Tour of Monet's House and Garden in Giverny, France

I’m so grateful we visited France in early May. It’s hard to imagine navigating the massive crowds and long lines at the country's most popular attractions in the intense heat Paris has been enduring this week.

Summer heat in Florida is expected, but temperatures nearing 100°F are far more unusual in France, where air conditioning is not nearly as common there—only about one in four homes is equipped with it—making extreme heat much more challenging.

The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre even closed early for three straight days because of the extreme temperatures. Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate that we were able to experience France in the beauty and comfort of spring.

The Louvre

the closest we got to Eiffel Tower (as seen from Galeries Lafayette)

The Galeries Lafayette Dome. The crowd was unbelievable!

Coffee break at the historic Samaritaine department store

Watching the world go by at Tuileries Garden  

Savoring Angelina's famous Mont Blanc pastries.

Thank goodness the lines to Notre Dame moved quickly!

beautiful Notre Dame

lighting a candle

We began our trip in southern France, exploring the charming cities of Montpellier, Avignon, and Grenoble—each deserving its own blog post. Cold, rainy weather canceled both a tour and a train, but Plan B worked out rather well thanks to France's efficient transportation system. We refused to let the weather dampen our spirits. 😊

By mid-May, we arrived in Paris, where the weather remained cool, gray, and unpredictable. Since our main goal was to spend time with our cousins who live nearby, we weren't in a rush to check off tourist attractions.

stairway to Le Train Bleu, the legendary restaurant at Gare de Lyon

When they suggested a day trip to Claude Monet's house and gardens in Giverny, about 90 minutes northwest of Paris, I was all in. I'd wanted to visit on our previous trip. Assuming the gloomy weather would keep the crowds away, we skipped buying tickets in advance—a decision we quickly regretted.

We arrived 15 minutes before the ticket booth opened and found ourselves at the end of a very long line. As the wait stretched on, our patience wore thin, and more than once we considered giving up. Thankfully, our cousins persuaded us to stick it out—we had come all that way, after all.

This was one third of the line, and it moved at snail pace

Irises

Poppies

Three hours later, we finally reached the ticket window. 

The entrance to the ticket booth, after lining up for 3 hours!

Just as we stepped into Monet's gardens, it started to rain—hard. We, along with hundreds of other visitors, made a mad dash back to the gift shop for shelter. Thankfully, it was spacious enough to accommodate the crowd. Browsing the beautiful books, art prints, and unique souvenirs kept us happily occupied until the rain finally let up.

About thirty minutes later, the rain eased, and the sun actually appeared. Almost instantly, the gardens seemed to come alive with color. The flowers glistened with raindrops, and the fresh scent of spring filled the air. 

Iris

Peonies

Monet's house

Geraniums

looking at the garden from the house

Strolling through the gardens, it was easy to understand how this peaceful setting inspired so many of Claude Monet's most celebrated paintings. Vibrant flower beds, winding paths, and the iconic Japanese bridge arching over the water lily pond made us feel as though we had stepped into one of his masterpieces.

Monet created more than 250 Water Lilies paintings inspired by the ponds and gardens surrounding his home. Despite the three-hour wait and the crowds, stepping into the landscape that inspired those masterpieces was truly magical.

Would you have waited three hours to experience Monet's gardens?

If you'd like to learn more about Monet's home and gardens, here are some interesting articles:

The Last Living Monet

5 Fascinating Facts about Monet's Water Lilies

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday.

 
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Roadtrip from Taipei to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, part 1

After six blissful days savoring the food and soaking in the vibrant energy of Taipei, we began our journey south toward Kaohsiung. But instead of speeding down the highway, we took the scenic route — thanks to our cousins (Ta Ming, Wai Ming, and crew!) who rented a minivan for us and even joined us for the first leg of the adventure. What followed was a road trip filled with fresh mountain air, cultural discoveries, and delightful surprises.

Our first stop was Wulai, a charming hot springs town just an hour from the city—yet it felt a world away. The winding mountain roads, surrounded by lush greenery, made the drive itself a refreshing escape from urban life.

We made a stop at Neidong National Forest Recreation Area for a short and easy hike to see the waterfalls. Tucked within the forest, the paved trails led us to cascading falls surrounded by vibrant greenery. It was an unexpected highlight of the trip—a peaceful retreat and a welcome respite from the buzz of Taipei.

Neidong upper falls

After the hike, we stopped in Wulai’s old town, where a dramatic waterfall provided a scenic backdrop for lunch. The area has a strong presence of the Atayal people (泰雅族), one of Taiwan's indigenous communities, and we enjoyed local dishes at a nearby restaurant.

The highlight was the bamboo rice—we had to bang the thick bamboo tube hard enough to crack it open ourselves, revealing perfectly steamed, fragrant rice inside. Many of the vegetables were new to us, making the meal both delicious and eye-opening.

see those bamboo sticks of rice?

Wulai Waterfall

Wulai Old Street

Exotic mountain vegetable and fruits

After lunch, we hopped on a small train down the mountain, where our driver was waiting to whisk us away to Full Moon Spa Hotel for the night.

train ride down the mountain

Full Moon Spa (top left building with the red sign)

The hotel is a charming little spot right in town. There’s an elevator up to the lobby, but reaching the rooms requires walking down a set of steps—something to keep in mind for the elderly or anyone with limited mobility. The highlight, of course, was the enormous spa-like tub in our room, complete with a lovely view of the river. Filled with piping hot spring water, a long soak was the perfect antidote after a full day of exploring.

view of the mountain from the restaurant

A delicious hot pot seafood dinner was part of our room package

Unbeknownst to us, there was no heat in the room—and the temperature had dipped to a chilly 56°F  or 13.3°C. It was cold!

Around the same time, much of the southern U.S.—especially Nashville, TN — was battling a major ice storm and widespread power outages. All things considered, we’d much rather brave the cold in Wulai than the ice in Nashville.

Our next stop was in Taichung, but it'll have to be another post. Stay tuned.

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday.

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