Paris Day 10: Chantilly

Our plans to go to the Loire Valley didn't really pan out. But Kelly was gracious enough to offer to drive us out to another amazing chateau in the country side. It was called Chantilly and was named after the city it was in. This city's claim to fame is that it is where they invented whipped cream which makes sense why in French chantilly is what they call whipped cream. This chateau also has huge stable where they do really famous shows with horses but I forget what they are called. 

This chateau was amazing! We only saw part of the grounds and part of the chateau but it was still  amazing. 

There is a giant moat around it which was gorgeous. 

Since Kelly came with us we were able to get some pictures with all of us in them!

This two story library was so incredible. There must have been millions of books in it. 

There was also one room that was all gold and white and I think it might be inspiring my new craft room.

The chapel was bright and lovely. 

The gardens were designed by the same person who did Versailles so they looked very similar. 

Down from the chateau is this little village that the owners constructed. They have turned one of the "houses" into a restaurant and that is where we ate a nice, quiet, calming lunch. 

A few more pictures on our way out. 

Paris Day 9: The Puce, Piccard and a random stop by the Eiffel Tower (again)

Day Nine was kind of a random day. My mom had injured her ankle a few days before. After so much walking it was swollen and she needed a day off of it. So we mostly hung out at the apartment which was nice to have a low key day. These two cute girls are Kelly's youngest. Somehow I didn't get a picture of her adorable boys! These kids were so darn cute and helped me not feel so homesick when I was missing my kids so much. By this time I was really missing them. 

We slept in that morning which was a nice treat. While the others rested and hung back I went to the Puce with Kelly. It is a gigantic flea market. Like humungous. It was so cool. I would have bought everything in sight if it wasn't all a small fortune. 

We had gotten there a little bit before it opened so we stopped in a charming cafe for some croissants and hot chocolate that was the cutest thing I have ever seen. You pour in your cream and liquid chocolate and then add some sugar. Oh it was amazing. 

There were shops filled with so many amazing things that it was almost hard to believe. There are hardwood chevron floors everywhere. Kelly was looking for a marble mantle and some hardwood floors to install in their new house to remember their adventures in Paris. 

I loved all these mini globes. I couldn't bring myself to spend 60 euros on one which was probably smart because I wouldn't have been able to fit it in my bag but I still kind of regret it. 

What I really wanted was something copper and this cool kitchen store had tons of copper stuff but I couldn't afford any of it. 300 euros for a bowl, ummm no. I did love this backlight wine bottle display. 

After the Puce we just hung out more and chilled. We didn't have dinner plans and Kelly's family was out so we decided to walk around their cute little neighborhood and buy ourselves dinner at the Piccard. This was the scene we walked into across the square from the store. And yes we did quickly run in to that church to see how charming it was. 

After dinner Kelly had to run some errands so she invited us along. It was really cool to see this "other side" of Paris. We had seen to much touristy stuff but it was fun to see their "mall" and their version of Walmart. But Kelly wasn't able to find exactly what she wanted at either place. She had an idea of where she might find a certain kind of hat and thought she might be able to find it kinda by the Eiffel Tower. So she drove us over there and we walked right up to it. Since it was almost time for it to sparkle we got some crepes and hung out for awhile. It was a pretty cool night. 

Here is the view from Kelly's apartment. It overlooks the Seine. Isn't it amazing? 

I included this cute picture because I wanted to remember that both of Kelly's cute girls were really fascinated by my long nails. I thought it was so funny. 

Paris Day 8: Giverny

We had a pretty early morning to take the metro over to the St Lazzare train station because that was where we could take the high speed train out to the French country side. We were going to a city called Giverny so that we could visit Clause Monet's house. This was one thing that I was SO excited about seeing and it definitely did not disappoint. I would do this again in a heartbeat. My mom loved it too. A life long dream fulfilled!

My selfie on the train ride. One of Scott and my favorite things from our other Europe trip was all the train rides. They are relaxing and fun and magical. I was kinda sad that we weren't getting any real train rides on this trip since we were just staying in Paris. But we kinda made up for it with this express train to Giverny. You kinda got the feel for it. It was a little too short at just 45 minutes because right when I was getting tired and dosing off we were already there! 

We stopped at the boulangerie to get some pan au chocolate for breakfast to eat on the train. I caught mom right in the middle of a bite!

Here is mom in front of one of the trains at the station. When they say high speed they really mean it and those trains fly through some stations. It's kinda crazy. Once off the train there are buses at the station waiting to take you to the house. It was like the easiest thing ever. So after a ten minute bus ride through the country side you get out at the tiny town of Giverny and then take a short walk over to the most charming house you have ever seen. It was a little bit chilly this day but it wasn't too bad and we had the best time!

This adorable, cuter-than-belief house is Monet's house. I am just in love with it. It could not have been more charming. The painting studio was filled floor to ceiling with paintings and with huge windows let in so much light. The all blue and white kitchen had the most amazing copper collection. It was all so lovely but they do not let you take any photos inside. I know some people have snuck some photos but we felt like they were watching pretty closely so we weren't brave enough. I just loved it all so much. 

This was the view of the garden's from Monet's bedroom window. Stunning right?

I absolutely loved the pink stucco house with bright green shutters and porch. If I lived in the French countryside I would definitely make my house pink!

I gushed over the house but the gardens are almost indescribable. They are so massive and luscious and utterly amazing. 

I really liked this close up with the cute house in the background. 

This is me in front of the window that was Monet's first studio (he eventually moved to a much larger one when he was making his massive water lilies). The window above the studio was his bedroom. I just love everything about it. 

After we wandered through the gardens you go through an underground tunnel to get to the Japanese water garden that Monet created and painted many, many, many times. It was a really surreal feeling being in this place that I have seen so, so many paintings of and studied in art classes and always loved. And here I was standing right in it. It looked just like you would imagine it would. It was gorgeous and peaceful and beautiful. 

I saw a couple kissing with the boat and the arches and I had to get a picture. 

The bridge!

  After we visited Monet's house and garden we walked around the ultra-charming village of Giverny where his house is. We went into this fabulous antique shop run by the sweetest little French man. He was so kind to us and his English was adorable. We both wanted everything it that store but couldn't really afford anything. 400 euros for an old perfume jar? Oh that's a bit out of my price range. I did get an old style photo album and my mom found a water color painting. Then we went down to the hotel/ restaurant where a lot of artists had stayed while studying and visiting Monet. The food was amazing! And we of course got creme brûlée for dessert once again.

We took lots of pictures as we wandered around the village because it was just so picturesque. 

I really loved these very medieval looking houses.

As we walked around the village we made our way to the little village church where Monet and his family are buried in the cemetery. 

I just loved that his grave was covered in all the amazing flowers just like his garden. 

Of course we had to go into the church. I am so glad we did. There is something amazing about the grand, massive churches we had seen. But this quaint, quiet church was so special. I could easily imagine people coming here for hundreds of years to worship. It was so adorable. 

I am so glad that we had so much time on this trip that we could go to Giverny. It was definitely a high light for me!