I realized on this visit that the fun I had at Versailles last time was more to do with the getting there (on bikes) and the tour guide (funny and cute) and the cameraderie of the group. Versailles itself is elaborate without being beautiful. The gardens are vast but not interesting. The press of other visitors is exhausting. I’m not saying that it’s not visually stunning! (I’ve had more sleep so I am amending my first draft here)  My sister and I agreed that our aesthetic definitely aligns with the Italian sensibility rather than the French. Things are put together more beautifully there. (We think!) and gardens have more whimsy, are more human scale.

Here is the one and only photo of all of us.

Olivia, Mara, Jen, Gabriella, me and Nancy.

Very interesting conversation taking place. The wind picked up that day but it’s been warm since.