Giverny and the Monet Foundation

It doesn't get any better than springtime in Giverny. My favorite painter, Claude Monet, created a masterpiece on this lovely piece of earth. He transformed the property into a magnificent ever-changing canvas.

Monet lived in the peaceful village of Giverny from 1883 until he died there in 1926.

Above, in the background, is the Japanese bridge featured in numerous works of art.

It was too early in the season for the waterlilies.

A gardener was working in the pond in a pretty green boat.

Waterlilies 

Wisteria booming over the Japanese bridge.

Even in black and white the landscape is enchanting.

The gardens in front of the house were full of color.

The tulips were dominant in most of the beds.

The layout of the gardens.

Lovely lovely tulips.

There were even green tulips and black tulips!

I could move right in.

Art work is everywhere.

The colors are bright and cheerful.

Monet collection of Japanese engravings in the yellow kitchen.

Blue and yellow - happy colors.

I really like the blue and white tile in the kitchen.

The works of various artists displayed in the studio.

Happiness is a pink and green house in France!

Simply lovely.

Tulip time.

Another destination checked off my bucket list.

Giverny and the Monet Foundation - a wonderful way to spend the day in France.

💜andPeace,Myra

Paris in the Spring (2018)

Paris has been on my bucket list for a long time. Finally the romance, history and beauty are mine to remember. Another wonderful Viking River Cruise - Paris and the Heart of Normandy.

The Arc de Triomphe

We began our Paris visit with a guided bus tour.

One would have to be young and in top physical shape to see everything on foot!

The Champs-Elysees

Wonderful to see the places I've read about and heard about my entire life.

Travel to me is like putting a face with a name.

37 beautiful bridges keep Paris connected on the winding Seine River.

The architecture worth the trip.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral

The Paris Point Zero

Just outside Notre Dame the center of Paris is marked with this brass star.

The very 💛of Paris.

Our guide told us one of the customs is to place your foot on the star and you will someday return to Paris.  I like that idea. 

The Louvre Museum

Our time here was limited so we were fortunate to have a guide.

She steered us through the crowds to the more significant pieces.

Here she is, Mona Lisa!

Venus de Milo

Winged Victory

From this photo you can get an idea of the crowds.

I took this photo from inside the Louvre.

Cute window in Paris shop

A bridge near Notre Dame Cathedral. 

The Eiffel Tower.

Our last night in Paris we toured the city again.

I will post the night photos at the end of this series.

Stay tuned for the twinkling Eiffel Tower at night.

Next - Giverny and a day at the Monet Foundation

💛andPeace,Myra

The Beauty of Colmar and on to the Black Forest

There was so much to see and experience in Colmar. My previous post concentrated on the signs and food of Colmar. Here I will share with you the beauty of this sweet storybook village. Then we will take a look at the Black Forest.

Frederic Auguste Bartholdi is the sculptor responsible for the Liberty Enlightening the World statue better known as the Statue of Liberty. 

The photo above is detail of the entry to the Musee Bartholdi in Colmar.

Statue by Bartholdi in the courtyard of the museum.

The architecture in Colmar is splendid.

A wonderful mix ofAlsatian homes and French and German Renaissance architecture greets you around every corner. The restored half-timbered houses take one back to another time.

Interesting mix of windows and shutters.

The canals of Colmar are alive with color from the pretty flower boxes.

Walking about Colmar is a treat for the senses.

Beauty on display around every corner.

Some of the store fronts were elaborately decorated with whimsical themes.

Bridge over the Lauch River in Colmar.

This area in Colmar is often referred to as "Little Venice".

Later we traveled by motor coach through the Black Forest.

Magnificent scenery of the countryside, forests and rolling hills. The curving roads provided lots of wow moments along the way. Unfortunately there were few opportunities from the motor coach to capture the beauty in photos.

We did make a stop at the world's largest cuckoo clock (above).

Here we were offered demonstrations making Black Forest Cake and cuckoo clocks as well as glass blowing.

This concluded our Rhine River cruise.

Perhaps I will share some photos from the ship next. 

I hope you will join me.

💜peace,Myra