Today our train to Vernon went from St Lazare again - we have found our way around many met stations, but this time we had to queue for 20 mins for a ticket, so we were pleased to have allowed extra time; you never know here what might hold you up. The upstairs seats in the train gave us a great view on the 50 min trip along the Seine in some parts. Then out to a bus to Giverny, in a rural setting. The old stone houses in the village are beautiful and Monet's garden was picture perfect (130 photos )!
A delicious lunch of fish soup followed by scallops / St Jaques and I was in heaven. A walk to allow this yummy repast to put on as few inches as possible, took us along a country road where we found a little farm - in one single field there were: an ostrich, several EMUS!!! a flock of geese, 3 or 4 alpacas and 2 very fat grey pigs. What next! They were all content but for how long I wondered; I'm sure some will hit a plate at some time or another.
Tulips were in abundance, the wisteria was in its prime and the pink clematis over the arches an absolute delight. As in all other places (I have forgotten to mention the lilacs growing wild 
everywhere), the lilacs were a fragrant wonder. Although there were many people there, we followed the underpass to the water garden and we were able to enjoy and photograph without feeling swarmed.
everywhere), the lilacs were a fragrant wonder. Although there were many people there, we followed the underpass to the water garden and we were able to enjoy and photograph without feeling swarmed. A delicious lunch of fish soup followed by scallops / St Jaques and I was in heaven. A walk to allow this yummy repast to put on as few inches as possible, took us along a country road where we found a little farm - in one single field there were: an ostrich, several EMUS!!! a flock of geese, 3 or 4 alpacas and 2 very fat grey pigs. What next! They were all content but for how long I wondered; I'm sure some will hit a plate at some time or another.
8th May Chalon en Champagne
Irene asked me to choose a day trip, so I found a place on the map in a different direction from Paris compared with our other trips and off to Chalon en Champagne we went. The trip through the country was great apart from a few ear popping tunnels. The open spaces were covered with lush pastures of wheat and canola with lots of wter courses. It was flat along the rivers where the crops were laid out in patchwork and the rolling hills were most often covered with neat fields of vines running downhill. High chalky ridges were heavily wooded and pretty country villages tucked in along the hills, the houses of stone or cream painted stucco with tiled or slate roofs. The ploughed soil here was pale and in many cases, new crops were just peeping through. Later we noticed white cattle lying in the lush green pastures and, as on previous occasions, many trees ravaged by mistletoe, some dead, their branches contrasting starkly with the surrounding forest.
Along the line, most villages had community vegie gardens and there was a fishing competition just out of Epernay - as I said - we had a good view!
Arriving in Chalon looking for their Saturday market, we found preparations for a VE day parade - Army personel (there are several bases there), roads blocked off, marquees, band members wandering around and so on. There is always something.
Chalon is a beautiful town with rivwes, canals and gardens. We walked around medieval streets while looking for churches that would be open to view - most shops and tourist sites were closed for the parade and only some opened in the afternoon, but we found the Museum of Cloisters showing wonderful archeological finds and later the Cathedral of St Etienne opened so we could admire the beautiful stained glass windows. It is certainly a poor cousin compared w
ith the Paris cathedrals, a little unkempt, but I thought it was beautiful.
The halles, covered market, is an amazing building which we later learned was designed by Eiffel, our heads revolved as we walked up and down past the stalls. We chose 2 cheeses for lunch with a baguette that had us salivating (and to take home for tea in Paris we found a ham and cheese puff pastry pie and a hardboiled egg wrapped in ham and covered in aspic)! Lunch was a gracious picnic on a park seat in the sun in the Petit Jardin a picturesque little chateau. There was a small canal edged by neat hedges leading to the chateau.
Irene asked me to choose a day trip, so I found a place on the map in a different direction from Paris compared with our other trips and off to Chalon en Champagne we went. The trip through the country was great apart from a few ear popping tunnels. The open spaces were covered with lush pastures of wheat and canola with lots of wter courses. It was flat along the rivers where the crops were laid out in patchwork and the rolling hills were most often covered with neat fields of vines running downhill. High chalky ridges were heavily wooded and pretty country villages tucked in along the hills, the houses of stone or cream painted stucco with tiled or slate roofs. The ploughed soil here was pale and in many cases, new crops were just peeping through. Later we noticed white cattle lying in the lush green pastures and, as on previous occasions, many trees ravaged by mistletoe, some dead, their branches contrasting starkly with the surrounding forest.
Along the line, most villages had community vegie gardens and there was a fishing competition just out of Epernay - as I said - we had a good view!
Arriving in Chalon looking for their Saturday market, we found preparations for a VE day parade - Army personel (there are several bases there), roads blocked off, marquees, band members wandering around and so on. There is always something.
Chalon is a beautiful town with rivwes, canals and gardens. We walked around medieval streets while looking for churches that would be open to view - most shops and tourist sites were closed for the parade and only some opened in the afternoon, but we found the Museum of Cloisters showing wonderful archeological finds and later the Cathedral of St Etienne opened so we could admire the beautiful stained glass windows. It is certainly a poor cousin compared w
ith the Paris cathedrals, a little unkempt, but I thought it was beautiful.The halles, covered market, is an amazing building which we later learned was designed by Eiffel, our heads revolved as we walked up and down past the stalls. We chose 2 cheeses for lunch with a baguette that had us salivating (and to take home for tea in Paris we found a ham and cheese puff pastry pie and a hardboiled egg wrapped in ham and covered in aspic)! Lunch was a gracious picnic on a park seat in the sun in the Petit Jardin a picturesque little chateau. There was a small canal edged by neat hedges leading to the chateau.
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