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Post by Shoesy on Dec 14, 2008 23:39:53 GMT -5
I'd really like to stop at Monet's estate on our way from CDG to Bayeux. The thing is that I'm very concerned about the fact that we'll have our luggage in our car, which I'd hate to have stolen........especially at the very beginning of our trip. Then again, it would be a real pity to miss out on seeing this lovely place. Can't decide what to do.  |
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Post by GitteK on Dec 15, 2008 1:02:53 GMT -5
As an insurance person I would say that the risk is very low. Cars are not broken into incessantly all over France. The most important thing is that you have everything hidden in the trunk/back of the car, so there is nothing to invite burglary, e.g. no camera or cellphone lying fully visible.
1) It's in the countryside, so not likely that there are a lot of bad guys, muggers or ruffians hanging around
2) It's broad daylight. It does take some nerve to break into a car on a public parking lot, when there will be people coming and going
3) And there will be lots and lots of other tourists coming and going (and surely you don't suspect them to give it a try ?)
4) You will not be gone for more than 2-3 hours
5) There is a risk to everything, sometimes you simply have to trust that things go well most of the time
6) Which they do.
Enjoy, love.
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Post by Shoesy on Dec 15, 2008 1:08:15 GMT -5
Thanks, Gitte.
My friend told me that Giverny was one of the highlights of her trip, so I'm really looking forward to seeing it.
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Post by susioz on Dec 15, 2008 1:11:32 GMT -5
I agree with Gitte. Acceptable risk. I have thought about it also for our trip in May, because I know that sometimes it will be unavoidable.
I think taking care when and when we park is the key.
Sue
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Post by Shoesy on Dec 15, 2008 1:17:32 GMT -5
Nice to hear from you, Suzioz. If you go in May, I'd definitely like to hear about it.
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Post by sunshine817 on Dec 15, 2008 1:37:01 GMT -5
It's most definitely worth a trip -- and we spent more than two hours there. Monet is one of my favourites, and I LOVED walking in his footsteps.
We had two cars, stuffed with bags, picnic gear, etc., for a weekend at the beach in Cabourg (yes, I know, Gitte, but 6 people in two cars just need stuff -- nasty habit about wearing clothes and eating and things, and there wasn't room in the cars to hide it all)-- so I'm sure we looked like a Gypsy caravan. No one so much as touched anything -- and I would be surprised if anything untoward happened to you, Shoesy.
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Post by Megan on Dec 15, 2008 5:10:53 GMT -5
I was there in October last year and although not in a private car we did park in the public carpark with the tour we were on . There seemed to be lots of busdrivers there who stayed with the buses and chatted with all the other drivers . It seemed to be a very safe place so your car won't be in a deserted area ;D
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Post by Shoesy on Dec 15, 2008 14:39:39 GMT -5
Thanks for your input, everyone. It looks like we're going to Giverny. ;D
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Post by denise on Dec 15, 2008 15:22:06 GMT -5
:)I have been meaning to visit Giverny ever since Michaels son and his family raved about it last year. We really MUST make the effort and have a day out in July. I will look forward to your report Shoesy. Lots of love denise  |
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Post by cigalechanta on Dec 15, 2008 19:08:03 GMT -5
You don't say what month but the best time to visit is late April but mostly May when the two Wisterias are in bloom. Keep no maps, guide books in sight.
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Post by Shoesy on Dec 15, 2008 22:46:24 GMT -5
It'll be in June.........the 11th to be exact. ;D
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 7, 2009 22:26:23 GMT -5
;D It's 3 days before we leave on our trip, and 'till now our plan has been to arrive at CDG at 1:00 P.M., pick up our rental and head for Giverny on our way to Bayeux. If my math is correct, that would mean that we would reach Bayeux some time in the evening......not sure what time that would be. (Assuming that our flight arrives on time, I still have no idea how long it'll take to claim our luggage and get the car.  ) I'm now wondering if it would be better if we visited Giverny on our last day in Normandy, i.e. on our way back to Paris. We need to check out of the place we'll be staying near MSM by noon, but of course we could leave much earlier if we want. The truth is that we really won't have to make our decision 'till we actually pick up our car, but the fact that we might decide to change our plans has been preoccupying my mind since yesterday evening.  Any opinions as to which seems like a better option? The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that it would be much better to save Giverny for the last day of Normandy. My sister and daughter (with whom I've just Skyped) not only agree with me, but feel that the other option would be a mistake. |
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Post by phread on Jun 8, 2009 0:51:23 GMT -5
I don't think it is a mistake at all. I think your style of playing it all by ear is perfect! If you guys arrive feeling energized and get through the bagagge car rental routine with ease, well you'll have three relaxed hours to enjoy GIverney. ANd you'd still arrive in Bayeux well before sunset, which is close to 10pm these days.
And if things don't go according to plan, you can make it up on the way back into Paris. You've got a Plan A AND a Plan B. Enjoy!
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 8, 2009 1:09:03 GMT -5
Thanks for your words of encouragement, Phread.  So.......... I guess now I can concentrate on stressing over which clothes to pack. ;D ( Seriously, you guys should see all the blazers and jackets I have on my bed . What a mess!  It's a good thing my husband isn't home.  ) |
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Post by Anne on Jun 8, 2009 4:24:45 GMT -5
Chouchou, according to ViaMichelin, Roissy - Giverny - Bayeux is a total driving time of 3:20, to which you must add the time for visiting of course . Roissy - Bayeux direct is 2:50 .
So it depends on what time you get out of Roissy and what time you would like to have dinner if you plan to do so in Bayeux . It being a small provincial town, I guess that most restaurants don't accept late dinners .
