Overview

The next in the series of world travels... Switzerland and the Baltics

Itineary

Date	City / Event	Times
Day 1	Fly (SD - LAX - PAR)
Day 2	Paris
Day 3	Paris (Grand Bal Masque - Palace of Versailles)	10p - 6a
Day 4	Paris
Day 5	Paris
Day 6	Paris (Apotheosis of Dance - Kings Theater, Versailles)
Day 7	Bern, Switzerland
day 8	Bern, Switzerland  (Lautbrunnen, Schlithorn, Grindelwald)
Day 9	Bern, Switzerland  (Maison Cailler, Gruyeres)
Day 10	Lucern, Switzerland   (Mt Pilatus, Chapel Bridge, Old Town)
Day 11	Lucern, Switzerland   (Jungfraujoch, Pilatus)
Day 12	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 13	Amsterdam, Netherlands  (set sail)	Sail away
Day 14	at sea
Day 15	Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 16	at sea
Day 17	Tallinn, Estonia
Day 18	St. Petersburg, Russia  (St Peter and Paul Cathedrial, Catherine Palance)
Day 19	St. Petersburg, Russia  (Chuch ofl the Blood, St Isaac Cathedral)
Day 20	Helsinki, Finland   (Temppeliaukio Church, Suomenlinna, Market Square)
Day 21	Stockholm, Sweden   (Abba Museum, Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum)
Day 22	at sea
Day 23	Skagen, Denmark  (Grenen, Den Tilsandede Kirke, Rabjerg Mile)
Day 24	at sea
Day 25	Amsterdam (fly home time

Day 1 - Begin the trip

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to see St. Petersburg, Russia. Getting a visa to visit can be tricky. After much searching and finding other fun things to see I decided to book this cruise, add a land excursion and make the most of time in Europe.

Let's start the fun.

5:30am, so tired, looked at the seatbelt and thought I was given two male ends

A bit of a drerry day in San Diego

Welcome to LAX, one of the few airports you have to walk to the tarmak to catch a bus to go to a different terminal. I'm not complaining, I get to see all the pretty planes hard at work.

How the masses travel between terminals

It's almost as if you can reach out and touch these beauties

If you're a VIP passenger you get to travel between terminals in your own Porche

People give me a hard time for always flying with Delta. Since I'm a frequent flier with them, on international flights, I get free club access. That makes the 4-hour layover very comfortable.

Club house views

Inside the club

Free breakfast. Egg, hash browns, fruit, soda and if you want coffee and/or beer. All unlimited free.

View from my seat

The real reason I choose this spot. This view is amazing

11am - time to get ready to fly. Next stop - Paris

My gate is calling

Poor dog is going to be on the plane for 10 hours

This is why I always book early. I don't need first class when I have the bulkhead seat

Decent dinner. Rosemary chicken, salad, roll, cheese

Full red moon on the horizon

 Time to try to get some sleep. The guy next to me is DRUNK! Let's see if he's a sleepy drunk or mean drunk.

Day 2 - Arrive in Paris

I can now say I'd helped a drunk man find his airplane seat while at 39,000 feet in the air. May I never have to experience that again. Oh look, France! If you've only ever visited Paris you've not seen the real France. Hopefully I can get into the countryside during this trip.

Coming in for arrival

My Airbnb is a few blocks from the palace. It's also a block away from the oldest farmers market in the world. This one was started in the 1500s and happens three times a week.

Going strong since 1500's

The flowers here cannot be beat

With all the delicious French food around all of the American fast food restaurants were jammed with French people, young and old. I never saw less than 50-100 people waiting to order or get food.  Burger King, McDonalds, KFC.. all jammed.

After a short 4 hour nap I wanted to see the neighborhood. What a change from when I laid down. The market was gone.

This square was packed with vendors.

It's 9pm and still sunny. Perfect to capture some of Versailles.

We get to experience this tomorrow as part of the ball.

Bottom line - that's why I'm here

Semi-automatic machine guns

My 1euro bread. Perfect match for the cheese I got earlier.

There are churches everywhere, this one built by King Louie 11th.

Friday night, little bands performing in the small squares

 While I was walking around a music festival has appeared in the area which earlier held the farmers market. Europe does a great job of finding ways for the public to enjoy themselves in public gatherings.

I'm done, need dinner and sleep. Bread, two kinds of cheese = $6 total. Dessert was a splurge at 12e for 10 macaroon.

Tonight's dinner

My setup for eating dinner

My kitchen for dinner

My patio view for enjoying dinner

 Views like this on my patio are why you travel. You're not getting this in the states. Bedtime.

Tomorrow - masquerade ball in the Palace of Versailles. If I can stay awake until dawn then it'll be breakfast in Marie Antoniette's place.

Day 3 - Masquerade ball at the Palace

This has been a bucket list item for me, visiting a real masquerade ball at the Palace of Versailles. As it turned out the event lined up perfectly with the rest of this trip.

