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Le Château de Versailles I will never forget the first time I saw Versailles. I was simultaneously awed and overwhelmed by its grandeur. It began in 1631 as a royal hunting lodge but King Louis XIV - in his quest for distance from the people of Paris - turned it into the palace we know today.  The Chapel at the Château He was initially advised against using this land as it was predominately a swamp. True to his absolutist form, he ignored his architects and advisors and commanded otherwise. In 1682, the Sun King forced the aristocracy to live at Versailles for part of the year, many complained about the swamp's stench. In an attempt to combat the foul odor, giant urns were distributed over the grounds and filled with flower petals and orange peels (from Versailles' gardens and orangerie ).  Potpourri Urns (photo by Jennifer Boyer-Switala) View of Le Château de Versailles from the Gardens ( photo by Jennifer Boyer-Switala) Inside, you can rent an audio g

"Germany Wins on All Fronts" - the Eiffel Tower (Getty Images) It is no great secret that some French collaborated during the Nazi Occupation of France. Some did it for less than admirable reasons, such as political gain, anti-Semitism, or true fascist ideology. Other people were frightened and saw no end to the Occupation, while some were motivated simply by the desire to survive.  Many women who collaborated fall into the latter category. French women and German soldiers enjoying lunch at a café (Unidentified Photo Source) Food, clothes, and fuel (among other items) were scarce during the Occupation. Nearly everything needed to sustain life was rationed, and much of France's food and other  necessary  commodities were shipped to Germany. One way to ensure warmth and a full belly was by making nice with a German soldier.  A French woman chats with a German soldier in front of the Eiffel Tower during the Occupation In a desperate attempt to survive,