Giverney - Claude Monet's House

This is the famous Japanese garden that inspired so many of Monet's water lily paintings. There is a bridge at each end. It is early morning here (about 9.00am), we were the first bus here and we got to see it before it got too crowded. Even so, it was difficult to get shots without people in them.

What was really great was that having been here, I could see where Monet had painted when I saw his works at L'Orangerie where his largest works are displayed. The reflections would keep on changing with the sun during the day. That's why Monet painted the same scene so much: different light, different picture.

This is Monet's house. There were lots of interesting things inside and lots of primary colours: copies of some of his paintings, photographs, the dining room was yellow and the kitchen was blue.

Apart from painting his favourite pastimes were cooking and gardening.

I wasn't allowed to take photos though.

Just to show you that I am alive and well.

There are so many garden beds and flower types here. In the early morning light and with the dew, I could not resist taking heaps of photographs.

Limoges

On the way back to Paris we stopped off at Limoges to see some of the china for which they are famous. This is a good example and one of my favourite designs. The industry is struggling a little now as people's lifestyles have meant that not everyone now wants a luxury dinner set.

It is still very beautiful.

Back in Paris

Well I'm back in Paris and things continue to go well. My apartment is great and well placed in Les Gobelins (weavers, not the little fairy guys). I went to the Louvre and L'Orangerie today. No waiting because I got a museum pass and I arrived at the Louvre at 8.50am and just had to wait for the 9.00am opening. I saw so many masters' works that I am in danger of not appreciating them enough. L'Orangerie had the Monet water lily series (amazing in scope and scale) and then works by Picasso, Manet, Pisarro, Matisse, Renoir, Gaugin, Modigliani, Cezanne etc (what's not to like).

Tomorrow I am planning to go to Musee D'Orsay if the strikes don't interfere; Versailles on Wednesday and then off to Scotland on Thursday, as long as the air traffic controllers and fuel people only take it out on Air France and not other airlines. We shall see.

I am back to being on my own. It's OK: I miss some of the company that I had on the trip but at least I can do things in my own time.

On Saturday I went to Giverney to see the Monet house and gardens. We were there early and the weather was beautiful. The water lily pond was like glass and there were lots of flowers out. What a magical place this is. The house and studio were good to see with its yellow dining room and blue kitchen. What is also amazing is that towards the end of his life, Monet could not recognise colours and in a sense had to translate colours from memory to his work.

I know I am using a lot of superlatives in my blog but I am seeing so many things that I had only read about before and it is truly wonderful to see them in real life. In this sense it has been a really wonderful trip.

I am receiving emails but cannot send a reply for some reason. I hope to rectify that when I find the cause. Sorry if you are relying on emails to communicate.

Lunch

Lunch at Cahors. And it's take away too!

Albi

This is the interior of Cathedrale de St Cecille in Albi. It size is enormous and it was built to show the power of the church. Whilst the outside is plain, the interior is majestic with lots of delicate touches. The elaborate Gothic scrolling is impressive, as is the light from its stained glass windows. I can only imagine what the impact of this was on people in the 13th-15th centuries.

Whilst the main part of the building dates back to the 13th century, this entry was added in the 15th century and is more elaborate than the rest of the cathedral.

The exterior of the cathedral. One major difference to other cathedrals is that this is made from bricks. The reason for this is a lack of stone in the area.

The city and the cathedral are located on the banks of the Tarn River. These houses have wonderful views.

The Tarn River, taken from the Cathedral Gardens.

We had a wine tasting of Chateauneuf du Pape wines at the Brotte vineyard. There were three classifications: Chateauneuf du Pape; village names and Cru wines. These are a lovely style of wine: elegant, earthy with good fruit. They use a variety of grape types and sometimes blend different vintages toagether.

This is the Pont du Gard. A 2000 year old aqueduct that took water over a 50 km distance. The bridge here took some 5 years to build and uses no concrete. The water runs along the top level, the lower level serves as a bridge. Water was a source of power to the Romans.

This is the papal palace in Avignon. It dominates the town. It is a massive structure. Avignon is a wonderful town, but then all of the towns that I have visited have been special.

Provence