Saturday, April 24, 2010
Pardone'moi,Ou'est la Banque? ~ Giverny Part III
While moving about from town to town, one must be aware of one's financial situation and when an ATM comes into view, use it, or one might find themselves in a pickle.
When arriving in Giverny we knew that our B&B requested that we pay in Euros. We thought that there would be no problem in finding an ATM in the town, or a Bank. We were wrong!
After a leisurely afternoon in the gardens and wistfully gazing at the beauty of the reflection in the pond, we set out to find a store to buy some food for a picnic,and an ATM to get Euros to pay our bill. We walked in search of the central village, but as we walked we realised that we had walked through the central of the village and now were on the edge of the village. We had found no grocery,bank,ATM,nor bakery!!When we asked, we were directed to the next town down the road.
On and On and On we walked down the country road in search of a village where we could shop and get money. We passed several fields of cattle and cars sped past us as we walked along the road to what we thought would be the answer to our situation. It was now about 3:15 and we were getting hungry.
We passed a Mc Donald's billboard as we walked and thought that that was promising, even though we do not eat fast food. Finally at about an hour into the walk, we entered a residential area with homes and as we continued on, large gray stone buildings. It seemed that it was a farming community and these large stone buildings were barns and storehouses for grain. The streets were deserted, no one to be seen or a sound to be heard, when out of nowhere came a young boy on a bicycle. We greeted him and asked him politely, "Ou'est la Banque?"
He looked at us and couldn't believe that we were looking for a bank here in this village. Then we asked where the Mc Donald's was, he looked at us as if we were crazy, and told us that there was no Mc Donald's there either! We were baffled!
We didn't know what to think or which way to go! We then came across another bicyclist and I stopped him and asked if it were true that there was no store or bank or ATM in this village. He confirmed this, but pointed out a small bakery up the lane. We headed up towards the bakery to find that they were closed until 4:00!
I was exasperated by this point! There was nowhere to sit and rest except on the street and we had to wait now another half hour for it to open!
Steve appeased me by suggesting that we wander around and take pictures while waiting.
We busied ourselves. I took pictures and as I wandered I came across a large wooden gate that keep the private residences separated from the road. This gate was open. As I looked into the courtyard I saw a woman near the entrance to her home working on her gardening.I quickly snapped some pictures. When I caught up with Steve I told him about the great shot I got. As we approached the opened gate the woman was at the gate and we greeted her. She invited us into her courtyard, and as we spoke, she then invited us into her home. She told us that she and her husband were artists. She a painter, he a sculptor. She then invited us to view their art in their studio.
We walked up some stairs and as we approached the top, she removed a corrugated plastic barrier that kept the heat in the bottom part of their lovely French home.
Their art was beautiful and whimsical.
I was completely blown away that this woman invited us into her home and entertained us. It had lifted my spirits and changed my outlook completely at that very moment.
What a wonderful experience! This all happened in the town of Limetz.
Oh, yeh, and when we left the Madame's home, the bakery was opened and we bought lots of goodies and it was a great evening as we walked back on down the road, back to Monet's village and land of beauty, we ate a picnic dinner in our room making our map our tablecloth!
When arriving in Giverny we knew that our B&B requested that we pay in Euros. We thought that there would be no problem in finding an ATM in the town, or a Bank. We were wrong!
After a leisurely afternoon in the gardens and wistfully gazing at the beauty of the reflection in the pond, we set out to find a store to buy some food for a picnic,and an ATM to get Euros to pay our bill. We walked in search of the central village, but as we walked we realised that we had walked through the central of the village and now were on the edge of the village. We had found no grocery,bank,ATM,nor bakery!!When we asked, we were directed to the next town down the road.
On and On and On we walked down the country road in search of a village where we could shop and get money. We passed several fields of cattle and cars sped past us as we walked along the road to what we thought would be the answer to our situation. It was now about 3:15 and we were getting hungry.
We passed a Mc Donald's billboard as we walked and thought that that was promising, even though we do not eat fast food. Finally at about an hour into the walk, we entered a residential area with homes and as we continued on, large gray stone buildings. It seemed that it was a farming community and these large stone buildings were barns and storehouses for grain. The streets were deserted, no one to be seen or a sound to be heard, when out of nowhere came a young boy on a bicycle. We greeted him and asked him politely, "Ou'est la Banque?"
He looked at us and couldn't believe that we were looking for a bank here in this village. Then we asked where the Mc Donald's was, he looked at us as if we were crazy, and told us that there was no Mc Donald's there either! We were baffled!