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 8, 2009 13:02:36 GMT -5
Anne - I have to take into consideration that despite the fact that we've printed out driving directions and we'll also have a GPS, I'm sure we'll manage to get lost somewhere somehow. That means additional driving time. ;D
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 5, 2009 0:39:59 GMT -5
Well, Plan B was the one that worked for us since our flight from Israel had been delayed  , and there was no way we could have squeezed in Giverny on our way to Bayeux. (We ended up arriving in Bayeux at 9:00 P.M. after a straight drive from CDG.) Therefore, our visit to Monet’s home turned out to be a stop in Paradise on our way to Paris , a Paradise of a different nature. Monday, June 15, 2009It wasn’t easy to leave the Chateau de Bouceel, where our visit had been much too brief , but the images I had of Monet’s gardens gave me something to look forward to. I knew that in Giverny we’d be greeted by Nature in all Her glory, so saying goodbye to the majestic grounds of the chateau was somehow bearable. As we entered the little town of Giverny, I remember saying that it was too cute to be true. Unfortunately, we were limited in time, but those of you who plan to take a day trip to that area have a lot to look forward to.  After purchasing our tickets, we started our visit by entering Monet’s house, which isn’t particularly large, but it was interesting to see all the rooms whose walls are painted in pastels……each room a different color. From his bedroom we admired the beautiful view out to the garden, which is rich in color due to the large variety of flowers. After a short tour of the house  , we stepped outside into the lively garden and enjoyed every scent and color that was there for our pleasure. It had apparently rained before we arrived because the ground was wet, and Shlomo remarked that it was a pity that it wasn’t a sunny day, but I had no complaints whatsoever. I was grateful for being able to walk around freely without an umbrella, and besides, by then I had learned to embrace whatever weather we encountered. Walking around the lovely garden was to me sort of like dancing to Tchaikowsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers”. What I didn’t realize was that the real treasure was just a few steps away: the famous Lily Pond, which left us totally breathless. Shlomo, who had never seen pictures of Giverny, received the surprise of his life. No photo of ours can do it justice. Go there and see this treasure for yourselves. After leaving Monet’s home and garden, we were starving , and since we didn’t know when we’d be having dinner, we decided to grab a bite to eat across the street. We each got a hot dog ;D, which turned out to be particularly yummy for 2 reasons: 1.) We hadn’t had a hot dog in a very long time, and 2.) It had very spicy mustard on it, and we both love spicy food. Enjoying our hotdogs, we walked down the road to the church where Monet is buried, and once again, I admired the lovely surroundings of this ever-so charming town. On the way, we passed a building where the most darling doggy and kitty were looking at us from the top window.  In a way this precious sight epitomized the cuteness of the town, so I quickly asked Shlomo to capture it on camera, but unfortunately, both of the animals turned to the side just as he snapped the photo. Oh, darn !!! Once we had seen Monet’s grave, we proceeded to our car, set the GPS to the address of Gare du Nord, where we would return our Europcar rental and then finally begin our Paris adventure. ;D ;D ;D Here are some photos, but keep in mind that everything is more beautiful in person.View from Monet's house  The garden with Monet's house in the background  The spectacular lily pond - need I say any more?    The scent of the flowers was intoxicating.  The uncooperative doggy and kitty  Monet's grave  |
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Post by Jody on Jul 5, 2009 5:32:32 GMT -5
Shoesy comes thru again with a morning treat .
Your description is so appealing . Darcy and I are booked to make a trip on Oct 16 aqalong with our friend,Mel and Michael Osman. I know it won't be nearly as lovely as your visit in the summer but now I can hardly wait.
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Post by GitteK on Jul 5, 2009 6:02:31 GMT -5
I'm going in September - but .......hmmm........ how come I got the idea that these gardens were quite far from a town ?? I have read that when you arrive with the train from Paris, you have to take a taxi, as the gardens are about 6 kilometers from the station ??
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Post by GitteK on Jul 5, 2009 6:18:09 GMT -5
Ahaaa !!!!!!! So there IS no train station in Giverny town itself ! This is from the website, giverny.org/By train: The Vernon station is situated on the main line Paris / Rouen / Le Havre. It starts from the Saint-Lazare Paris station (which has not changed much since Monet painted it). The fastest trains complete the journey in less than 45 min. In the Metro, take the 'SNCF - Grandes Lignes' exit. Buy a ticket to Vernon. The Rouen line departs from the right side of the platform, in the 'Grandes Lignes' section. If you arrive by train:You may take a taxi, the coach, rent a bike or walk. Taxis Several taxis are generally waiting at the train station. There is another taxi station on the place d'Evreux 200 metres away. Vernon to Giverny fare : around 12 euros. Bus Shuttle VERNON <-> GIVERNY From spring to Autumn "T. V. S." coaches link Vernon train station and central bus station to Giverny. Daily round trip fare 4 euros Tickets sales on board vehicle with compulsory validation  |
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)
It's a good thing my husband isn't home. 
) 
, and there was no way we could have squeezed in Giverny on our way to Bayeux. (We ended up arriving in Bayeux at 9:00 P.M. after a straight drive from CDG.) Therefore, our visit to Monet’s home turned out to be a stop in Paradise on our way to Paris 
, we stepped outside into the lively garden and enjoyed every scent and color that was there for our pleasure. It had apparently rained before we arrived because the ground was wet, and Shlomo remarked that it was a pity that it wasn’t a sunny day, but I had no complaints whatsoever. I was grateful for being able to walk around freely without an umbrella, and besides, by then I had learned to embrace whatever weather we encountered. 
In a way this precious sight epitomized the cuteness of the town, so I quickly asked Shlomo to capture it on camera, but unfortunately, both of the animals turned to the side just as he snapped the photo. Oh, darn !!! 
hahahha