Day Fifteen - Le Pecq and Paris

This is one of those days when a decision must be made on which tour to take.  Our choices are:  1-Auvers-Sur-Oise -- the town where Vincent Van Gogh lived -- and died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1890,  and 2-MalMaison -- the home of Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte.   Patte and Dave go to Auvers-Sur-Oise and Phil and I opt for MalMaison.

Napoleon and Josephine married in 1796 -- her second marriage and his first -- which caused anger and disbelief in the Bonaparte family since their consent had not been given.  MalMaison was purchased by Josephine in 1797 while her husband was away fighting the Egyptian Campaign.  The house cost a fortune and so did the extensive renovations undertaken by Josephine.   It is interesting to note that once Napoleon became  Emperor -- he put into effect a law which eliminated the ability of a wife to purchase property without her husband's consent.  

Josephine worked hard to make MalMaison an estate with the most unusual garden in Europe.  She imported plants and animals from all over the world to further this endeavor.  Napoleon and Josephine divorced in 1810 -- she had been unable to produce an heir perhaps due to her age --  she was six years his senior.   Josephine was granted ownership of MalMaison and lived there until she died in 1814 from a cold.  Napoleon took up residence in the house after his defeat at Waterloo (1815) and before his exile to the island of Saint Helena.

MalMaison -- a beautiful 20 room mansion --  was completely restored in the early 20th Century by Pierre Humbert -- a French architect.  Phil and I enjoyed learning how this couple, who were so self-absorbed with themselves and their possessions,  lived at the turn of the nineteenth century.

Back on board AmaLegro for a 1:00 pm lunch and an afternoon cruising the Seine to Paris.

Now it is time to tell you about Reggie's Girls.  We met Doris, Betty, Ruth and Elizabeth on the AmaDagio cruising the Rhone.  They are from Canada -- Ottaway except Doris who is from Calgary.  I think it was Betty who approached Dave one day saying that he was the spitting image of "Reggie" a character (played by Tom Courtenay) in the recent movie "Quartet" -- which they had just seen on the plane coming over to France.  We had a lot of fun with these ladies kibitzing back and forth.   So I approached the group one day at lunch asking if they'd agree to have a photo on the blog.   Without hesitation Betty said, "Only if 'Reggie' is in the photo."   Of course "Reggie" was delighted to be in the photo.   We're not sure yet what all this attention is doing to Dave aka "Reggie" -- we're hopeful that it doesn't go to his head.

We end this day and this cruise on the Sun Deck for an after dinner spin along the Seine  watching the Eiffel Tower's daily "light show" -- sharing some libation with "Reggie's Girls".  

Thanks for Reading.