Water Lily Pond at Giverny

Monet spent much of his later life painting in this part of his garden. Even without the water lily blooms, the plants add to the color and texture of the serene setting. Although there were swarms of people, I managed a few photos that denied their existence, but that famous Japanese bridge was never empty!

We were here on May Day, a fitting way to celebrate the bringing of flowers. On May 3rd, our last afternoon in Paris, we decided to leave the holiday throngs flocking to the common sights and explore the little known Musee Marmottan Monet. This is an art museum located in a mansion adjacent to the western park blocks of the city which belonged to a wealthy collector. When Michel Monet sold off his family collection, the museum acquired it. It contains more than 65 works by Claude Monet, including some of his most famous, and many painted in this pond setting. It was a great way to end our European tour in a place of beauty and serenity, much like this garden must have been for Monet.