We booked a couple of tours for today. There was no way I was going to come all the way to France and not see Monet's Gardens. There was a tour that visited Versailles in the morning then the gardens in the afternoon. We had heard from one of our tour guides that Versailles is considered the most lavish and beautiful of all royal palaces in Europe.

We spent about three hours walking through the palace then the gardens. Even though it was Autumn and the gardens had been stripped bare ready for their new plantings, you could really get the feel of the years of work and planning that had gone into the grounds.

We walked into the main street of Versailles for lunch and found a little lunchbar and had the most yummy lamb shanks we've ever had!

We travelled by coach about an hour to get to Normandy where Monets gardens are. I have loved Monet and his garden concepts all my adult life so had to pinch myself to believe I was actually there! Ross couldn't help with the pinching cos he was too busy taking all the photos I was pointing to! Again even with the autumn season diminishing the flowers and the gardeners busily preparing the beds, you couldn't escape the overall colours and movement of this amazing garden. Ross particularly liked the water garden, and got some great photos. I think he is a bit nervous that I might get some grandiose ideas for Kinross!