Monet's House and Gardens

Claude Monet and his family lived in Giverny, France. This small town in Normany is about one hour outside of France. Monet moved there because he wanted to get away from the loud city of Paris. He wanted to surround himself in a small quiet setting. That he did!!! Monet created these beautiful gardens also his gardens uncluded the waterlillies. It was in these controled gardens where he painted his most famous works. This impressionist did not care what critics thought about his works. He believed that if a painting touches one's soul than it is indeed art. Being a huge fan of impresssion and Monet I decided to go. While looking online, My friends and I found a bike tour company located in Paris that would take us on a bike tour of Vernon and Giverny. This American company is called Fat Tire Bike Tours. You booked out spot online for Saturday and headed to Paris on Friday night. After a fun night at the Latin Quarter the girls and I were so pumped the next morning about this tour. The tour begins at the train station. You meet up with the group, jump on a 40 min. train to Vernon, get your bike :), head to a market, have lunch next to a lake(where there was a sailboat race going on), go down a bike trail and then arrive in Girverny. Our tour guides were close to our age and were alot of fun. The bikes were beach cruzers so very safe and easy. Once in Girverny you enter Monet's House and his Gardens. I encourage you to go in May because anytime before that the gardens will not be in bloom. We went our last weekend at the Abbey. The waterlilles were amazing. To be thinking that these grounds inspired all of Monet's famous works was mind blowing. His house and studio was precious. It was a great day indeed. The guides also take you to Monet's grave. The bike trail back was much fun and riding through Vernon was fun as well. After putting the bikes up we hoped on a train back to Paris. The trip took about 8 hours so it is a full day. Girverny was probably my favorite town besides Pontlevoy in France. Monet's was a very talented artist and it was a honor to visit where he lived and flouished as an artist.http://www.viator.com/tours/Paris/Giverny-and-Monets-Garden-Bike-Tour/d479-3588MONET