belle

I've been to Giverny and Monet's garden in June and loved it except for the guy with the loud hailer instructing people to move on and not to picnic. I'm going to Paris again in Sept and would like to revisit...is that guy there only in Summer or possibly only on Sundays (when it is crowded with Parisians)? Is it allowed to have a picnic there?
Also, instead of making it a day trip from Paris I would lke to stay out there overnight. Any suggestions? Can't afford high prices especially with the exchange rate for the Aussie dollar at the moment. Vernon would be a second choice but a long way behind Giverny.

Victor Petrenko

Help the old man out, would ya?

belle

thanks for the constructive advice..pity its unfathomable. Any help out there?

tries to help

There's some Rick Steve's bashing going on around here, I'll say that before I offer this advice from his book (2001 Paris edition). Hotel La Musardiere, 2 blocks to the right out of Monet's home, Db 300-400F 02 32 21 03 18, fax 02 32 21 60 00. Hope you have a great trip.

Rex

If this is an inside joke, it is way too inside for me.

Anybody else?

belle

If it is an inside joke Rex, the only person who gets it is the first replier,Victor. I must say Rex I often enjoy your knowledgeable replies to lots of people's posts.

Sherri

In October 1997 our flight to Paris was delayed by several hours. We had planned to go to Giverny and then continue to Rouen. After visiting Monet's gardens, we were exhausted and it was after 5:00 PM. We found a wonderful B & B just down the street from Monet's house.

The Giverny website lists this B & B and others in Giverny. The website is http://giverny.org/hotels/index.htm

We stayed in the blue room of Marie-Claire Boscher (photos are on the web). The cost is 260 francs for bed and breakfast (rolls, yogurt, coffee, and juice). The house was a restaurant during Monet's time and he was a frequent visitor.

Madame Boscher is extremely gracious. Her English was about as good as my French (not very) but we had no problems communicating.

Please email me if you need more info.

Victor P.

The guy with the hailer was merely trying to do his job. You people should help him out and get out of the way of other people.

belle

Victor, I don't know why I am explaining myself to you but I'd like you to know that I did exactly as you suggest and "obeyed" the guy with the loud hailer...what did you think I would do? Push him in with the waterlilies? If you recall, my question was about if it is ever possible to picnic in the grounds or if this restriction is only brought in at peak times. I still don't know that.

Victor P.

I am not entirely sure if it is allowed to picnic in Monet's gardens. But the town of Vernon nearby has a pinicking area if you really want to do that. And it is along the River Seine just like Giverny. I don't know about cheap accomodation around that area. I'm sure there are some auberges de jeunesse in the area if you are really desperate and of course there are many campsites.
And please, please do not give the guy with the megaphone a hard time. He has a hard enough job as it is. Do you think he wants to kick you people out? No. He just wants to keep the grounds neat, and unfortunately people trample around, leave trash all over, and who knows what else. When I visited Giverny there was a crabby lady in an ice cream stand selling delicious ice cream right outside the entrance. There was also a dumb kid who looked at the sign pointing towards Monet's house and said "I guess the Maison House is that way."