Versailles

I finally visited Versailles on this, my ninth trip to Paris. I was prepared for the grandeur but, like most people, I was bowled over by the scale of the place. It's so bloody large! The excess is beyond belief and had me thinking, "Off with their heads!".
The Chateau was filled with teeming humanity. After two hours in line I regretted not buying tickets in advance.
There was a show of artist Jeff Koons' work both in the Chateau and in the gardens. Although I took plenty of photos, this site has better ones. I am not a fan of Koons' work so was not particularly impressed by this exhibit. In my opinion, with the exception of the big red heart near the exit and the purple mirror in the Hall of Mirrors, most of the pieces were a distraction. These for example:

Inflatable lobsters? A porcelain Michael Jackson? I guess I just don't get it.
I much preferred the Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette's hameau, a recreation of a quaint village and farm for the Queen's amusement when the grandeur of the Chateau became too much for her to bear.



I understand how she felt. The Chateau overwhelmed me and the uncrowded country feeling at le hameau was a welcome respite.
It was a very full day topped off with a good dinner at a restaurant on the market square in Versailles and a short train ride back to bed.