In spring 2005 I have traveled to Paris for three days (the days of arrival and departure not counted). My father had given me this trip as a present to my birthday.

I also wanted to take the chance to visit the palace Vaux-le-Vicomte, where some scenes from MITIM (including the garden party at the beginning) have been shot. So I took the train to Melun from Paris because I had read at the internet that the palace was somewhere near Melun. Well, that was a very vague bearing of position. I noticed that very quickly when I arrived at Melun because there were absolutely no signs. There were signs to 'Fontainebleau' where they also had shot some scenes from MITIM, but I wanted to go to Vaux-le-Vicomte and not to 'Fontainebleau'. So I first walked into the wrong direction for a while before I bought a map at a filling station. Then I began to walk into the right direction. But I still only knew which freeway I had to follow, but not where exactly the palace was. I only hoped that I would see the palace somewhere from the freeway (Well that was very naive). Finally I passed some single family houses. There I sat down on a stone to study my map again. Just then a woman came out of one of the gardens and asked me, if I need help (She only spoke french and my french is quite bad, but somehow we managed to communicate). I told her that I wanted to visit Vaux-le-Vicomte (or better to say I shew her on the map). Well and this woman was so nice to drive to the palace by her car. That was great. What a good fortune!

So I finally arrived at Vaux-le-Vicomte. It was great to see the palace which I knew from the movie. And it was somehow funny to discover all the familiar locations, for example the courtyard of the musketeers or the chapel. Or the big entrance hall where we see Louis the first time in the movie with his advisors. I had my camcorder with me and I've filmed every angle. LOL. I've also seen the room where they have filmed the dinner with Louis and Christine. And of course the garden! I've stood on the stairs which Leo as Louis walks down in the movie. That was a great feeling. All in all this was like a mundane pilgrimage for me. I also took two of the little stones which were lying on the walks in the garden and took them with me (my relics. LOL). I thought 'Maybe Leo has stood on these stones. But even if he has not they are at least surrounded by his aura'. There was also a café where I ate and drunk something. It was very idyllic and I always become nostalgic when I remember it. Definitly a great expierience.

Finally I had to leave. Now I had the problem that the woman who had brought me to the palace with her car, wasn't there anymore (of course). I first considered if I should ask some other visitors if I could go with them back to Melun. But then I decided to walk. Afterall I knew the way now and it seemed to be not too long. So I walked - across some fields and along the country road. I liked that. It was like a little adventure for me. The only problem was that my feet hurted so much in the end. But this trip had definitly been worthwhile.

Chrissi