Getting to Versailles really is a “piece of cake”.   We just took the metro from the Odeon metro station to the Javal metro stop.  We exited, crossed the street and made a perfect connection with the RER.   In about 20 minutes we pulled into the Versailles station and took the 15 minute walk to the impressive chateau.  The group took the opportunity to get some nice snapshots at the gate of Versailles.   Since the crowds were practically non-existent, we walked right in, got our audio guides (no extra charge) and started the tour.      I think the people in our group really “lost their heads” over the impressive Hall of Mirrors.  It was redone about 3 years ago.  The glitter and gold is absolutely stunning in its extravagance.   I recently purchased a Flip video camera and I took quite a bit of video that I will post when I arrive back in the U.S.

Most members of the group stayed the day at Versailles.  There are guided tours and special exhibits.  Again, the big advantage of traveling this time of year, despite the colder weather, is the relative lack of crowds.

The Thursday night plan was to go over to the Musee d’Orsay.   The Orsay is just a bit too far to walk, so we made a bit tricky metro/RER connection over there.   No problem with pickpockets tonight!   Some of group decided to go over to the Eiffel Tower first to be dazzled by the nightly light show.   The Orsay is re-arranged a bit due to some renovations and the most famous of their Monets. Manets, Van Gogh’s, Pissaro’s, and other Impressionists are now located downstairs.   There was a special exhibit on pop-art featuring record album covers, art, furniture, posters and more from the 1960’s.   To do the Orsay justice,  I would like to spend at least 2, 3-hour sessions there.  They have a nice café to relax in also.

Afterwards, most of us wanted the “mussels and beer” experience.   We were treated well at Leon of Brussels, a chain of Belgian restaurants located here in Paris.

We got back at the hotel at about 11:30 – exhausted!

Random notes:  Wine bars open later in the afternoon and are a great place to relax and chat in.   It was sunny and over 41 degrees today which made all of the difference in the world.   Parisians seem to get up and going later in the day than we do, but in general, work somewhat later.