The yellow dining room and blue kitchen are most memorable. The water garden lives up to its reputation as a gorgeous garden and not withstanding the many visitors is a most tranquil place. The lilies are not out yet, but colours and beauty still exceptional. We have lunch in a local eatery - salade, une bouteille de vin rosé et un morceau de tarte sitting in the sun. Far from gourmet food but we are thoroughly content and satisfied. A visit to the local church is equally beautiful and calm. The grounds have a memorial to the soldiers of the Commonwealth which incorporates part of the propeller of an allied plane which was shot down nearby. Adjacent is the Monet family plot and we overhear a guide say that there are no surviving descendants notwithstanding his having 8 children. Our return bus and train journey is crowded and goes to plan arriving back in Paris around 7pm. Dinner at our local favourite - Bistro 7eme. 9k
Friday, April 6, 2007
Vendredi Monet's Jardin
We cross the Seine to Gare St Lazare. Monet's garden is in Giverny which is 75 kilometres to North of Paris, in Normandy, by the Rouen train to Vernon followed by a 15 minute bus ride. Our DIY tour goes to plan and we arrive at the ticket office of Monet's house and garden shortly after 1pm. While it is early in the season, the garden is very beautiful with lots of flowers showing off a stunning display on what has turned out to be quite a warm day of 20+C. The house has been preserved in its early 20 century state, colourful rooms many full of Japanese art, which he collected, as well a huge gallery with many reproductions of his famous works which are now spread across the museums and galleries of the world. 
The yellow dining room and blue kitchen are most memorable. The water garden lives up to its reputation as a gorgeous garden and not withstanding the many visitors is a most tranquil place. The lilies are not out yet, but colours and beauty still exceptional. We have lunch in a local eatery - salade, une bouteille de vin rosé et un morceau de tarte sitting in the sun. Far from gourmet food but we are thoroughly content and satisfied. A visit to the local church is equally beautiful and calm. The grounds have a memorial to the soldiers of the Commonwealth which incorporates part of the propeller of an allied plane which was shot down nearby. Adjacent is the Monet family plot and we overhear a guide say that there are no surviving descendants notwithstanding his having 8 children. Our return bus and train journey is crowded and goes to plan arriving back in Paris around 7pm. Dinner at our local favourite - Bistro 7eme. 9k
The yellow dining room and blue kitchen are most memorable. The water garden lives up to its reputation as a gorgeous garden and not withstanding the many visitors is a most tranquil place. The lilies are not out yet, but colours and beauty still exceptional. We have lunch in a local eatery - salade, une bouteille de vin rosé et un morceau de tarte sitting in the sun. Far from gourmet food but we are thoroughly content and satisfied. A visit to the local church is equally beautiful and calm. The grounds have a memorial to the soldiers of the Commonwealth which incorporates part of the propeller of an allied plane which was shot down nearby. Adjacent is the Monet family plot and we overhear a guide say that there are no surviving descendants notwithstanding his having 8 children. Our return bus and train journey is crowded and goes to plan arriving back in Paris around 7pm. Dinner at our local favourite - Bistro 7eme. 9k
