Saturday Shenanigans: Pastries, Palaces, and Pyrotechnics at Versailles
Saturday’s here, and we’re ready to conquer Paris—starting with breakfast, of course! Our new buddy Adel (a.k.a. the best receptionist ever) recommended we hit up Béchu, a cozy spot just a quick stroll from our hotel. Pan au chocolat? Check. Baguette? Check. Water bottles? Well, you gotta stay hydrated, right? 💧
With our carb-loaded breakfast in hand, we wandered over to the Trocadéro area, which was completely shut down (thank you, Olympics), so we did the next best thing: parked ourselves at a local café. We treated ourselves to crepes slathered in strawberry jam and indulged in the famous Parisian hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Wow. Just wow. It hits different in Paris, let me tell you.
Since trains were a no-go (thanks again, Olympics), we Ubered our way over to Versailles for our first peek at the palace. And let me tell you, it’s everything you’ve heard and more—stunning doesn’t even cover it. The palace, which started as a humble hunting lodge, now boasts over 700 rooms, 60 staircases, 1,200 fireplaces, 400 sculptures, 1,400 fountains, and...1 bathroom. Yes, you read that right. ONE bathroom. I wish I were joking.
The place was packed with tourists, but we’d smartly booked a tour ahead of time to see the King’s private apartment—a suite of rooms designed for more personal moments like dinner parties, game nights, and showing off his impressive art collection.
We explored the King’s clock room, where we learned about Louis XV’s obsession with science and astronomy, his insanely well-crafted clothes cabinet, the dog’s room (which is nicer than any room I’ve ever stayed in), the post-hunting dining room, and the King’s private chambers.
And yes, we even saw that infamous single toilet. Apparently, people just used to pee on the walls back in the day.
Classy, right?
We then wandered through the Hall of Mirrors and the rest of the palace, picking up some wild fun facts along the way:
The gardens smelled so strong they made visitors sick—how this was possible with no bathrooms and pee-covered walls, I do not know.
Mirror makers were literally kidnapped from Venice because they had the monopoly on mirror-making at the time. Who knew mirrors were so serious?
The King only ate cold meals because the palace was so massive that the kitchen was nowhere near his dining room. Talk about dedication.
Marie Antoinette had her own secret hideaway on the property, complete with a theater and a farm.
There’s a royal opera house inside the palace that’s still used today.
The palace played a huge role in scientific research—Louis XV and XVI were super into it and made Versailles a hub for researchers and doctors.
The royal gate was destroyed during the French Revolution, so the one we see now is actually a recreation with 100,000 gold leaves. Fancy!
Hot chocolate was the drink of choice at Versailles, and the King’s absolute favorite. I mean, same.
We decided to explore the massive gardens by renting a golf cart (because obviously) and cruised around the towering trees that gave off major Triwizard Tournament vibes from Harry Potter.
We checked out the giant pond, where people were paddle boating and canoeing, and marveled at all the fountains dotted across the property. Just as we were really getting into it, we got the boot—they needed to set up for the Grandes Eaux Nocturnes (aka the epic nighttime fireworks show). But don’t worry, we grabbed some gelato on the way out. 🍦
We spent a few hours chilling in Versailles outside the palace, grabbed some dinner, and then headed back in for the grand finale.
The gardens had been completely
transformed into a
magical wonderland
with wine carts, fountain shows, bubbles, lights, and so much more. We wandered around, soaking it all in, and then settled in to watch the fire show before getting into prime position for the fireworks display over the palace.
It was beautiful, special, and just plain magical. We had the BEST day, and as soon as the last firework fizzled out, we dashed back to the hotel in a downpour (because of course it started raining) and collapsed into bed.
Tomorrow, we’re up at 5 AM for our next adventure—any guesses where we’re headed? 🛫