Glad it's going to be cool this evening

Official letter with tickets. You need physical tickets - no eTickets or receipts accepted

Heck yes I'm going to attend the fireworks and stroll the gardens

How nice of them, pointing out my airBnB starting location

If you're going to do the ball get a hotel near the venue for a night or two. Otherwise you'll be riding the RER for an hour each way (and it doesn't run all night).

9pm - time to head to the ball.

It's still bright out, attendees starting to arrive

People here (mostly French, some UK, a few Americans) go all out

Simply walk through the main gate, hang to the left, show your event ticket and you're given admission to the gardens.

Everyone and I mean everyone wears comfy shoes. You'll be on your feet for at least 9 hours

The location of breakfast at 6am

Before the party begins, fireworks (10:45p).

Try to get a spot on top at around 10:30p

11pm. With fireworks over everyone begins to move towards Le Orangerie (literally The Oranges). Built in 1684 this was the home of orange cultivation in France. Tonight it is our dance hall and lounge under the stars.

The view from the late 1600's of Le Orangerie

 

A little different look as we head to the entrance

If you're coming from the West Coast, here's a tip - arrive into Paris the day before the event. Sleep until you normally would. I didn't get up until 2pm the afternoon of the event. Do not get into Paris time. Your body will remain 9 hours behind everyone and you'll easily make it until dawn.

Swap tickets for wristbands. The line on the right is for those spending 390euros for tix

From 11p-12:30am you're taking in the environment. Many people don't arrive until after 12:30a. The event officially kicks in at 12:30.

The view ascending down into Le Orangerie

Ladies, as pretty as having a dress with a train on it, don't do it. I can't recall how many people were tripped from behind as they were trying to descend the steps or walk around the venue just because someone accidentally stepped on that extra fabric. Keep the dress an inch off the ground and you're set.

The production value for the night was spectacular

11:30pm, plenty of space to move around. That didn't last long

What you can't quite tell is the above hall is probably the length of a football field, cut in half at the center where the main stage is. The cheap ticket holders are JAMMED into the front part of the hall. The back half is split down the center between VIP and EXTRVAGANT holders and it's never full, never packed, always a place it sit. I get skidish with lots of people but never found myself feeling overwhelmed with the capacity there. Can't say that for the one time I tried to walk through the general admission area.

The company did an outstanding job filling the vast hall with people and acts

Did I mention the costumes were second to none

All things considered pricing of drinks was reasonable for alcohol

VIP gives you two glasses of champagne (they're small flutes)

2e for coat check (right), VIP and one entrance for VIP toilets (left)

Lots of people went right for the bonfire chairs and didn't leave all night

390e gets you seats in the elevated lounge plus free water, soda, food. Most here were older folks who never left the area

180e (that's what I got) gets you real toilets instead of portable, light foods and day beds

The beds were full by 2am

Food started as mini sliders and progressed to cheese and meat trays then onto desserts (sugar!) as the night progressed

From the VIP area there is a private door which allows you to escape from the hall and into the gardens.

Looking back towards the staircase we descended to get to the venue

Those that paid 90e had to find places to sit and take a break, grass worked

The lighting was so stunning

For my gay friends, this event will welcome you

3am - our food has officially switched to straight desserts

UK/EU attendees have crashed out

As luck would have it, 5am my phone died. A light breakfast is served at 6am for anyone who can survive long enough. After 6:30a you get to exist through the main gates instead of walking around (which you have to do if you leave before then).

You're probably wondering where photos of myself are. I work in IT, I know what happens if you upload photos of yourself online. No one wanted to go with me so you're all out of luck. Perhaps next year you'll go (and yes I'd love to go back).

I'm still high from the night haven't slept yet and it's 8pm Sunday. I'll enjoy a good night's sleep this evening.

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 Blurb about the event, in case you're interested in going yourself
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Presentation

The royal festivals organised by the court in its time still resonate today everywhere in Versailles. Since its first edition in 2011, the Château de Versailles Grand Masked Ball has celebrated fanciful and refined nights which have now become iconic. Welcome to the Château de Versailles Orangerie and its garden for an unforgettable and offbeat festival night! Dancers, performers, and artists will deploy their talent through the evening in a staging designed for the third year running by the artistic director and choreographer Hakim Ghorab. DJ Michel Canitrot will keep you dancing all night under the eaves of the Orangerie and until dawn for an incredible after in the Ballroom Grove. Dress up in your finest baroque costume, put on your mask and take part in the Château de Versailles Grand Masked Ball for an unforgettable evening!

Ticket Information

Dress code: Come dressed in a quality baroque costume to be worn on arrival (all guests have to find their own costume). Your face must be masked on arrival and during the entire ball. No admission for those not wearing a costume.

VIP TICKET (180e): Access to the VIP area with special buffet and two glasses of champagne.

EXTRAVAGANT TICKET (360e): Access to Extravagant area with reserved buffet and table, unlimited champagne, special carpark and priority cloakroom.

FANTASTIC TICKET (390e): Access to the best seats of Extravagant area, in front of the stage, with reserved table, buffet, unlimited champagne, a gift, special carpark and priority cloakroom.

The Grand Masked Ball ticket allows you to attend the Night Fountains Show, only if you are costumed and masked.