Blake here. It has been a long time since I have written anything on this blog. First off, I am lazy. But it also seems like every time I think I am going to write something, I end up with another assignment, another rehearsal, or (this week) a really terrible migraine.
Over one month ago, I had one of the most wonderful birthdays of my life. In the middle of our trip to Paris, we took a side trip to Versailles--city of the palaces of the Sun King and the gardens of Marie Antoinette! I was very excited about the hedge mazes, mirrored halls, and gobs of gold. I wasn't disappointed!
Sara and I in front of the Palace Gates:
Venturing inside the massive palace, we took a self-guided tour of all the 17th century chambers. Below is the famous Hall of Mirrors:
I failed to mention that the temperature was just above freezing with the wicked wind chill, but we had to spend some time in the gardens...Well, "some time" turned into hours and we walked through every part of the massive estate. Some of the gardens were closed for the winter, and many of the fountains were off, but you could still get a wonderful idea of just how grand it would be to parade around them as a king or queen. Practically no one else was out in the gardens, so it became a sort of video game-esque adventure with Sara and me exploring mazes of hedges, trees, and statues. Constantly imagining scenes from Tomb Raider or Zelda, we were blissfully happy little kids again!
But after spending most of the day in the main gardens, we had not yet explored Marie Antoinette's favourite haunt: La Petite Trianon and its grounds. Emerging from a beautiful forest path, we stumbled right onto a pond-side village--a beautiful contrast of quaint British farmhouses and quirky towers only Marie Antoinette could dream up.
We spent a lot of time taking in the farm and the wooded pathways around it (up to the closing hours of the estate!) but it was simply amazing. 
A long, long walk back to the main palace and then off to catch a train back into Paris! I enjoyed every minute of my birthday. It was so much like being set loose in a giant park for a day. Perfect. I will return to Versailles someday! I hear that it becomes intensely more beautiful as all of the flowers come into bloom. I can't wait!
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