Versailles - Rue de Satory

This is one of the last photos taken during my family's recent Europe trip. More specifically, taken while on a day trip around Versailles. Not the Chateau de Versailles, however, but the town said palace was built around in the late 17th Century. The formal seat of the old monarchy from the palace's founding until the French Revolution in 1789, Versailles has long since been considered part of Paris' outlying areas. It also remains one of the richest suburban settlements in the Ile de France region. And it shows, given how well-kept the place and inhabitants are in general; one can easily tell who's a tourist/visitor and who's an actual local.

In addition to the palace itself, Versailles is home to a large open marketplace (complete with several cafes and creperies lining the outer rim), several antique workshops, plazas, historical institutions and high-end stores. It's also accessible from the very center of Paris via the RER train lines, approximately 45 minutes away. A nice, relatively safe and peaceful blend of Paris' urban life and rural rustic-ness.

In any case, we left Paris for home a few days after this picture was taken. The flight itself lasted in effect a full day, counting layovers in Hong Kong. But though I had quite a bad case of jet lag for a while, all in all that trip to Europe was worth it. If there are regrets, perhaps it would be not spending additional time in Germany, Denmark and outside Paris more. Still, it's memorable, to say the least.

And I hope this and others convey that as well! Enjoy!