Visit Monet’s home in his beloved village of Giverny, where he lived for 43 years, until his death in 1926. You’ll explore Monet’s house, furnished as it was when the leader of the Impressionist school lived here, including his precious collection of Japanese engravings. Strolling the gardens, you’ll see the familiar Japanese bridge and water garden shaded by the weeping willows that so inspired this master’s work. Watch the light play on the pond which is covered with the water lilies reproduced in Monet’s numerous enchanting versions of The Nympheas (The Water Lilies).
my inner impressionista was in watercolour heaven in giverny. it's been awhile since i've seen so much beauty in a place at any one time. felt like walking right into one of monet's masterpieces. curiously, monet had never been to japan but from the world fair (and we thought the shanghai expo was in vogue...), he managed to grasp a relatively authentic visual take of the far east and replicated it in his gardens. sort of like globe-trotting without ever having to leave your front door.
the cruise experience would also be incomplete without mention of the two beauties in the first photo. aunty M is the planner extraordinare, 60 going on 16 and oh-so-youthful. she's brimming with energy and nothing but effervescent joy, single-handedly redefining 'grandmother'. she's got 101 little projects running concurrently, from turning her grand-daughter's nursery into a work of art (irridescent sparkles mixed with paint, lovingly applied with masking taped stripes. just hearing about how she pimped the crib exhausts me!) to deftly sewing me a hat band, improvised from voxbox strap no less, on the bus between sights. WOW. she's amazing, one of the few ladies who leave me feeling 'when i grow up, i want to be just like her!'. not to be outdone, is her daughter N.
N and i met for the first time on the barge itself but it felt like we'd known each other forever. we were roomies for the cruise and it was such a surreal, symbiotic arrangement. we just clicked (being the misanthrope i am, this is a very very rare occurrence, mind you) and seemed to have complementary routines. like she'd wake early to get ready and i'd roll out of bed and straight into the dining room. particularly liked how we were both out like lights by 10pm while the adults would stay up till the wee hours of the morning. no guilt because we 'young 'uns' had to stick together. appreciated N's unassuming, easy-going nature and she was a joy to be with. plus, she brought me the best ever earplugs money can buy, not that i even needed them. but still! such a sweetie :)
so yay to good company and very very likeable travel buddies!
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