Well. Things didn't quite go to plan, but we had a memorable adventure anyway. We woke up earlyish to go to the local market, but we bailed because it was cold and wet outside, and we were warm and comfortable. We eventually left the flat and walked down to the Place de la Contrescarpe where it is easier for pickup (our street is one-way) and ordered a taxi to the Gare de Lyon. We were dropped off on the lower level where all the Metro and RER connections are. We were looking for Line R of the RER and it was nowhere to be found. With some help from someone who didn't speak English, we figured out that the platform we needed was up two levels. Anyhow, we finally found the right platform just as the doors to the train closed -- and wouldn't open. A kind young man told us we needed to walk back to the far end of the platform from whence we had just come, and there we found our actual train. The ride was smooth quiet and very fast. We disembarked at the Melun station and proceeded to Cafe de la Gare across the street where a shuttle should have been waiting for us.
We had decided back in Provo as we were planning that a day out would nice, and Vaux Le Vicomte was identified as a site of interest. Tickets for a shuttle from Melun to the château and entrance to the palace were procured. It turns out that the shuttle only runs once a day in December and there would be no shuttle for us at the Cafe de la Gare today. Instead, a very nice driver taxied us from the gare to the château, a 20 minute ride out into the countryside. Sadly, his WiFi connection wasn't working today and he would need cash payment. Who has cash, for pity's sake? Well fortunately Annie did. She had a 20 Euro bill and 1 Pound 20p in English coins, which he accepted. So we made it to Vaux Le Vicomte for our entrance time. All was well until we entered the first room: it was shuttered tight and set up with a phenomenal Christmas display based on a Fairy Tale. Extravagant and fun, but not what we had come to see. As it happened every room was decked out thus! All the dozens of children with their grandparents in tow, were thrilled, but we were confused and disappointed. Every room was dark and theatrical, filled from corner to corner with extravagance and holiday sparkle. It was remarkable but nothing even close to what we wanted to see
This man at the Cafe de la Gare in Melun is having a real
French breakfast: a coffee and a cigarette
Annie and Kris at Vaux le Vicomte
See! Impressive, unless you want to see the architecture
The house that motivated Louis XIV to rebuild Versailles
Oh well. Tomorrow is another day.
OXO
D.
