Paris finally! Am so glad I got to spend 3 weeks exploring the city. Last time I came was 10 years ago and I did not really appreciate Paris nor understand what all the fuss is about. But this time, I came under the spell and fallen head over heels with the place.
Eileen Johnson of Flower School New York knew I was going to Paris and told me I simply must make a trip to Monet's Garden in Giverny, so off I went.
By this time, I have already visited quite a few gardens in Albrigton, around Switzerland, Vienna and Prague, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but Monet's Garden is so different from all the rest.
Monet bought this piece of land in 1883 and his family started gardening in front of the house. He did not like organized nor constrained gardens, so he planted flowers according to their colours and left them to grow rather freely.
Was so in love with all the different flowers I saw there.
10 years after Monet settled in the place, he bought a neighbouring piece of land and built his first pond, which was then progressively enlarged to its present day size. The ponds are full of asymmetries and curves inspired by Japanese garden prints that Monet collected avidly.
This is also the backdrop for Monet's most well known paintings - Water Lilies.
The main alley in front of Monet's house.
Everywhere you look, there are nice flowers waiting for you. The whole place is just so dreamy and picture perfect. Simply cannot imagine if we are still using film cameras, I probably need to bring 20 rolls of films and will go broke developing them!
There are different flowers in bloom depending on the time you visit. As I went in September, I would love to go back again in Spring to see other different flowers.
There are different flowers in bloom depending on the time you visit. As I went in September, I would love to go back again in Spring to see other different flowers.
Whilst waiting for the bus to take me to the train station, I saw this field of gorgeous wild flowers.
A week after my visit to Monet's Gardens, me and a friend met up to spent a day exploring Paris and we visited the Musée de l'Orangerie, permanent home to eight Water Lilies paintings.
Having visited the gardens, I had a better background understanding when I saw the paintings. It is interesting to note that many of his works in this series were painted when he was suffering from cataracts.
Amazing how such simple colours and paint strokes can show so much depth. Can only imagine what life is like where you wake up each day and paint flowers in your own pond and gardens.
Another highlight of my trip was spending a day at the Château de Versailles. Below is the stunning La Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) with romantic chandeliers, paintings and sculptures.
Very grand Royal Chapel's Organ, it looked like a student was playing the organ under guidance of an instructor. On the door the most exquisite gold ornament.
Latona Fountain and the Grand Canal, stretching 1,670 metres long!
And the breathtaking Orangie garden.
One of the last pics I took at Château de Versailles, like heaven shining light on earth.
