Leaving Limoges yesterday morning, we had planned to drive up to Versailles and tour the Chateau again – this time during the summer when the plants were in bloom and the fountains were turned on.  We booked a hotel in a town nearby (on the West side of Paris) thereby hoping to avoid the traffic and problems of downtown, and yet get in a good day of seeing a wonderful location a second time.

Unfortunately, the weather did not behave. It was cold in the morning and rained the entire 240 mile drive up.  As we got within about an hour to Versailles, it was clear that we weren’t going to spend a bunch of money as entry fees to wander around the gardens in the rain.  We began making other plans.

I suggested that perhaps, as long as the weather is cruddy, we could park at Versailles and take the Metro into downtown Paris … perhaps find that little shop near Notre Dame where Brenda bought some lithographs over the New Year’s holiday time period.  I didn’t have to suggest twice.

In Versailles, we found a place to park just several blocks from the Metro station, figured out how to buy tickets, and 30 minutes later, we were in front of Notre Dame. We found a place to eat on the Left Bank of the Seine and then began hunting down the shop.  As luck would have it, he was open, and we are managing to bring home several new prints – all by Yves Brayer.  We bought one of his horse lithographs the last time.

It never really cleared up, but the rains stayed away, and it was plenty warm in town.  We spent the afternoon just walking along the river, seeing the sights, and enjoying a very pleasant Friday afternoon.  Today (Saturday) is Bastille Day – so there were many things going on in preparation of some real celebrating the following day.  It was fun to see everyone getting ready to party – and just as gratifying to know that we were getting out of Dodge before it got too crazy. As Brenda observed (based on personal experience): “You do not want to be in Paris the day after a party.”  The day before was wonderful, and the visit did a lot to erase some of the sour memories we had of this place just 7 months earlier.

Later in the day, the rains began to spit again, so we high-tailed it back to a Metro station, rode back to Versailles, and then drove to our B&B in Bailly (about 10 minutes from Versailles) to crash for the night.

Woops, here we go again. Didn’t expect to see this on the trip!

Shopping at the little stands along the Seine.

Hanging out at the Quay.

Obligatory shot along the river.

The Locks Bridge. Lovers put locks up with their names written on them, to symbolize being locked together in love forever. (Brenda’s note: The “Jinksist” in me would never allow me to do such a thing!)

Playing in the fountain at the Louvre. This time, we actually could go in if we wanted – almost no line. That would have eaten up the rest of the day, so we decided to skip and just keep walking around town.

Baguettes, naked statues and Ferris wheels. All at the Tuileries Gardens.

Holden trying to “relax” like the others at the West Fountain in the Jardin des Tuileries. He’s the third guy in, leaning back in his chair.

Carting around my treasures: that tube is filled with three lithographs by Yves Brayer, one of them signed and numbered by the artist.

Champs de Elysees, ready for tomorrow’s Bastille Day parade.

This was my view of Brenda once it looked like it was about to rain. She has her treasures in that tube and was not about to let them get wet. She has higher and higher speeds to shift into when she wants them.