Paris Day 5

Today we ventured to the Palace of Versailles. It was quite the event. We got on the train thinking we knew how to get there. We were pretty darn close but luckily a nice woman heard us talking and told is to get off the train right where we were and as the door was shutting she was telling us where to get back on. Luckily Ben is pretty travel savvy so we made it there safely. We got there and wow it was a long line. We waited in line for almost two hours. It was SO busy. By the time we got in I just wanted to see the Hall of Mirrors and be on our way. It was so crowded that we saw more than we were planning on, which was good. The gardens were amazing. Walking around and imagining having lived there was just unfathomable.  The palace is known for the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Opera, the Royal Apartments, and the gardens with fountains, canals and amazing flowers. I was very happy to find yet another Laduree. I don't think I'll ever eat another macaron and not think of Paris.  After Versaille we went to the Paris Temple. We walked around the visitor center and enjoyed talking to the couple that was serving there, Brother and Sister Frogley, who come to find out, he was Josh's mission president's brother and their son served with Ben in Spain. Such a small world! Sister Frogley told us about the landscape architect and his experience with planning the grounds. He was not a member of the church but knew what would be best. He had a dream that there needed to be a specific tree. It was very expensive but he insisted. When the tree came they had trimmed to to fit to be shipped so it didn't look like he wanted. He made them send another one. When it came he was happy. When he told the temple workers about the dream they told him about the tree of life and he began to cry. The tree wasn't in bloom while we were there but they said it has beautiful white flowers and truly represents the tree of life. Sister Frogley also told us about the stain glass window with Jesus at the visitor center entrance. They had planned to have a Christus there but decided to put it outside instead. They didn't know what they would put there. A man that was helping said he knew what needed to go there. He was the same man that did the stain glass windows for the Rome Temple. While he was working he felt impressed to make this window. They had no plans for it in the Rome Temple so he didn't know why but did it anyway. He realized it was meant for the Paris Temple. It's so amazing hearing stories like this. The temple is truly the House of the Lord. The temple and the grounds are beautiful. After being at Versaille where everything was royal gold and shiny, you'd think going to the temple would be dull but it was just the opposite. The feeling you get there, even when not inside, is peaceful and wonderful. I'd go back there again before I went back to Versailles.  After the temple we took the train back to our hotel. We listened to conference while eating macarons and enjoying the view.
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Marie Antoinette's house in the garden

 

 

 

The cobblestone floor

 

Laduree 

Paris Temple

 

Back at the hotel