I am predictably lulled to sleep within minutes of getting into a car. And being in Europe didn’t change that trait any. We left Amsterdam in search of purer pursuits and gentler surroundings via Giverny, France. Betsy had programmed the GPS to get us to Giverny so we headed south, Betsy, Anne and myself packed into her little Citroen. As usual, I was dozing by the time we got to the outskirts of town.
Each time I awoke, it seemed like we were more and more lost. Everything seemed so remote and pastoral. We drove through little towns filled with stone houses and rolling countryside speckled with cattle and open fields. The woman on the GPS kept calling the audible for driving directions and we drove further and further into the depths of France not missing one round-about along the way. I guess that’s where we were supposed to go, but I was mentally anticipating a cheesy tourist trap just off the highway like we have in the US. I mistakenly expected Claude Monet’s home to be of the same marketing concept as the Spam Museum or Corn Palace. Once we found his place, I was thrilled that it took some effort to reach. There was no line to get in although the gift shop was full of students milling about. The house was a typical old home. The grounds and gardens were amazing, however, another week or two of some warm weather would have yielded much more color and blooms, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
Anne, Betsy, and I all took our time touring the grounds, house, and gift shop. It was serene and peaceful. The water lily pond that inspired Monet’s most famous paintings looks remarkably like the picture. How cool it must have been for him to spend days out in his gardens with canvas and paint, recreating something so beautiful.
Me and Rocky taking a little breather from touring the gardens. He was begging for me to skip him into the pond but I am just not ready to part with him yet. There was a whole collection of naked statues waiting to meet him in Paris. Nothing like a little competition to bring out the best in someone my rock.
I just can’t resist this:
What’s better than a dozen roses on a piano?
Tulips on an organ…
.. Baaaad. I know.
3 responses so far ↓
Keith // April 25, 2008 at 11:17 am
Beautiful pictures, baaaaad joke! Sounds like you are continuing to have a great time! I’m envious!
Giverny Impression // June 4, 2008 at 1:31 pm
The story of the GPS voice lulling you is very amusing. That’s true, it is the countryside here. And not a tourist trap.
Ariane
Europe in My Nutshell « Going Karmental // June 12, 2008 at 9:47 pm
[...] Giverney was our afternoon pitstop where we enjoyed the beautiful home, gardens, and ponds that once inspired Claude Monet. There was a group of Japanese actors and cameramen shooting a movie scene while we were there. I didn’t even linger around waiting for autographs. Like I’d know any Japanese actors. I most definitely was on the lookout for Brangelina and their tribe though. [...]
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