Once again, I haven't been able to go out today, so I dug into my treasure box and found a photo I apparently never showed you. I took it at the Chateau de Versailles in 2010, during a private visit I was fortunate enough to take part in. Those of you who visited the castle will naturally have recognizes Les Galerie des glaces (the hall of mirrors), a stunning hall that is 239.5 ft long and 35 ft wide! An amazing place, that France could surely not afford nowadays ;-)
You know how I love about this perspective, but I wonder what your hosts thought when you got down there to take this photo. Not many get the opportunity to shoot this space without tons of people cluttering things up, so I'm glad you went for it!
ReplyDeleteWhat Eric failed to say Alexa is that his "private visit" was to clean the floors, therefore quite natural that he was down on his hands and knees. However, they didn't expect him to have his trusty camera. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhenever I go to Versailles, it's so easy to understand why there was a revolution...
It certainly is a spectacular image of history that everyone should try and see at least once! So nice to see it like this without thousands of people milling around.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shot! Brilliant colors, brilliant lights and brilliant perspective. But no one there!!!!
ReplyDeleteA stunning room and great photo. Fun to see it without all the usual people! Merci.
ReplyDeleteYes, Michael, Eric shared that story with me about his part time job scrubbing the floor at Versailles. What he confessed to me, with my promise not to release it until 2012, was that he used your toothbrush! He reasoned that it made your teeth nice and shiny, so it would be good for the floor in Les Galerie des glaces.
ReplyDeleteEric doesn't get on the floor to take these pictures. He has some kind of special device he's not telling us about, I'm sure of it.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were in Paris (it's nearly 6 years now! my heart breaks) we visited Versailles and the Galerie des glaces was under construction! Most of it was blocked off and there was very little to see. I remembered it from a trip in 1976 but my husband has no idea how spectacular it is. Except I showed him your picture, Eric, merci.
What a stunning photo.
ReplyDeleteIt's very easy to imagine history in these surroundings.
What is the most stunning is that the Galerie is empty... which normally never happens !!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe view from here is exceptional. I'm glad you did your trademark shimmy for this one, Eric.
ReplyDeleteI am green with envy!! OK maybe not green but you get the idea :) I can only dream of being able to get this close to that floor! Beautiful composition - as always :)
ReplyDeleteexquisite. and your pov is like no other i've seen of this hall.
ReplyDeleteThe famous perspective de Tenin!! It's beautiful. I love the color of the ceiling (if it is actually the sky blue that I see), it is absolutely gorgeous! I haven't been blessed to go to Versailles yet, but it is definitely on my list! *sigh* Just a wonderful way to wake up this morning! Thanks, Eric!
ReplyDeleteIt looks weird without all the people -- kind of spooky.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful photo though.
Petrea, like you, the first time I saw it, renovation work was underway and half the hall was blocked off. I was fortunate enough to go back a couple years later and saw the whole room open. What a difference. However, as others said, it was very crowded with tourists like me. It's amazing to see it empty like this. What a difference.
ReplyDeleteYou were so lucky to get a photo of this spectacular hall with no people in it!
ReplyDeleteActually you're all right; don't think I'm a snob or anything, but I never visited Versailles during "normal business hours", so I did not realize this gallery was particularly empty that day.
ReplyDeleteOh NO we all know that you're no snob, Eric. You are so lucky to be able to go there at the odd hours ;o)
ReplyDeleteEric, may I please go with you next time?
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