Monet, Monet, Monet

Another fine day and just a short drive to Monet's garden at Giverny, so our pre-booked tickets were not wasted after all. Despite arriving very soon after opening time, there were already many cars, motor caravans and coaches in the car park. Having made a cup of coffee, I realised John had disappeared and found him chatting to a Scots couple a few motor caravans down the line. In a very short space of time we had established that we both had daughters living in Leith! They recommended a visit to St Valerie sur Somme, so we shall probably have a lunch stop there tomorrow on the way to Calais. Anyway, I digress ….

I think I had been expecting something on the scale of a National Trust garden, but it is smaller yet nonetheless beautiful. It is divided into two parts, a massive cottage garden, with beds overflowing with colourful plants, lots of which I recognised, but few of which I could name. (Where were you Jane N when you were needed? You would have loved it here.)

Then there was the famous water garden, with Japanese bridge and water lilies about to burst into life. But what caught everyone's interest was the sound of the bullfrogs, a laughing-duck sort of noise, and you could see one or two on or near the lily pads. John and I had a field day with the cameras; here are just a few of the photos.

We are now having to accept that the holiday is nearly over, so opted for a bit of relaxation this afternoon, that is until I dragged John off for a walk up to the castle overlooking Les Andelys, Chateau Gaillard, originally built by Richard the Lionheart and subsequently fought over for a number of years before the French took control in the early 13^th century.

View of Les Andelys from Castle

And having read this, John has now dashed off to take a photo of the castle from the site, as it is a lovely evening.