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Category Archives: France

A Week in Provence

26 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by rentvillas in France

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Provence, villa rental

The lavender fields of Provence.

The lavender fields of Provence.

 A Week in Provence

With its golden landscapes, atmospheric café towns, and medieval heritage, Provence is a land of artists and dreamers. Thanks to mistral winds, sunlight really is more luminescent here – inspiring some of the most beautiful works of Cezanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Matisse, and Picasso. You don’t need to be a master artist to appreciate Provence… but it helps if you’re a romantic at heart. Ready to plan your villa rental experience? Here’s a week’s itinerary to inspire your travel planning:

The incomparable colors of Provence.

The incomparable colors of Provence.

Saturday – Arrival

Meet your local contact at the villa. Familiarize yourself with the property; ask for restaurant recommendations, the nearest grocery, and whether there are any special events happening during your stay! Most stores will be closed on Sunday, so shop for any supplies you’ll need before Monday morning.

Sunday – Market Day

Stock up on groceries at the fabulous outdoor produce market in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a town known for its antiques. On Sundays, the streets overflow with vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and other artisanal products. Take the afternoon to explore the area around your villa.

Monday – Art Appreciation

Provence has inspired many world-class artists, so pick your favorite and investigate. Follow the “Circuit Van Gogh” plaques in charming Saint-Rémy to see many of the settings used in the artist’s paintings, including his famed Starry Night.

Tuesday – Wine Tasting

Pack a picnic lunch of fresh baguette, cheese, olives, and fruit. Then set out to visit some of Provence’s incomparable wineries in the area of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Stop for dinner in Aix-en-Provence, renowned for its cuisine based on simple, locally grown ingredients enhanced with the native flavors of fennel, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

Plan on wine tasting along the routes des vins.

Plan on wine tasting along the routes des vins.

Wednesday – Avignon

Devote a day to the medieval hub of Provence, still surrounded by its ancient city wall. It’s impossible to miss the enormous Palais de Papes, a masterwork of gothic architecture. According to legend, the picturesque Pont d’Avignon was built by a shepherd after a visitation from a mystical apparition. The covered market of Les Halles is a great place to stop for ingredients on your way home.

Thursday – Roman Remains

Grab your camera and explore the amphitheatre in Orange, the Pont du Gard, or (for the brave and the bold) the still-active bullfighting arena in Arles. Want to go back further in time? Explore Les Baux, inhabited since 6,000 BC. If, on the other hand, you’re ready to rest your weary feet, indulge in another Roman tradition: thermal baths.

Friday – The Luberon

There are so many wonderful villages to explore in Provence.

There are so many wonderful villages to explore in Provence.

To complete your Provençal experience, head to the Luberon, a landscape dotted with charming hilltop villages. Wander, explore, take photos, eat, and relax. There are many villages to visit, but Gordes, Joucas, and Roussillon shouldn’t be missed. Celebrate your final evening by having a private chef prepare a gourmet dinner for your entire group.

Renting in Paris? Four tips that will save you money

23 Tuesday Nov 2010

Posted by rentvillas in Budget Latin Quarter

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Let’s face it, Paris isn’t cheap. There’s the apartment rental, of course, plus daily trips to the fromagerie down the street and the patisserie next door. Not too mention museums, restaurants, and shopping trips to Printemps. It all adds up! With this in mind we’d like to recommend four often-missed sights in the 5th arrondissement that are free (or nearly!)

First, there’s the Arène de Lutèce (5éme), a public park in the Quartier Latin. Built in the 1st century AD, the arena is among the most important remains from the Gallo-Roman era in Paris and was originally used to present gladiatorial combats. Second, there’s the Musée Curie (5éme), a permanent exhibition in Madame Curie’s original laboratory that traces the history of radioactivity and its medical applications. Currently under restoration until summer 2011, the museum offers free admission. Third, there’s the Jardin des Plantes (5éme), which includes a botanical garden and four galleries. Four of the gardens, including the main botanical garden, offer free access; the Jardin alpin can be accessed for 1 Euro, and Les Grandes Serres (extraordinary original green houses), can be accessed for 5 Euros (children under 4 are free). Finally, there’s the Institut du Monde Arabe, located just off Boulevard Saint-Germain (5éme). This striking building (which also houses a museum) has a 9th floor terrace offering what some consider to be the best view of Paris. Access to the terrace is free; for 13 Euros you can enjoy mint tea and baklava at the roof top café. Sublime!

Theme Parks in Europe!

11 Thursday Dec 2008

Posted by Nikki's Missive in 3. Things to see and do, Theme Parks

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If you’re traveling with kids or just want to expand your horizons beyond the typical tourist destinations, theme parks are a great way to add depth to your European experience. And I’m not just talking about “Euro Disney!” Think aquariums, botanical gardens, zoos, and water parks!

