis David's "The Coronation of Napoleon" by Georges Rouget 

[Eleanore was disappointed with our lack of reaction when she presented the painting depicting the Battle of Yorktown, shown here.]

and then had a quick stop at the top of the gardens. They were throwing a special party at Versailles tonight, so they closed early, and we couldn’t stay long in the gardens. Gabe was grateful since he was tired of walking. He took one look at those extensive grounds and asked in dismay, “Are you going to look at the whole thing?!” 

Fountain depicting the myth of Latona cursing the Lycines to live in the pond forever after they muddied up the water when she tried to drink it. 

Us acting like we were turning into frogs like the guys depicted in the fountain

We walked back into the main square in front of Versailles to electric beats from the DJ. 

Versailles was really cool and also really sad. The opulence of King Louis IVX played a large role in his great-great-grandson Louis VIX losing his head as a result of the revolution. I left feeling really bad for Marie Antoinette who got bargained into her marriage at age 14, was ignored by her husband, and had to get permission to watch a simple sunset. The people made her the symbol of their hatred, and she has been quoted as saying, “Let them eat cake” when she actually never said that. Poor woman; she never stood a chance. 

Passing the Eiffel Tower again on our way back to Paris

Our driver (I think she said his name was Kim?), dropped us all off near our apartment,

Brian, Michael, Devri, Rachel, our Driver Kim, Gabe, Eleanore, and Grandma

and the boys and Rachel ran some things up to our apartment

Acting like Snobs in front of Snob Hotel

while Mom and I tried to find a place for dinner. We picked a cute cafe called, “Au Pere Tranquille”.

We ate outside on the little tables, and it was SOO good.

Mom, Brian, and I split two meals, Gabe and Rachel got Nutella Crepes, and Michael got the famous French Onion Soup. We shared Crème Brûlée, a lava cake, and a tarte tatin , which was kind of like an apple pie. All the food was so good and restored our faith in everyone’s testimonies of French food. 

Brian took the kids back to get Gabe in bed, and mom and I found a grocery store near the metro station.

My phone died right after we parted ways, and Mom had decided not to use her service that day, so I was a little worried about how we would get into the apartment (there was a code that Brian had sent to my phone to get in). Mom decided it was okay to get service at that point, so after signing back up, we were good to go (though I REALLY missed not being able to look up things on my phone!) It was a bit of an adventure buying food with everything in French, but a few nice people helped us out. We saw St. Eustace Church nearby that looks really similar to Notre Dame,

and then we headed home, lugging 6 liters of water and trying to be quick about it before it got dark and more homeless people set up for the night (we saw 2 spots already set up near the church).

6 Flights of stairs later, and we were all ready to go to sleep. 

Best

Brian: Versailles!! I loved seeing the outside, the Hall of Mirrors, the places where people I’ve learned about my whole life actually lived (and died). Our tour guide, Eleanore, was amazing.
Devri: Versailles. The Hall of Mirrors was really cool to see. First getting there was so impressive. The one room that had concrete moldings on the ceiling had such a great contrast from painted and ornate to grey coffered ceiling. The texture was really cool. Maybe the best part of the day was the tour guide.
Leta: Versailles. It was amazing, much larger than I thought it was. I thought it was large, but it was massive.
Michael: Versailles. All of it.
Rachel: Versailles. The tour guide was amazing and all of her facts that she shared and how she shared it. Also, the food: the chicken, the steak, and the crepe.
Gabe: sleeping the night before or maybe the cafe

Worst
Brian: Rushing out the door in the morning. Or the stairs up to the apartment.
Devri: Six flights of stairs. No good breakfast before getting to Paris combined with the stairs made it really awful.
Leta: Stairs.
Michael: Probably stairs.
Rachel: My headache at the end of Versailles. I also woke up with it, but I really struggled at the end of the day.
Gabe: How cold I was at Versailles

Versailles impressions:
Gabe: It was pretty amazing

(well doesn't that sum it all up?)