Food & Travel
Versailles is the very definition of extravagance,
but the palace is so much more.
Versailles is the very definition of
extravagance, but the palace is so
much more.
What I learned from Wafaa
wasn’t taught in my European
history classes, shouted to the
multiple tour groups or piped
through the rented audio tour
at Versailles. Beyond the priceless
objects d’art is a rich and convoluted
history, filled with tales of betrayal,
adultery, gluttony and greed.
As I’ve become a more seasoned
traveler, I’ve moved beyond merely
checking sites like the Mona Lisa
and the Roman Forum off my to-do
list. It’s not satisfying enough just
drinking wine in Bordeaux; I want
to take a class from a sommelier.
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Shopping the Chanel store is lovely,
but show me Paris’ vintage shops
that can double as fashion museums.
Take me to the Great Synagogue, but
teach me about Judaism in Budapest.
I want to dive deeper, and I don’t
think I’m alone.
Europe is a historically and
culturally dense place. As a result,
some travelers simply throw up
their hands and book generic,
one-size-fits-all tours. These
will not yield the sort of exclusive
experiences Kensington has given
me and will likely leave a
sophisticated traveler feeling
unfulfilled. It’s like expecting a
Michelin-starred meal from your
grocer’s freezer, and I’m not a
Marie Callender’s kind of girl.