Mom and Brad's Visit: Versailles

So this isn't Versailles. It's the library (I'm presuming of music) at the Opera Garnier. I thought that I had written a post of my visit there for my monuments class, but it turns out that I didn't, which I've only just realized. Anyways, it's my favorite place that we've visited so far. Sorry I don't have more pictures to share with you! (you should really see it for yourself anyways, pictures don't do it justice...)

Now onto Versailles! This is the main courtyard, but as you can see, its undergoing some renovations. From what I could gather, they're painting it gold.

The chapel that Louis XIV had built when he was in his religious, I've-outlived-everyone phase

Right now, there's a special exhibit by American "super" artist Jeff Koons at Versailles. It is a much debated exhibit, and people seem to either love it or hate it. I love it.

Balloon Dog in the Salon d'Hercule.

Rabbit in the Salon de l'Abondance.

Michael Jackson and Bubbles in the Salon de Venus.

Ushering in Banality in the Salon de Diane.

Lobster in the Salon de Mars.

Louis XIV in the Salon de Mercure.

Self-Portrait in the Salon d'Apollan.

Bear and Policeman in the Salon de la Guerre.

View out the window at the gardens.

Hall of Mirrors. Last time I was here, the whole thing was under renovation, so it's the first time that I got to see the whole thing all of its glory.

Moon in the galleries des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors).

View of the royal courtyard. That gold sculpture in the middle off in the distance is Jeff Koons's Balloon Flower.

Pink Panther in the Salon de la Paix.

Large vase of flowers in the Chambre de la Reine (Queen's bedroom).

Jim Bean - J.B. Turner Train in the Salon des Nobles.

New Hoover Convertibles Green, Green, Red, New Hoover Deluxe Shampoo Polishers, New Shelton Wet/Dry 5-Gallon, Displaced Tripledecker in the Antichambre du Grand Couvert.

Chainlink Fence in the Salle des Gardes.

Another view outside the window, this time of the south gardens.

Hanging Heart in the Alcove de l'Escalier de La Reine.

Sunset in the Versailles Gardens.

Some woods on the grounds of the Versailles Gardens.