We didn't know what to think or which way to go! We then came across another bicyclist and I stopped him and asked if it were true that there was no store or bank or ATM in this village. He confirmed this, but pointed out a small bakery up the lane. We headed up towards the bakery to find that they were closed until 4:00!
I was exasperated by this point! There was nowhere to sit and rest except on the street and we had to wait now another half hour for it to open!
Steve appeased me by suggesting that we wander around and take pictures while waiting.
We busied ourselves. I took pictures and as I wandered I came across a large wooden gate that keep the private residences separated from the road. This gate was open. As I looked into the courtyard I saw a woman near the entrance to her home working on her gardening.I quickly snapped some pictures. When I caught up with Steve I told him about the great shot I got. As we approached the opened gate the woman was at the gate and we greeted her. She invited us into her courtyard, and as we spoke, she then invited us into her home. She told us that she and her husband were artists. She a painter, he a sculptor. She then invited us to view their art in their studio.
We walked up some stairs and as we approached the top, she removed a corrugated plastic barrier that kept the heat in the bottom part of their lovely French home.
Their art was beautiful and whimsical.
I was completely blown away that this woman invited us into her home and entertained us. It had lifted my spirits and changed my outlook completely at that very moment.
What a wonderful experience! This all happened in the town of Limetz.
Oh, yeh, and when we left the Madame's home, the bakery was opened and we bought lots of goodies and it was a great evening as we walked back on down the road, back to Monet's village and land of beauty, we ate a picnic dinner in our room making our map our tablecloth!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A Walk Amongst the Lilies ~ Giverny Part II
Here we were,in Monet's village,Giverny. We walked back up the small lane, Rue Claude Monet, lined with quaint cottages and flora painted in golden ochers and reds, as if Monet, himself had taken his brush and stroked the landscape. A pure delight to my eyes. I felt the excitement as we quickened the pace. Visitors were exiting the car park walking to the same destination, each ready to have that incredible experience of art and nature we had visited in art history books. One thing was different though, we were staying here! The others would only be here but a moment and then drive off to some other place.
This was the last weekend of the season that Monet's property would be open.
We entered the property and wandered through the gardens leaving his home for the latter part of the visit. I felt like a kid wanting to run ahead to see the lily pond first, before anyone else. Most of the foliage was close to being done with it's bloom, but it still was magical and the colors of autumn surrounded us.
We arrived at the pond and started our promenade.
Claude Monet lived for almost forty years from 1883-1926, in this home. He had passion for gardening as well as for colors, he conceived both his flower garden and water garden as true works of art.
Wandering around the property you get a feel for the relaxing atmosphere which reigned here while Monet painted and gardened and played. He was truly inspired by the natural light and color of the area, other artists followed,they do even to this day.
The pond is lined with walks and seating along the path. A series of green bridges cross the brook that feeds the pond.
The changing colors of the leaves illuminated the scheme of the garden and framed the pond,lily pads floating atop the water. Many pictures were taken trying to capture the light and reflections.
Since it was late in the season we were almost alone out there, sitting and enjoying this scene. It was as if it were our own, and we drank it in lingering.
I stood on the beautiful green Japanese arched bridge and posed for my picture to be recorded that here I had stood and witnessed something marvelous.
This was the last weekend of the season that Monet's property would be open.
We entered the property and wandered through the gardens leaving his home for the latter part of the visit. I felt like a kid wanting to run ahead to see the lily pond first, before anyone else. Most of the foliage was close to being done with it's bloom, but it still was magical and the colors of autumn surrounded us.
We arrived at the pond and started our promenade.
Claude Monet lived for almost forty years from 1883-1926, in this home. He had passion for gardening as well as for colors, he conceived both his flower garden and water garden as true works of art.
Wandering around the property you get a feel for the relaxing atmosphere which reigned here while Monet painted and gardened and played. He was truly inspired by the natural light and color of the area, other artists followed,they do even to this day.
The pond is lined with walks and seating along the path. A series of green bridges cross the brook that feeds the pond.
The changing colors of the leaves illuminated the scheme of the garden and framed the pond,lily pads floating atop the water. Many pictures were taken trying to capture the light and reflections.
Since it was late in the season we were almost alone out there, sitting and enjoying this scene. It was as if it were our own, and we drank it in lingering.
I stood on the beautiful green Japanese arched bridge and posed for my picture to be recorded that here I had stood and witnessed something marvelous.
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