Again, summer has struck n Normandie France. Commonly, we hear that 10 days ago, this area has very cold temperatures. We keep telling the locals that we brought some of the Australian sunshine over with us. Consequently, we endeavoured to negotiate new rates for our accommodation as we were wanting to recoup our expenses of such a venture: to no avail, as Fred couldn’t convince them of the need to revalue (downwards of course), our costs. What is it they say, “never send a boy to do a man’s job !!”.

Our target today was Giverny, some 45 kilometres away upstream of the Seine. Fred had plotted our course as if we were to take the easy route, the GPS would send us along E$%, another tollroad. We think that our approximate €40 donation to the French road builders recently, was more than enough. We also wanted to keep our off the beaten track approach going. She “did good !!”

Down along a reasonably fast road to Vironvay: stopping at a Seine Panorama lookout just in behind a very neatly presented group of houses. One of these had an automatic mower: Fred was fascinated about this contraption. I think she was purely self-centred with this, as I feel that she is getting tired of mowing the lawns at home. I didn’t raise this with her just-in-case that my commentary would have been mis-interpreted. Mowing the lawns at home does give her a new skill set: something that she should be thankful for. Not the time to remind her I thought. Although I bet the grass is getting long: didn’t want to concern her at this point.

Our panoramic view gave us a rather good perspective of our location at Connelles and the local area. We have become rather familiar with the local area overall. The view also gave us a better understanding of what was where and the magnitude of the Seine as we have seen many barges transporting goods up and down the river. You can understand why the Seine River valley is regarded as the “breadbasket” of France.

Further down the road into Vernon where we saw some of those river cruise boats moored and some inscriptions painted on the road for the 2018 Tour de France. I have always wondered what and why these messages are painted on the roads: we were to see some others later in the day where messages of protest and or information were scribed. We have included a picture or two in the photo gallery.

Onto to Giverny a small village some 9 kilometres away. This is a major French tourist location: Claude Monet’s garden and Maison (house). So popular is this place, people line up to gain access: just the same as the process to gain access to the popular museums etc. We were advised to pre-purchase our tickets to accelerate our entry. This we did.

Our GPS enabled us to secure a park at the gardens after taking us into the inner (premium - guest, sanctum). Not our worry, nor was it when it took us up a one-way Rue in the opposite direction. Fred just shut her eyes as I guided our Renault along this course: come to think of it, I think I had my eyes closed as well !! From what I recall, all the hand gestures and weird looks didn’t bother me. I’m not sure about Fred.

We had our picnic lunch under the shade of some trees prior to gaining access to the complex. this was a good preparation for our entry, as it assisted passing the time when the French were having their “siesta”: a concept I have mentioned a few times now.  

We were able to gain access immediately the afternoon session started: following advice to view the “Jardin D’eau” (the famous water garden) first. This we did, and saw that famous green bridge noted in a great deal of Monet’s artworks. To get onto the bridge and be able to take the odd photograph was a time-consuming business as you had to wait while all the asian visitors had stopped taking the mandatory selfies or poses. The latter most necessary even after every eye-lash alteration. What is it about these people: no wonder Fuji invented the digital camera. It was necessary given all the photos these people take.

Rant over !!

The Jardin D’eau was a great place with the large pond a feature offset with all the flowers and horticultural sculpturing done by the French. apparently, it is not dissimilar to when Claude Monet was around in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The remainder of the complex was inspecting the wider garden area and Claude’s house (Maison). Many tulips were evident. Fred suggested that I stop mimicking the “tip-toe through the tulips” song and ukulele playing. “Too many people speaking behind your back”, she indicated. Easily fixed, I turned around and walked backwards !!

Monet, from what I can remember of my art studies at school (I used to listen from outside the room, as the teachers often thought I did my best work outside of the class, staring at the wall), was a master and the inventor of painting what was seen, outdoors. A mixture of light and dark: master of the reflection. His pond provided plenty of the latter, that’s for sure. 

He was a rogue: ”your sort of person”, one nearby (who shall remain nameless but suffice to say has 4 letters in her name and it sounds like “said, bed, red etc”). As soon as I heard this, as a matter of protest, I stopped reading the book I had taken from the bookshelf and proceeded to read. I think “that person” thought I should have purchased the book first: a minor detail. The book was promptly returned to its former position. An act to further reinforce the personal protest action I had initiated. Two can play this game. 

Claude’s house (I feel that I can refer to him by his first name, given that he was my sort of person), was laid out as he lived in it. Many replicas of his etchings and paintings were on display: we were a number of his close friends. Claude did do it tough though. Not always living with Francs (prior to Euro days of course) in his pocket, he needed to be supported by his family. Still, he seemed to do a good job with what he did.

We then headed for home, as this was to be our last day in France. Along the way we visited some of those very small villages where the people would line up and cheer the Tour’s peloton as it passed through. We stopped at a horse stud, where a horse was leaning over the fence eating. Fred started chatting to the horse and was duly ignored. I didn’t have the heart to remind her that the stallion spoke French. I think that escaped her. Further along the small roadway, was another horse leaning over the fence. I think it was the local mayor (did I spell that correctly ?). I spoke to the “mayor” in French, and received a snort of approval. Further along the way, I saw the impressive Chateau de la Madeleine. I stopped and walked onto the property and took a photo. A very impressive place: somehow I don’t think that I should have been on the property: I was too fast for the dogs, beating them back to the car !! (Just kidding, of course)

Back to the residence to ready ourselves for another French meal at the L’ Comptor Restaurant: this being the one we ate at some days earlier. The one where I tasted the the local secret recipe, tripe.

It was here that we struck up a conversation with the waiter (Didier). So determined was he to use some English, that we preserved with many items drawn on out table cloth to assist. We presented him with an Australian T-shirt, which he promptly put on and wore with pride. It was a great time with some of the other diners chipping in a few Anglo-French phrases. We forwarded a copy of the photo to Didier to which he replied: 

“merci  beaucoup  IAN, passé  1  belle  soiree   en votre compagnie”, Didier.

For both Fred and I, these exchanges and overcoming language issues, will remain as highlights. Fred (as she often reminds me), is experienced with endeavouring to interpret words etc. After all, she has had to do it with me now for a few football seasons. 

Didier, gave us a small lemonchiello drink as an act of appreciation. He warmly shook our hands at the end of the meal. 

The meal ? Well, I couldn’t resist the tripe again. Another local wine: yes, rouge of course.

So as to overcome the rampant protests from many over the lack of competitions, I have decided to reinstitute these. So here is this chapter’s:

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Au revoir, nous avons passé un merveilleux moment en Normandie.