The Giverny Joie de Vivre

by Ariane ~ July 4, 2016

The birds are not the only ones that sing at Giverny. Today I heard a gentleman whistling a melody in the tunnel leading to the water garden. It was so on key and sounded so well that every body stopped to listen.

A bit later, a little girl sitting under the weeping willow hummed a nursery rhyme. A group of teenagers “that had been singing in the coach all the way from Paris to Giverny” according to their teacher continued in Monet’s gardens with all the good old hits of the Eighties they knew.

And then, the smiles. I love to see how people look happy when they come back from standing on the Japanese bridge, after they have realized that they are there, for real.

And all the bright smiles visitors have for the camera. The funny poses they strike.

I too must smile at the school children on a day trip that yell, super excited: “Here are the water lilies! We found them!” 

I share the exhilaration of keen gardeners looking at all the botanical marvels of Giverny. I can feel the concentration of the artists sitting on benches and drawing.

Why is Giverny so popular? Because it is the perfect place to feel a perfect moment of joie de vivre!