Overflowing rivieres, good company and some sun!

One of the highlights of our stay near Paris was visiting Monet's Garden at Giverney - highly recommended and it might be useful to have pre-booked in case there is a crowd.  We were lucky it was very quiet and we could take time to enjoy the beautiful gardens which look just like his paintings and visit his house complete with a wonderful wood stove, cum bain marie, cum hot water system that Donnelly Owners would be jealous of! 

Monet's Iris'

Recognise the pond and the lillypads?

My favourite flower again!

The Loire River valley - full of chateaux, vineyards, history and overflowing waterways with a hint of a summer that seems to be on the way. Roses, peonies, chrysanthemums .... wonderful gardens, first at Giverney near Paris where Monet set up near the Seine and then the chateau formality of manicured hedges & trees with gravel paths to keep you off the spacious lawns. Everywhere in the Loire you'll find a chateau to suit so with water lapping around "les grandes" we were still able to find plenty of renaissance art & furniture and French pre-revolutionary history.

different eras side by side

Chambord under water - the first time many people can remember it this way

Just a little extension to the original chateau!  Blois

The Loire in flood, acres of land around the river is covered in water and many rivers that feed into it are in flood too.

Healthy looking vegie bed at Chateau Rivau

In fact after a leisurely walk through wheat-fields and past centuries old barns with an English couple from our B&B we arrived at the lovely Chateau du Rivau to find a garden festival on and stalls all around the gardens. Every town has a fortress Joan of Arc reputedly visited on her mission to defeat the dreaded English, statues of her are everywhere. The French have a zeal for ensuring their old towns maintain their narrow winding street-scapes and to wander around Beaugency, Blois, Amboise & Chinon all which despite many wars continue to offer views of the past in the present.

We have had some great AirBnB hosts and the last couple of nights was at La Closerie St Martin   where we enjoyed very comfortable bed, great hosts and company and fabulous food - a great treat - thanks to Marcel and Katerina.   

After four days of touring in the Loire Valley, we have now headed north to Brittany to the maritime climes of St-Malo to see family and experience a different lifestyle.