Click photo for larger view. ©2015, David A. Porter

I captured this scene in the famous Hall of Mirrors inside the Palace of Versailles, just outside of Paris.

While Carol was standing back and admiring the splendor of this opulent space with our Kensington Tours guide, I was bopping around like the Energizer Bunny snapping all the photographs I could in the hopes of capturing at least one photograph that might come close to capturing the essence of this space. Every single time we entered a new room in the Palace of Versailles, Carol and I would literally gasp at the beauty and insane attention to detail we found.

The Hall of Mirrors is the climax of a journey through the palace.  And, after your mind begins to overdose on the lavishness of this place, and you begin to understand the hedonistic lifestyle of the French monarchs, you well begin to understand why the French Revolution came upon this country.

As a member of the 21st century, and particularly as an American who has grown up in a democratic republic, I have a difficult time understanding why folks in centuries past would submit themselves to a monarch.  Particularly in light of the structure and opulence I was currently witnessing. Me thinks that if I were a French peasant, and my king was spending bazillions on wild and lavish parties, I would likely revolt as well.

As I sit here contemplating my photograph, I marvel at the room’s beauty and artistry.  On the other hand, I shake my head at the arrogance of those French monarchs.

I’m writing this short little piece on July 4th, the Independence Day of our great nation.  The French have a day similar to our Independence Day called Bastille Day which commemorates the storming of a prison (the Bastille) and launching the French Revolution on July 14th, 1789.

So while we might proclaim “God bless America” on the 4th of July, the French similarly cry out, “Vive la France” (long live France). Of course, the “enlightened” French would never think of seeking God’s help for such an enterprise.  But that’s a topic for another day.

I hope you enjoyed my photograph and my musings as I think back to our visit of the Hall of Mirrors.
 
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