Giverny - the viIlage where Monet lived

I have not mentioned the village in which Monet's house and garden were located. This is the gorgeous little village called Giverny. 

To reach there, our river ship left Caudebec-en-Caux and travelled to a village called Vernon. That river journey was picturesque, all the more so early in the morning when it was very misty. 

Most of us then travelled by coach to Giverny. Some rode there by bike instead, though that would have been a very hot, tiring ride. 

My companions and I did not walk up to the village church to view the graves of Monet and his family, which was way up the other end from his house. Instead we visited the Impressionists Museum in the heart of the village. Unfortunately there was not enough time to view its exhibition, but we did have a productive time in its gift shop - doing our bit to contribute to the local economy, you understand. The range of Monet souvenirs was amazing.

And, getting down to basics, one has to be practical.  Wherever we tour, after getting off the coach we all first head for a loo . . . the museum met that requirement too. 

We later found an even bigger souvenir shop at the exit of Monet's house - you had to walk through it to leave the site. That's the price you pay everywhere. 

We also strolled along the cobbled main street taking photos of the small number of villas and tea rooms on the way. One little shop had ‘Monet umbrellas’ hanging outside, and a machine blowing soap bubbles out into the street to catch your attention.

All in all, our visit to Giverny and Monet’s house and garden was simply delightful - a most memorable day.

The first five photos were taken along the river as we travelled to Vernon. The sixth photo was of a little stream in Giverny. The photo after that was taken out the front of the Impressionist Museum. The remaining photos were taken in the village of Giverny.