Giverny

Last night, we tried to recollect all the places we have stayed overnight whilst in France and Spain. We were glad we decided to head (in most cases) to less touristy destinations. But that aside, tonight will be at Giverny, the home of impressionist painter Claude Monet.

A beautiful blue sky greeted us this morning, and as we watched the dew slowing evaporate from the grass, we set off for what was to be our last full day in France. Outside our van, the French were hovering, desperate to take our place, for want of the free electricity to power their televisions.

On route, we stopped at the town of Vernon, which lies on the banks of the river Seine. We took a look at a building, that was being reconstructed to look like a small chateau, a modern piece of sculpture named ‘group’, and a medieval house, perched precariously on the end of what was left, of an old stone bridge.

On the opposite bank, some river cruise boats were moored, and as we left the town, we met buses and a land train ferrying the visitors back and forth to Monet’s house and gardens.

Tonight’s aire is at the rear of the coach park in the village. A swarm of flying ants, over a nearby picnic area waiting to greet us when we arrived, after a while they dispersed leaving only the less adventurous behind. We have sited ourselves on the end spot, which overlooks a field of sweetcorn still waiting to be harvested, behind a back drop of trees, their colours changing as the sun moves.

Opposite us, is a large display of mauve and purple Michaelmas daisies, a particular favourite of our Margery and her father.

Later this afternoon, we joined the visitors, thin on the ground at this time of year, and of which most were Japanese, and took a walk to discover beautiful flowers and plants, streams, waterfalls, buildings, and yes, another church, possibly the last we’ll visit on this holiday.

In the churchyard, besides the Monet family grave, there is a memorial to seven British airmen, whose Lancaster plane crashed just outside the village in 1944. The bodies of the seven crew are buried together in one war grave at the rear of the church.

As we walk back along the verge, bruising the glut of horse chestnuts under foot with our shoes, we stopped, under the trees, to look at a bronze bust of Claude Monet. We found it both enchanting and mesmerising.

The late afternoon sun, produced a, sweltering, temperature of 31c. So we broke with tradition and drank a cold lager from our fridge at 5.30 pm. We have a feeling that when we arrive back in England tomorrow evening, we will receive a sharp wake up call with regard to the weather. We understand, that the weather on the south coast of England today is cold and wet, information supplied by our elderly tenant who contacted us, with yet another boiler problem!

Sipping sangria, watching the sun dip behind the trees for one last time in France this year, we will spend yet another evening enjoying one last paella, whilst reminiscing.

We have now travelled over 3500 miles.

Tomorrow, destination Dieppe