Somewhat cooler as we went for an early stroll to the waterfront market. It is very hard to walk past the beatifully presented food stalls. Then off to Auvers-Sur-Oise, the town in which Vincent van Gogh lived the last 10 weeks of his life. Amazingly he painted just on 70 works in those 70 days before he committed suicide (or did he ????).
van Gogh sold only one painting while alive, even though his brother, Theo, who died just a few months later and is buried alongside, was an art dealer and his benefactor. The Notre Dame church of Auvers-Sur-Oise was the subject of one of his best known paintings (now in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris) and just 250 metres from the site of his death in the adjoining fields. Despite assurances of no rain, we were caught in a shower walking from those fields to the Inn where van Gogh boarded in those last weeks of his life.
It is worth mentioning the quality of the guides we have had - without exception, excellent. Today's was a young woman who had travelled extensively (Australia included), had a vibrant personality and was very well researched. She could see the funny side of everything, including the French themselves and particularly the Parissienes.
Relaxing time this afternoon as we sailed back toward Paris with a scheduled arrival around 8pm. Very peaceful on the river, plenty of slow boats, white swans and ever changing scenery. Very pleasant on the Sun Deck but had to lower the wheelhouse, radar etc to slide under a few bridges - hard not to duck.
Very social night with champagne, canapes and a 5 course meal (small serves!!!) Including the obligatory parade of crew and bombe alaska.
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