Since I live only 10 minutes away from Versailles, it would be a shame for me to spend 4 months here and not visit the Palace of Versailles. Having walked by the outside a few times before, I finally willed myself to stand in line for an hour on a beautiful Wednesday to tour the inside of the Palace.

The place was filled with eager tourists from all around the world. I heard plenty of German, Korean, and English with British accents. After nearly a month in France, I have declared myself a permanent visitor here, which, I’d like to point out, is totally different from the average tourist. Armed with an audio guide, I managed to break free from the herd of tour groups and enjoy the Palace at my own pace.

I never paid much attention in History class and everything the teacher taught us in 9^th grade went in one ear as quickly as it escaped the other. I spent hours inside there, admiring the beautiful chambres of King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette. After half a day inside the Palace, I was dizzy with French history.

Thankfully, the Gardens provided the perfect escape to rest my head after the tour. Next time, I’m returning to the Gardens with a picnic and some fine French wine.