Day 18

17 October 2022

It is a quarter to midnight and I’m sitting here trying to type over my stomach which has some how expanded over the last couple of weeks, and particularly tonight….but more of that later.

We said our goodbyes to Ker and KT today, which is always sad to do. They have thoroughly spoilt us over the last 6 days, no wonder the reviews of their hospitality are so good. Thanks guys, it was such a pleasure to catch up and see your wonderful place. We had a blast.

We had an easy drive to Tours to catch the train, and didn’t get lost once. We thought there would be issues handing back the car, but it was straight forward. When the guy asked to see our paperwork form when we picked it up, we said there wasn’t any. “OK, it is a problem for Bordeaux” was all he said, so we were on our way very quickly.

The train was also easy, good seats, and only just over an hour to Paris. We were concerned about getting a taxi as there has been a petrol stike here for about a week and no fuel is available at most service stations. However, no issues with a taxi, a bit of a wait at the railway station, but we were soon on our way to Versailles.

Our hotel is actually within the grounds of the Palace, has 14 rooms and is geared to give the best experience of the Palace as is possible. We have never been to the Palace before, so we thought to maximise our time here by using this hotel. It is called Le Grand Controle, and was once the house of the tax man for Louis 14^th.

The weather was not so great with a constant drizzle. The hotel entrance is very subdued and the taxi driver was not sure he had the right place until 2 men in period costume emerged with umbrellas to shelter us in. Wow, what an entrance. All the staff are dressed in period costume which sounds a bit “Disney”, but given the age and look of the restored building it works. The hotel has only been opened for about 18 months.

Our room, although not large, is very cute. There is ample space with a separate bathroom and a separate toilet, plus and small entry hall. We have a itemised list awaiting us detailing our stay and the times for inspections and meals. We are going to be busy, once we stop eating.

We attended afternoon tea, which was lovely, and then had time for a quick shower before meeting downstairs at 6.15pm for our first tour of the Palace. We were a group of 9 from the hotel for the English tour. It was amazing to have the Palace to, essentially, ourselves.

It was getting dark and the poor lighting meant photos were difficult. The first impression when you walk in is: “OMG, this is unbelievable”. The sheer size of the rooms dominates you, plus the decorations and paintings. Tonight’s tour was the King’s Rooms which included the Hall of Mirrors. Indescribable.

We saw the table where the Treaty of Versailles was signed and the bedrooms where Louis 14th and Louis 15th died. So many things just left us open mouthed in awe.

Now, back to my stomach. It has swollen beyond recognition. I have no idea any more what my feet look like after tonight’s extravaganza. We had an amuse bouche, 3 entrees, a fish course, a duck course, three desserts, chocolates and petit fours. Oh boy, are we ever stuffed. The food was amazing. Couldn’t fault a thing.

It was a fixed menu designed by Alain Ducasse, and focused on the foods that were the favourite of Louis 14^th. Each course was heralded in by the waiter (in period costume) to announce the course accompanied by 3 huge bangs on the floor with his staff as the signal for the food to be brought. Quite a performance.

The wine menu even had a bottle that we had bought in the Medoc from Chateau Talbot, a 2009 vintage, exactly what we had had with Ker and KT last night. We didn’t repeat the wine as on this list it was 480 Euros !!

This may go into the “too much information” file but I just went to the loo and leant against a control panel on the wall. Well, didn’t I get a nasty shock from below, the toilet doubles as a bidet. I couldn’t work how to shut it off, and I couldn’t stand up otherwise I would have had my own fountain in the loo. I just rode it out until the cycle had finished.

I will end here, whilst I recover for tomorrows onslaught.