Dreams...

...can come true, and sometimes more than once! Monet's garden and home were beautiful today! What a treat to return to one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! It wasn't my best visit, going on the ship's tour has it's disadvantages in this case. With my private guide I was there when it opened and had a while to enjoy the beauty without tons of people. Today we arrived in the midst of the rush and it was so crowded. The pleasant surprise today was the large number of school children, literally dozens of school groups of all ages were there. I said excuse moi to a group and they started talking to me in English and they were very excited to try out their English. They were 12 and darling! I started counting and they taught me to count to 12 and then clapped and cheered when I did it! Very, very cute and the teacher was really smiling the whole time. There were different flowers blooming that I've seen in spring and although it was quite colorful, I'm not sure it was more beautiful than I've seen it in May. It was still charming and next time I have to go for longer! It was a wonderful place to be one month before my birthday and on the first day of summer!

After that short visit we went to a 'barn' on a river for a nice lunch and it was delicious! But it took too long! Then we boarded the bus for Rouen and again it was a wonderful town. Not the riot police like the last time I was there! It was calm, cool and a nice setting for my last crepe this trip. The people were so friendly which was a nice change.

We arrived back at the ship and I was prepared for the lines of 3,000 people as usual but they have 2 gangways open and the buses were staggered I guess and we walked right on! A WONDERFUL surprise! My feet are so bad I am concerned about my day in Brugges tomorrow. I've decided to do the 2 hour visit rather than the whole day. I have to get packed to get off the ship early Wednesday morning too. It is a mile walk into and out of town so 2 hours there wandering and enjoying will be long enough. Some day I will go for a few days, maybe when my dream trip of driving around the French countryside happens!

The cool weather was a welcome relief and I'm hoping for the same the rest of the trip! For now, a quick dinner in the buffet then I will go to the show, which I usually don't do any more, I've seen them all so many times. But tonight is a Scottish singer and I love that kind of music so I will enjoy that before going to bed. Luckily I don't have an early morning meeting time tomorrow so I don't have to get up and rush around for a change.

Au revoir from Le Havre!