France Christmas Markets Tour – Womens small group travel Friday, Aug 5 2011

If you have never been to France during December. It is really an absolute must. Imagine the best of France without the intense crowds. Now there will still be tourists, so don’t get me wrong, and the Christmas markets will be bustling with folks, but all in all it is worth a December visit.

 

 

December until the Christmas holiday is not that busy and the weather in not unbearably. You may find that airfare is a bit more reasonable than other seasons too.

 

This year France Journeys has put together a Christmas Market and shopping tour that gives women a chance to travel with like minded travelers and in the safety of a small group. The annual tour usually highlights two regions and their holiday markets, events, traditions and some of the local shopping and local sights too.

 

This year the tour will take ladies to three different areas of France, Provence, Paris, and Champagne from December 3 to December 9.  There is also an optional fourth city,  Lyon, located  in the Rhone Alps that will celebrate with great spirit, the festival of light. All the cities and activities have been careful choosen to allow travelers to experience a blending of some of the best Christmas traditions, markets, and shopping in France. 

 

There will be chances to enjoy gourmet dining, tapenade and olive oil tastings, Champagne and wine tastings, and a very special tasting of the 13 Provencal desserts of Christmas. Then of course the Christmas markets in Avignon, Paris, and Reims will be a highlight, with lots of entertainment, hot spiced wine and treats, and other specialties from each area respresented. There is also plenty of time figured in to get a little of your own Christmas shopping done and to even see some of the incredible sights in each area.

 

Paris of course should not be missed with the incredible lights lining the trees of the Champs Elysees, animated window displays at the Grand department stores, and stunning displays of decorations and lights around the city. And who could resist the allure of the Eiffel Tower as it twinkles on the hour throughout the year, but perhaps it is a little brighter at Christmas.

 

If you are interested in joining the group or would like more information on visiting France this winter, contact France Journeys at 888-357-6978 or by visiting www.francejourneys.com

 

 

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Azamara Journey – Azamazing Experience Friday, Jul 8 2011

Just back from a cruise with Azamara Cruise Club. This was an incredible experience. I have never been big on cruising mainly because of the crowds and short time in each destination, but this cruise has definately changed my opinion.

The trip started in Lisbon on the Azamara Journey. Arriving at the pier we were on board within 10 minutes. Kudos for the customer service and efficiency. Once on board we made our way to our stateroom where we found a bowl of fruit which would be replenished daily. The room was very roomy by cruiseline standards with a large window.

Of course the excitement once underway is always a thrill. On deck watching the picturesque port of Lisbon go by as we begin to make our way up the coast to Northern Portugal heading toward Spain and eventually France. The cruise would stop in the ports of Bilbao, St Jean du Luz, St Malo, St Peters Port, and end in Rouen.

This luxury ship holds 700 passengers with about 500 crew. The service start to finish was amazing and very personal. There were times you wondered where the rest of the passengers were. No lines, no waiting, excellent food, wine and service, long stays in port to really experience the destination and excellent entertainment and amenities onboard. . I would take another cruise on Azamara in a heartbeat.

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2011 Paris Sales Friday, Jan 14 2011

A great way to start this new year off is the winter Paris sales. No matter where you are there are sales galore. Even the little boutiques have excellent deals and bargains. Boutiques are not the only places with the deals though. The department stores like Printemps, Galleries Lafayette, and Bon Marche are excellent places to shop. “La Vallee Village”, which is located just about thirty minutes outside of Paris, is a designer outlet mall with sales at excellent prices. The France sales are even spreading overseas to Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, and Guiana. However, these sales don’t last forever. These winter Paris sales are going on starting on January 12th – February 6th, 2011. If you need any assistance planning a shopping trip to Paris or a personal shopper contact France Journeys at www.francejourneys.com

 

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All Time Dark Chocolate Winners Monday, Jan 10 2011

As it is evident in my previous posts the milk chocolate and the white chocolate tastings were a success. Its the final round of the Paris chocolate tasting and all that remains is the dark chocolate. There are some familiar names as well as new names to the list of chocolate makers in this last segment.

1.Jeff de Bruges, 163 rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris- Once again Jeff de Bruges wins the final chocolate challenge taking first place in the last round of the tasting. This remarkable Belgian chocolate maker is making his own impression on the chocolate world. The creamy, smooth, and delicate taste of this dark chocolate leaves you yearning for more.

2.Jean-Charles Rochoux, au 16 rue d’Assas à Paris – Adding a new name to the list of delicious chocolate shops is Jean-Charles Rochoux. One piece of his rich, delicate, and fluffy chocolate will suddenly make you crave more. His love for chocolate is evident in his creations which are outstanding, especially on the dark chocolate scale.

3.Un Dimanche a Paris – Pierre Cluizel, 4-6-8 cour du Commerce, 75006 Paris – Another familiar name takes third place in our dark chocolate round. Cluizel has his own unique style of chocolate which is hard to compare to anything else. One bite of this chocolate and you will be overwhelmed with immediate satisfaction.

