Hutson ‘27 delights in gastronomical, architectural, and musical explorations around Paris.
So far, our time in Paris, despite being a little touristy, has been filled with postcard-worthy sites and excellent food. Today, we venture out of the City of Light to its equally extravagant next-door neighbor, Versailles.
After a delightful hotel breakfast of freshly baked mini pain au chocolat and fromage blanc with raspberry coulis, we took the train to Versailles. Before seeing the gardens, we had a little free time to walk around the city and search for lunch. A few of us found ourselves at a local pizza shop. The daily special of mozzarella, prosciutto, and other tasty European toppings did not disappoint. Following lunch, we stopped by another local shop, this time selling “Merveilleux.” The small meringue-filled pastries with a crunchy coating were a new mouthful of deliciousness and inspiration for my own culinary endeavors.
Following our gastronomical explorations, we went to the gardens: an endless maze of meticulously trimmed trees and hedges, broken up by grand fountains and ponds. The sheer size of the landscape was enough to provide a lifetime of new sights and exploration. The first thing you see are the fields and hedges, but if you’re willing to walk a ways and aren’t afraid to get a little lost, you can come across the palace. And when I say it’s big, that doesn’t begin to describe it. Picture three or so Walmart Supercenters placed side by side with a couple of additional floors added on. Then build it out of beautifully carved stone, add golden ornaments on the roof, and place a massive fountain in front of it, and you begin to get a sense of the Palace of Versailles.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the opportunity to go inside due to “security risks,” aka a forgotten backpack. At the opposite side of the grounds, you will find the residence of Marie Antoinette. Stunning red and white marble columns and sumptuous interiors make it easy to see why the impoverished and malnourished people of France felt a little mistreated.
While a little disappointed I couldn’t see the inside of the main palace, I was still thrilled with the beauty I could see. I wasn’t exactly remiss about the opportunity for a brief repose at the hotel before our evening activity: Notre-Dame.
The evening brought us back to Paris for a very unique musical performance at the incredible Notre-Dame Cathedral. While it wasn’t my favorite activity of the trip, it was still moving to hear the deep resonance of the hallowed space as musicians poured their hearts into the performance.
Before meeting at the church, we were dropped in a small town to find dinner. After careful consideration, we decided on a street-side restaurant and each ordered cheeseburgers. After 50 minutes of waiting, we checked our watches and saw the 20:00 meeting time was approaching rapidly with no food to show for it. Finally, at the last minute, our orders arrived, and we had to wrap them in napkins and carry them as we quickly walked to the meeting point.
Service speed is definitely something I’m looking forward to when I get home, but for now, I’ll appreciate the experience of full European immersion. After the performance, we went to a dessert diner-style restaurant where we each ordered elaborate cakes and sundaes in a bittersweet celebration of our trip’s approaching end.
While it wasn’t the most eventful day of our séjour in France, it was still remarkable, which I think is a testament to our trip leaders, Dr. Hunt’s and Madame Flynn’s thoughtful planning, as well as to the vastness and beauty that Europe has to offer.
