Comments on: Visit Versailles in Historic Novel

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:43:03 +0000

Both Sound great, and I’ll try to review them here before I go.
Thanks for YOUR suggestions.

By: Libbie

Libbie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:02:55 +0000

Two more tips for books to read before your trip:

Road from the Past by Ina Caro is a travelogue through the history of France. Beautifully written.

An Hour from Paris by Annabel Simms is much more a guide book. It lists many interesting day trips from Paris with details of the site and how to travel to it. Very well done.

And thank you for the suggestions of good new books to enjoy.

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:53:12 +0000

Alexandra: Great advice. I have to decide how many mansions my husband can tolerate in this relatively short trip.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:38:54 +0000

I worked near Versailles for a year and drove by every Saturday (for my radio show.) I recommend visiting Versailles’ Salle des Glaces at sunset, as late as the rules allow, when they turn on the lights and everything glitters. You need to arrive a bit earlier to walk through to that part of the palace. I also recommend visiting Malmaison, (which is closer to Paris grace au RER), Josephine’s home, especially if you intend to read the Josephine B. trilogy mentioned above. Malmaison is smaller, so much easier to absorb. You need to check on when it’s open, as I remember taking American friends there by car and finding it closed. There is an RER stop in Rueil-Malmaison but I have never gotten off the express subway in Rueil so cannot give you info on how close it is to Malmaison. Best to see a guidebook. June is the best time, of course, when her rose garden is in blown.

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:02:55 +0000

Thanks for that advice. I was going to ask you if the candlelight tour would be worthwhile. We took the night tour of Alhambra and were very glad we had. And I notice that Vaux le Vicomte has a celebration (fete?) on certain weekends. I wonder if that is worthwhile–or if the King might send us to prison for upstaging him?

By: Sandra Gulland

Sandra Gulland — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:18:40 +0000

Vera, Vaux le Vicomte has a wonderful by-candlelight-only evening tour. It’s a lovely taste of history.

Sandra

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By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:21:57 +0000

I’m sure you both saw my post some time ago about a pastry chef in Paris–The Sweet Life in Paris? If not, look it up. I absolutely loved that book.

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:12:21 +0000

Sandra:
Thanks for the tip about Vaux le Vicomte. Now I definitely have to go there, since I have the information from the author of Mistress of the Sun. And I’ll be pleased to come back and let you know how the trip goes, and my impressions of Versailles and Vaux le Vicomte.
I’m sure that the Josephine saga would be terrific reading, if I can squeeze it in among all the books that I’ve assigned myself for this blog! I’ve always been fascinated by Josephine, and when we were in St. Lucia, we were told that she had lived for a time in a plantation there. I planned to visit it but ran out of time.
I hope that some of my readers will take advantage of this opportunity to say “Hi” to you.

Vera

By: jessiev

jessiev — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:57:46 +0000

i haven’t read it yet, but it sounds very interesting. you’d also like to read alec lobrano’s Hungry for Paris. fantastic food recommendations, as well as teaches you abt the neighborhoods, french culture, the french culture of food,and more.
jessiev´s last blog ..Mom Most Traveled – Exploring Family Life Abroad

By: Kerry Dexter

Kerry Dexter — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:57:36 +0000

in preparing for your trip to France, you might want to check out The Sharper the Knife, the Less You Cry. it’s an account by an American woman of time spent studying at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, which also gives a feeling of contemporary life in a Paris neighborhood.
Kerry Dexter´s last blog ..Music from the Atlantic Fringe