I recently enjoyed the vacation of a lifetime! My husband and I visited Paris, Florence, Rome, and Istanbul and we loved every place and every minute of it! We were lucky enough to tour the Louvre, Versailles and Giverny. We also visited many other sites, including the Accademia Gallery, Uffizi Gallery, Vatican and the Coliseum.
Although I can’t say I have a favorite, the desire to return to Giverny, France is strongest. Giverny is where Monet transformed his stunning gardens into priceless works of art.
From Paris, we took a two-hour tour bus trip to the town of Giverny. The tour allows you wander Monet’s breathtaking gardens and you can explore his home, which has been restored to its original glory.
I am already planning an excuse to go back and this time I would spend at least one night in one of the B&B’s located in the adorable medieval town of Giverny. That way, I could take as much time as I wanted to appreciate Monet’s garden and home. I would also visit the Impressionist museum in town that we didn’t have time to see.
I believe every soul on earth should see the beauty of Monet’s gardens. I found it especially profound because of my artistic background. What makes Monet’s story so compelling for me is that he was famous in his own lifetime. He did not have to starve or die for his art before it was appreciated. Monet was able to live his dream. He earned enough money to buy his house and hire gardeners to help him bring his imagined garden to reality. Monet was able to paint for a living and provide a comfortable life for his family; it is the stuff of fairytales. Monet was one of the early Impressionists and at the time, his technique was not an accepted style of painting. At first, it was mocked, but eventually the art world embraced Impressionism.
Giverny is nothing short of magical! It is a must see.
