Giverney – Monet’s Garden – Sickness in the camp

Monet's House. The entry ticket allows you to walk through some of the main rooms.
Monet’s House. The entry ticket allows you to walk through some of the main rooms.

Monet’s Garden opens at 9.30 and the buses started arriving at 9.15 in the carpark adjacent to ours.Tour groups with leaders holding what looked like numbered table tennis bats escorted the masses to the entrance. We had a slower start as Jenny had succumb to the dreaded stomach bug or lurgy in Aussie slang. After a bit of a rest she rallied and we managed to visit the gardens with Jenny taking a few rests along the way.

This door was on the way to the gardens.
This door was on the way to the gardens.
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the kitchen, waited awhile until I could get a clear photo.
The kitchen, I waited  until I could get a clear photo.
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Look closely on the bridge and you will see Jenny and Lori.
Look closely on the bridge and you will see Jenny and Lori.
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Rather than to press on and do more sightseeing the decision was made to find a campsite and let Jenny rest up and recover. We arrived at Pont-de-I’Arch at lunch time, a basic municipal campsite along the banks of a river next to a picturesque town.

Lori and I left Jenny in bed to sleep while we explored the town and had lunch in a Turkish kebab restaurant. Upon returning to the campsite we discovered it did not have a washing machine so we set about hand washing a basket of clothes and putting up clothes lines under the awning. This was  the first day in our trip that it has been raining.

Unusual building.
Unusual building.
A quite street in Pont-de-i'Arch. Nice town and we didn't see any tourists.
A quite street in Pont-de-i’Arch. Nice town and we didn’t see any tourists.
This was on the side of a building being renovated. There is definitely a shoe theme going on here
This was on the side of a building being renovated. There is definitely a shoe theme going on here
This place needs a bit of work. The two smaller places on the right are for rent.
This place needs a bit of work. The two smaller places on the right are for rent.
Inside the church
Inside the church
A pensive monk on the side of the church at Pont-de-i'Arch
A pensive monk on the side of the church at Pont-de-i’Arch

On Saturday morning we awoke to discover that the car park next to the campsite had been transformed into a large marketplace. Stalls selling food, clothes, brick a brac and a large barbeque.

The local rugby club had put on the barbeque and Lori and I had a plate of French fries with 2 sausages washed down with a cold beer. Jenny’s stomach had not yet recovered to be able to have greasy chips but she was on the mend and was able to walk around the marketplace. We helped boost the sales at the market by buying a scarf, 4 egg cups, a book and some homemade sausage.

Pumpkins. Just one of the many different stalls at the market.
Pumpkins. Just one of the many different stalls at the market.
The market which was set up next to the campsite.
The market which was set up next to the campsite.
We bought a selection of 5 different types. One was even donkey. They were all delicious.
We bought a selection of 5 different types. One was even donkey. They were all delicious.

By mid-afternoon Jenny was feeling well enough for us to travel and we set off through the backroads towards the village of Gerberoy. Our only stop was to shop at an Aldi. Our intension was to get a few items but we left with some more delicacies and wine, beer and apple cider. It’s always a trap going shopping in another country as you just want to try all the different things they have which we don’t see back in Australia.

We arrived at Gerberoy and after a quick drive through the village we parked for the night in the large visitor car park on the hill. We had a prime spot with views overlooking the valley. Two motorhomes joined us later jostling for a good view, it pays to get to places early. We had a quiet night and planned to explore the village in the morning.

Our overnight spot at the visitor car park at Gerberoy. We had a great view of the valley.
Our overnight spot at the visitor car park at Gerberoy. We had a great view of the valley.

For those of you that are concerned about Jenny being sick, she is feeling much better.

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