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Best Chocolate Shops in Paris – Part II Milk Chocolate Friday, Dec 24 2010

Hopefully, everyone has seen our reviews on white chocolate  and checked out the winners! Now we will reveal the milk chocolate winners. In the milk chocolate category our tasters sampled nine different chocolate shops and the winners were almost unanimous. The decisions are never easy with so many delicous chocolates out there. See if you agree with our selections

Milk Chocolate Winners

1. Un Dimanche a Paris – Pierre Cluizel, 4-6-8 cour du Commerce, 75006 Paris   The milk  chocolate was very sophisticated and creamy inside and out. This utimately got the groups vote 100%. The chocolate was a real delight and the new concept store pretty chic. You can learn more about Pierre Cluizel’s (chocolatier Michel Cluizel’s son) shop at http://www.thepariskitchen.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172:its-all-about-chocolate-at-pierre-cluizels-new-concept-store&catid=30:bakeries-chocolate-pastries&Itemid=45

2. Patrick Roger, 108 Blvd Saint Germain, 75006 Paris   As a self proclaimed chocolate artist, Patrick Roger offers some innovative flavors and combinations.  Of the chocolates we tasted this one had  creamy texture with the most delightful vanilla taste. Yumm! He also had some incredible shapes, that were fun and tasty, but  almost to cute to eat. Well maybe not, after all it’s still chocolate!

3. Jeff Bruges -  163 rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris – Jeff Bruges was one of our winners in the white chocolate category too and his milk chocolate received praise from our group of tasters as well. The chocolate was a smooth and velvety with a nutty center. These chocolates  melted in your mouth!

Watch for the final post on our dark chocolate results. Coming Soon!

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Paris photos Thursday, Dec 16 2010

Check out these photos by Caught In The Act Photography! Photographer Deb Trombly accompanied our recent Paris shopping group and took some great pics.

 

You can see more Paris photos on CITA’s blog at http://www.citaportraits.com/

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Best Chocolate Shops in Paris – White Chocolate Results Wednesday, Dec 8 2010

As I indicated in my previous post, I would be conducting a chocolate tasting in Paris during my recent stay and the result are in. This was an extremely difficult task and a little overwhelming since there were so many great chocolatiers to choose from, but with some organization and planning the tasting was an amazing, enjoyable and eye-opening experience.

I spent the last week walking around Paris collecting chocolates from nine different chocolate shops. I then used a group of 10 tasters and implemented some guidelines for the tastings. In the end the group was able to select the top three chocolate shops in Paris for white, milk and dark chocolate. although we didn’t sample every shop next year we will conduct part II of our tasting and sample the remaining shops in  which can then go head to head with this years winners.

White Chocolate Winners - There were not as many shops that carry white chocolate, but many do offer special molded chocolates for special occasions or bars.

1. Pierre Marcolin , 89 rue de Seine, 75006 Paris  -  Belgian Chocolate maker opened a shop in Paris in 2003. The white chocolate bar was a milky off white color with dark colored flecks throughout. It was  not too sweet and had some interesting flavours that were subtle with a hint of  carmelized dary and vanilla.

2. Jeff de Bruges, 163 rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris - Originating in Bruges, this chocolate incoporates a bit of Belgian and French cultures in a masterful and delectable presentation of chocolate. The white chocolate was a vanilla and praline coated white chocolate, which seemed to be the most simple of the white chocolates, but the taste was creamy and very sopisticated.

3. Jadis & Gourmande, 56 rue Sainte Placide, 75006 Paris – Traditional Paris chocolate shop with lots tasty an fun shaped chocolates. The white chocolate we sampled was cut into simple christmas shapes and made of very standard, yet tasty traditional white chocolate. This  chocolate was the lightest tasting white of the bunch, but with a great white chocolate flavour.

The tasting began with the white chocolate and worked throught the milk chocolates and ended with the dark varieties. More to come about our milk chocolate discovery.

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An Appetite for Chocolate – Uncovering the best chocolate shops in Paris Friday, Dec 3 2010

Paris has a number of fabulous chocolate shops to choose from and what better destination for a chocoholic to visit. Of course the chocoholic doesn’t need an excuse to sample a morsel or two of any delectable confection and I am no exception. So, while in Paris this  week I will be discovering the best chocolate shops. Now I have sampled chocolates before on my countless travels throughout France, but this time it will been done with purpose and not just for the shear enjoyment, although I am sure both will be inevitable.

 I will be tasting  samples from Parisian master chocolatiers and rating them, but to be very scientific about the whole thing, I have a small group of select tasters accompanying  me on this trip that will also be offering their opinions and preferences. Tastings will include a variety of dark, milk and white chocolates. Yumm…..I can’t wait!

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Paris Shopping and Christmas Markets Wednesday, Jul 28 2010

Enjoy Christmas shopping in Paris amidst the festive lights and holiday decorations of this beautiful city. Visit the chic boutiques, designer shops, Christmas markets and more. Then as a special treat, take the high speed train to Strasbourg to visit the oldest and most well-known Christmas market in France.

December 2 – 7, 2010

$825 (land only)

Includes
*5 nights in a charming 3 star Paris hotel

*Roundtrip airport transfers

*Roundtrip 1st class rail to Strasbourg’s Christmas
market and station transfers

*Shopping discounts

*Exclusive France Journeys shopping maps and
guide to shops in Paris.

*Daily services of a France specialist to help you
make the most of your time

*Based on double occupancy. 4 star hotel also available upon request. Call for pricing.

Air fare is not included. If you need assistance contact France Journeys
More information available online

www.francejourneys.com

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Paris Summer Sales Wednesday, Jul 7 2010

The summer sales are in full swing in Paris and it is no surprise what people will do for a good sale. Braving the crowded shops, boutiques and outlet malls, shoppers will save up to 70 percent off designer brands, fashion trends, accessories and more.

You can shop throughout Paris at the boutiques, the grand department stores like Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, and Bon Marche or you can go just outside of Paris to the outlet mall “La Vallee Village”. One thing is certain that no matter where you decide to shop, you will find a good variety and some great deals that are only available during sale periods.

Make it a point on your next trip to Paris to do a little shopping, but if you can go during the winter and summer sales!

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