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| Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, Monet's Garden, Giverny, France |
16th April 2015
Today, my boyfriend, Jack and I were headed to Claude Monet's Garden, and
I was practically giddy at the thought of rolling around naked in a field of tulips. After checking out of our room in
Vernon at 10:00am I couldn’t wait to leave the town of
Saint-Marcel behind, even if the nagging thought of returning later to pick up our backpacks lingered in my mind throughout the day. Jack and I decided to stretch our daily budget and walk the whole way there, which took nearly two hours but it was totally worth it. Strolling along the banks of the River Seine, we made a pit stop at Lidl to stock up our daypacks with baguettes, olives, salad, and Serrano ham.
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| Claude Monet's House & Garden, Giverny, France |
As we walked from Vernon to Giverny—my voice grating on Jack's nerves with my relentless singing throughout the journey—the scenery around us was nothing short of magnificent. It felt like I was walking through a kaleidoscope, where different shades of green merged and danced together like ribbons woven through the trees.
The village of Giverny seemed to have been plucked straight from the pages of a storybook, bursting with pastel colours and a charming character. As we approached Monet's Garden, the atmosphere grew increasingly touristy, but fortunately, we seemed to have timed our arrival perfectly, avoiding the swarms of school kids and packs of visitors heading in the opposite direction.
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| Flowers everywhere, Claude Monet's Gardens, France |
As I stepped into this botanical paradise, rows of colour and life stretched out before us. Countless flowers bloomed in harmony—daisies, tulips, snowdrops, daffodils, primrose, and peonies—each individually showcasing the enchanting beauty of nature.
As the sun cast its warm glow over this timeless fairytale, the garden sprang to life. Surrounded by a rainbow of colours that ignited my spirit, Jack and I settled down amidst the blossoms to enjoy our picnic.
I felt a surge of happiness being there with my best friend, experiencing Monet's muse through our own eyes.
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| Loud & crazy Frogs in Monet's Gardens, France |
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| Claude Monet's Garden. France |
After too much sun and a chorus of croaking frogs, we toured Monet's house. The decor was absolutely charming, and I found myself wishing it could be my home. I was thrilled to discover a room filled with Monet's original paintings, which I had half-expected to see in a famous museum instead. Gazing at his profound passion transported me back to my school days, reminding me of how captivated I had been by his imagination.
I left Monet's Garden feeling freshly inspired, filled with a sense of adventure and a renewed appreciation for nature. However, after a long, hot day, Jack’s declaration of, “F**k walking back, let’s get a taxi,” snapped me back to reality, and I quickly agreed. It seemed my new outlook on adventure was destined to be short-lived.
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| Inside Monet's House, Claude Monet's Garden, France |
