All the way through the last three weeks of classes to Paris!! Today we set off on our adventure, starting at Versailles. We were #blessed - just kidding - lucky enough, to have beautiful weather for the day, so when we escaped the crowds of the chateau, the day was ours to spend in the gardens, which cover almost two thousand acres of meticulously manicured parks 
There are usually art expositions going on in parts of versailles - here you can see a set of metal waves leading up to the chateau, where a matching arch was installed - I can't figure out who the artist is but I'll update you when I find him/her!
Apart from contemporary expositions, the art that makes up the chateau itself is breathtaking. Centuries of French philosophers, emporers, kings and republicans are depicted throughout the castle, along with heavy Catholic, Greek, and Roman influence and symbology. 
George Washington even makes an appearance in the Gallerie des Batailles! This is a section of the chateau converted by Louis XVI (I think) from private apartments into a giant hallway filled with Massive paintings of all of the battles France ever fought, all the way up to the height of the Napoleonic Empire.
After lunch on the steps of the castle and a couple of hours walking around and saying hi to the swans that live in the Grand Canal, I rented a bike and took a private tour of the rest of the grounds. I only wish I'd rented the bike earlier - there was so much left to see!
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