(Biking in the Country)
We enjoyed our last bike tour so much we decided to do another on. This time we did a day trip out to Giverney and Monet's House and famous water lilies.
Kit in the Red shirt
Our tour guide Kit was much more of an art history buff than a bike tour leader, being an artist himself.
Cider Time!
Before we biked out to Monet's home we picnicked in a local park. What was great about this was for lunch supplies Kit took us to the town square and pointed around saying they are good for bread, they are good for meat, they are good for cheese see you in 45 minutes and sent off all these english speaking tourist to small town markets. This is what we do most days for lunch so we didn't care but it was interesting to watch a couple of our fellow riders slog through ordering meat from french speaking shop keeps. I am sure that is what we looked like two months ago.
I look photoshopped into the picnic.
The sun was a little intense so I borrowed Daniel's hat for part of the ride. We pretty much just rode from the train station to the gardens and back, which was still a nice hour each way. We were a little slower moving group this time apparently a lot more people are willing to hop on a bike for the first time in a few years in the country than in busy Paris streets.
So truth be told Monet's gardens are as pretty as you have always heard they are.
Us in front of THE Water Lilies.
Oh and super pretty flowers all over the place.
Je veux vivre ici. (I wants to live here).
In the picture taking place on the bridge.
It is not as obvious in the photos but the gardens were slammed with people. We had to wait for a few minutes for a spot to open up on the bridge and then felt like we only had few minutes before it was someone else's turn. This is one of the only pictures I am not making a stupid face in, stupid light sensitive squinty eyes.
The pond section isn't even part of the backyard gardens. Forget painting I think Monet missed his calling as a landscaper.
This is what my grandfather's garden would look like if he had a staff and not just my cousions.
It was a bit hot outside so just about about everyone bought a cold beer for the train ride back. Well just about everyone... I would not suggest this beer... I would really not suggest it luke warm.... just saying. Kit filled us all in on the Art movements before and after Impressionism on the train ride back, apparently the french still aren't really fans of the Impressionism.
Yesterday we got up to Musée O'say and L'Orangerie and was neat to see all of the Monet's paintings from his home having just been on the bridge and stood in the same spot over looking the pond.
Thought we are still in need of some more bike riding ... maybe Amsterdam...
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