6.14 TUESDAY-VERSAILLES

OR

How the rain almost spoiled our day… but that really wasn’t what did.

“Sorry Monsieur, I can't sell you a ticket.”

“Por Quoi, Monsieur?” Asks Rod.

But Wait... we need to start the day...

Police sirens and the lady across the hall yelling at her kids beat the alarm to wake us up to a beautiful day.

Time to hustle the morning ritual and grab a croissant and coffee at FranPrix on the way to pick up Rod and Juanita. Then off to the Javel RER C station to buy tickets to Versailles.

A quick tour of their flat at 7 Rue De L’eglise, right down from us showed that they got the better deal for a modern flat on the ground floor. 

It was just a short walk to Javel but the ticket machines were a little balky.  Fortunately Chucky has no problem finding a willing soul to help and using the machine outside the station they secured tickets to and from Versailles Rive Gauche.  A short wait and they boarded train VICK along with an interesting tour group.

A lovely train ride deposited us a the end of the line. On the way to the Chateau, we pass a ticket office and since Rod hadn’t been able to get tickets online the day of the trip, we stopped and were greeted with:

“Sorry Monsieur, I cant sell you a ticket.”

“Por Quoi, Monsieur?” Asks Rod.

“It is closed due to Strike.”

W.T.F!!!!

Oh it just keeps getting better, just wait!

“It may open around 1000 -1100hrs but I cant sell tickets until then.”

“OK… we have tickets,” says Chucky, “lets go see how bad the lines are.”

So we traipse off to the Chateau and arrive to see a line all the way out to the Monument in the central arrival area.  Of course there are more buses arriving so Chucky leaves them to hold a spot and walks up to the gate to see if there is more info.  Now we bought the tickets online to “Beat the Lines”.  So much for that as it seems there is only one line in before the ticket office for security check.

Word from the other side…they’re still meeting, more news maybe 1030.

Back to “Our Gang” and watch more busses arrive and see the line stretch all the way to the bus lot

What started out as a Beautiful day is about to get a lot grimmer as… the clouds start to roll in.  Yup, 54F, its gonna rain and we're stuck outside in a line 300 meters long. 

We all have umbrellas, many folks don’t and the rains comes in sheets, with a 15 MPH wind… Oh Joy.

What isn’t covered by our meager travel umbrellas is quickly getting soaked and freezing.  Juanita finally breaks down and calls over one of the Senegalese vendors, who have everything from Tour Eiffel trinkets to scarfs, tee shirts, Umbrellas and PONCHOS!

A little haggle gets him down from e10 to e5 and she gets at least the top half covered, but all our bottom halves and shoes are soaked.

Do we wait, or do we bolt?  We’ll wait.  The rain is relentless and at 1100 we see a break at the front of the line - all heading back to the train.  A passerby confirms that its closed for the day.

NOW, it clears up.

Well, we all agree it was a lovely train ride.

Off to find something hot and a nosh along with some trinkets for the kids Then another lovely train ride back to drop The Westmaas’ back at their flat to get dried out.  We agree to meet up 1530 at to grab a quick bite before they head out to Gare du Nord and the EuroStar back to Jolly Old.

After sauntering up one rue after the other we settle on a “Que Cute” spot on the corner for some unremarkable eats and beer and that is that.

We walk Rod and Juanita back to their flat with hugs and kisses all around with a promise to make the London the Next trip.

We get back to the Flat to relax, catch up on NOWAT and after a brief nap decide to try and find Le Coup Chou for an authentic Parisian meal… but that little sojourn will have to wait ‘til the next post.

Are you having fun yet?  They REALLY are, in spite of the Trip Goblin’s trying to rain on their parade… Oh Wait… they did.

Ciao Pour L’instant,

Uncle Chuck & The Ready for the next Adventure

Dragon Lady