Northern France - Day One

 Arras is a Small Town just on the French/ Belgium Border but is France.

As this was the first town we stayed in for a Night. we wanted to explore.

The room was hotel room was small, but clean and had a very expensive Breakfast

 So here we were in a small French town wanting breakfast at 7:30am.

The issue is the town doesn't wake up until 8:30am 

The Town Square was empty.

 The Streets were empty

 But what beautiful street

 The church was closed of course

 But looked nice from the outside.

 Jennifer was getting hungry and we finally found a bakery.

Fresh Croissants and Pain Au Raisins

 The hotel was a small nice little one, designed back in the 1800s

It was one of those that was totally rebuilt after WW1 as was most of the town

By 8:30 we were on the road to Monets Gardens.

 The Hotel carpark was in the hotel courtyard and was very tight.

The countryside was very quiet and green, Sring was approaching.

 But regularly through the countryside are cemeteries like this one 

There 2000 men buried in this one, most from Norfolk and Essex.

 It was quiet but very well kept.

The sun was starting to come up and make this a wonderfully bright day.

 We finally got to Monet Gardens in Giverny at about 11:00. The carpark was garden into itself with the cherry blossom out in full

It looked like it was snowing when the breeze went passed.

The Blossom was thick so it had only been out a few days.

 It was a great way to arrive at the gardens

 We got tickets easily and went in, There weren't large crowds but bus tours were there.

 The tulips were out in Bloom and they were wonderful colors.

The garden had NO lawn, just flower beds as far as the eye could see.

That was what Monet wanted.

We found the lily ponds, Sorry No lilies as it too early int he season. but you could imagine them. We had to wait for a Bus tour that was ahead of us.

 So we waited in the beauty of the place. Finally, I got the Photo I wanted.

Jennifer in a Big Smile on Monets Bridge, ok the original he had built has long since rotted away and it is not steel. But it was still his bridge.

You can imagine the ponds when the lilies are out and the Willows in full flower

The Garden Archway is the center of his Garden.

 But the rest is impressive.

Today and dedicated team take care of the gardens and try to follow Monet design for color.

You can just imagine it around you.

This was spring and colors were just coming out. And it was already great.

Finally, we got to look inside the house.

 First his Studio, this was open the garden with large windows to let the light in. and the paintings were all copies as the originals are all in Art Galleries around the world.

 Jennifer loved being there and seeing what he had to use as an Artist.

His bedroom was modest as was the house and on the walls were copies of painting he had on his walls. There were him but of other impressionists, Goya, Van Goh, etc..  And of course all of those are in Art Galleries

The house was big enough for his Family and was colourfull and all had windows into the Garden.

The Dining room was YELLOW and although Jennifer didn't like Yellow, she still loved the layout of the room

 It was simple

 And still had views of the garden.

The kitchen was a French Kitchen as you would imagine it.
Simple and with plenty of space.

And what stove.
By the time we got out of Giverny, it was now about 2:30. And we still wanted to see a bit of Rouen before the end of the day.

we got to Rouen at about 4:00pm so we had to move a bit to find the Tourist centre and Food for Dinner.
So we park under the Palace de Justice. This beautiful build was to be the landmark the guided us around.

Then we found the market

The Town Clock Arch.

 The Cathdral and what a Cathdral

 Finally we found the Visitor Centre and Tourist Centre.
It was right next to the Catherdal.
So we made plans and figured out what we were going to do.
Off to the Hotel.

Passed the River and the old bridge

this was Joan of Arch terrority and Vikings? no

Norman's, William the Conquer Territory.