Paris

What else can be said, really?

Dawn, from our hotel balcony in Le Marais

Detail of the carousel at the Eiffel Tower; roses at a fleurist on the Ile Saint Louis; sign for Amorino gelateria; chandelier in the salon lobby of our hotel.

Place des Vosges

The Rose Window of Notre Dame, a very compressed view with rooftops and balconies, taken with a long lens

Sunday morning at Jardin du Luxembourg

In Monet’s Garden

How does one photograph a legendary place, an iconic garden, known and loved the world over? A location that has been painted to perfection by the brilliant artist who created it, and photographed from every angle, in every season so that even taking a single image of a single red poppy risks redundancy?

If you’ve been there, you know. It is breathtaking. The garden design itself is as stunning a creation as the artworks inspired by it.

I felt very humbled, and uncertain, in attempting to capture its atmosphere.

Often, when I share location images here, I include record shots – what the place looks like if you were standing there – as well as images that capture more of how it makes me feel, less literal and more atmospheric.

Here, truly, only a purely impressionistic style seemed appropriate.

Is this exactly what Giverny looks like? No, not precisely. But then again, perhaps. And possibly how Monsieur Monet imagined it, over the course of nearly 40 years, but who am I to presume?

I can only share my interpretation, of a warm June afternoon, riots of color and bloom, drooping willow and bamboo. And everywhere, poppies.

There is, with certainty, no place like it on Earth.

We felt so fortunate. And here, because otherwise without it, this might seem too fantastical, is the magical water garden, the well known bridge and the most famous waterlilies ever grown.

Taken by D, among the roses with my camera, a sunny day in June. Nothing more need be said.

Thank you so much for your visits, comments and for following along. Each of you is very important and special in our lives. And D and I wish you a most joyful weekend!

xo – g

French Village Morning

Looking out our bedroom windows, dawn in Gerberoy, France. Deeply peaceful and utterly silent. Except for the birds. (which, of course, I recorded at 5:00 am – here they are:)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqm0lmdJIfs?version=3]

We stayed at Le Logis de Gerberoy, one of only two hotels in the village.

We both fell in love with our landlady, Cecile, for her welcoming charm, delicious homemade jams and the best freshly made croissants, bread and pain au chocolat ever. (all photos above by D.)

Some of my favorite images.

The village sits on a small hill with views over the surrounding farmland.

Travel notes: Village of Gerberoy, Picardy, France. I believe it is still there, unless it was a figment of my imagination.

For those of you who are great fans of the early Victoria magazines, as I am, it was in the February 1994 issue that I first read about Gerberoy and have dreamed about visiting ever since. In fact, Victoria’s French issues were a vital source of inspiration for a number of our locations on this trip, which I’ll share as we go along. I am so grateful that the village is still unspoiled. May it remain so always.