Most travelers might not think about going to, say, a local zoo, since the assumption is that you can visit the zoo when you’re at home. Parks are generally the same everywhere, right? Wrong! Well, sort of…

– In addition to having displays from around the world, most zoos, botanical parks, and aquariums have special exhibits and/or tanks to educate visitors about native species. You’ll get an in-depth look at local flora and fauna you couldn’t find at home. Your travel experience will be much richer when you know what trees you’re looking at, or what birds are in the branches!

– Parks are also a great place for practicing the local language. The familiar setting provides the context you need to feel comfortable, while also providing endless opportunities for learning new words. You can prepare and practice the most common questions ahead of time, and then add in new vocabulary as you learn! For example, at the zoo, you could learn all the names of the animals, plus lots of great adjectives like tall, short, brown, soft, scaly, etc.

– Theme parks are also just a great place to relax and slow down the pace. Remember you don’t need to see everything! Just relax and have fun. Water parks, in particular, are a fantastic way to escape the summer heat – and it’s a nice break for kids (or other family members!) who might be a little burnt out on museums!

For information on European parks, check out Infoparks.com!

Christmas in Paris!

12 Wednesday Nov 2008

Posted by Nikki's Missive in 3. Things to see and do, France, Paris Christmas

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Nothing is so beautiful as Christmas in the City of Lights. If you’re contemplating a winter holiday in Paris, rest assured that it’s an unparalleled delight! There are a couple of extra challenges, but the special events and sights offered only during Christmastime more than compensate. So here’s your handy Paris Christmas guide!

Transportation: The metro and RER are both open during the holidays, even Christmas Day, so no worries there. Cabs will also be running, although you can assume a lesser number will be out-and-about. I suggest jotting down the number of a cab company “just in case.”

Closures: Most closures for major sights will be on Christmas Day, December 25th. You may also find some things closed on the 26th, which is likewise a holiday. Smaller restaurants are likely to shut down on these dates, but you’ll never have any problem finding food in the major tourist areas. 

Special Attractions

Christmas Market StallChristmas Markets:  From the end of November to Christmas, outdoor markets pop up all over the city. Stalls feature handmade crafts, ornaments, and all sorts of delightful seasonal gifts. When it gets closer to the end of November you should be able to find a list of markets on the offical Paris Tourism website (just search “Christmas Markets”). Alternately, just ask around – they’re everywhere!

Outdoor Ice Skating: In the wintertime, the front of the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) is transformed into a giant outdoor skating rink. Très romantique!

Midnight Mass: Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur both have midnight masses. To clarify, that means the midnight that ends the 24th day and begins the 25th. Notre Dame also has other masses and events, notably a concert on Christmas Day. You can see the schedule for Christmas as well as any other day on the Notre Dame website. Although there is a English color-code for the type of event, the schedule itself is in French – so if you need help with anything specific let me know and I’ll check it out. Although less informative, Sacre Coeur also has a website. 

Tea House: This isn’t specifically a Christmas event, but it comes highly recommended from one of our travel advisors. She says, “My favorite tea house, Angelina, is right across the street from the Louvre. Their hot chocolate (Chocolat Africains) is something you’ll never taste again in your life. It is a wonderful and very French experience!” 

Address: 226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Phone: 01 42 60 82 00
Directions: Near Jardin de Tuileries west of Louvre next to the Hôtel Meurice on the r. de Rivoli, around the corner from the r. de Castiglione.
Métro: Concorde or Tuileries

The Usual Suspects: Here are holiday-season days and times for a few of the major attractions.

The Louvre: Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday and the following holidays: January 1st, May 1st, November 11 and December 25, 2008. The permanent collection and temporary exhibitions will close at 5 p.m. on December 24 and 31, 2008 (Wednesday). Louvre website.

Musee D’Orsay: Open from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Mondays; late night on Thursdays until 9.45 p.m. Last tickets sold at 5 p.m. (9 p.m. Thursdays); museum cleared at 5.30 p.m. (9.15 p.m. Thursdays); closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25. Musee D’Orsay website. 

Versailles: Closed on Christmas, and perhaps the day after.  Open from 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Versailles website. 

Tour Eiffel: Open every day! Hours are 9.30 a.m. to 11.45 p.m., and the last ascent starts at 10 p.m. Eiffel Tower website.  

Of course, in addition to all of these things, Paris will also be filled with – what else? – lights. Christmas trees will be everywhere. Everyone will be in a festive mood, and the chilly weather will be perfect for a hearty winter meal, a stroll down the Champs-Élysées, or a cup of hot cocoa shared with your significant other. 

Joyeux Noël!

Categories

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  • 2. Before you leave…
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