What We Leave Behind
Our last day in France was all about contrasts. An opulent palace built for an extravagant king and a quaint cottage on the side of a small river. Formal gardens extending farther than the eye can see, complete with marble statues and gold fountains, and a small Water Lily pond built for retreat. Luxury in the morning and contemplation in the afternoon. And all within a stone’s throw of Paris.
First up was Versailles. Built by King Louis XIV during the height of his reign as a means to show off his absurd wealth and power as well as to escape the city. The palace was truly a sight to behold. Rivers were rerouted, enough rooms were built to host 3,000 people, and half of France’s GDP was spent to make it all happen. It is a small wonder the people eventually revolted when they were going hungry in the streets.
The most impressive bit however had to be the gardens. Words nor pictures could do their scale justice. Coming in at over 3,000 acres, the short 45 minutes we got there didn’t even approach being long enough. We now officially have a new bucket list item and that is to return and spend an entire day getting lost in it all. The palace itself was also overcrowded and claustrophobic, something we were realizing is common for high tourist season in Europe’s big cities. We are grateful of our previous decisions of only visiting at off peak times. But the hustle and bustle inside only made the gardens more amazing as they felt quiet and open.
We left the palace late morning and headed across the French countryside, stopping in the most adorable cottage for lunch. Tommy quickly declared it his favorite place he had ever been and I had to agree. So peaceful and serene. A beautiful place to eat lunch and unwind from the extravagance we had just seen.
The afternoon was spent in Giverny, where Claude Monet retreated to in order to escape the chaos of Paris and continue his pursuit of impressionist art. It is here that he drew his inspiration for his most famous works, many of which we had just seen the days before. The gardens made for a beautiful stroll and a good excuse to break out the macro lens again. The village was also adorable, almost surpassing Assisi on my list of places I want to retire in one day.
On a day like this it is hard not to contemplate legacy. King Louis XIV and Monet have both been remembered long after their deaths and probably will continue to be for a long time to come. Some could argue that this was their true goal in what they created. Art and power are often pursued as a means to cope with the weight of our own mortality. Both have left very different legacies but both continue to have their name spoken and their creations admired.
Some great people are forgotten shortly after their deaths. Others are remembered for much longer than they deserve. Some art is lost to time and decay despite the mastery and beauty they embodied. And some are surrounded by barriers and their own personal guard. It’s all a wonder. Something I will marvel at for a long time to come.
And with that we say goodbye to France. Until next time that is.