Amazing wines from the Southern coast of Provence. These red wines must contain at least 50% of the Mourvedre grape. Otherwise hard to grow in other areas, but does well in the warm climates of Provence. Wines tend to to rich in subtle tannins with nice fruity overtones. Domaine Tempier is one of the most famous growers in the area and is worth a try….so grab a bottle and enjoy!

If you haven’t been to the French Riviera, then get started making your plans! I am just back and I believe the more I visit, the more I enjoy this area and just being by the Mediterranean Sea.

From the beaches of Cannes, Saint Tropez and Nice to the hill top villages of Eze, Saint Paul de Vence and Gordoun, you will be enchanted by all the beautiful scenery. It is no wonder in August when the French vacation they go to the South.

A favorite is Monaco and worth a day or two, but if you want a fantastic stay try either Palais de la Mediterranee or La Perouse.

Visit just once and the mystery will be very clear. You to can fall in love with the South of France.

Check out some of my recent photos

Off to Europe this week. Look for updates over the next month on some terrific finds as I take time for both business and leisure. I will be visiting the Greek Isles, France and Italy. Bon Voyage

Visitors to Paris have long been drawn to the cities two banks for different reasons. As their preferences emerge, so do the differences between the banks. The right bank or Rive Droite brings to mind a chic sophistication and elegance that is quintessential Paris, while the left or Rive Gauche boasts a more relaxed artistic and romantic atmosphere. Although visitors will see the city and its sights regardless of their location they often choose their favorite bank to stay, shop, dine, or even to take a leisurely stroll.
For those who want a most spectacular stay on the right, perhaps Hôtel de Crillon is the place. This palace hotel in Paris overlooks Place de la Concorde. This is truly the gem of Paris and the right bank. Commissioned in 1758 by Louis XV, the palace has an impressive history and will celebrate its centennial as a hotel in 2009. The hotel itself is a splendid reminder of historical elegance and of what French service and hospitality are all about. Upon entering you will be greeted by an attentive staff, beautiful marble floors and exquisite Baccarat crystal chandeliers, topped only by the beautiful architecture throughout the hotel. If you want to add to your experience at the Hôtel de Crillon, you can also indulge your senses at Les Ambassadeurs restaurant for a real culinary experience brought to life by chef Jean-François Piège in an elegant dining room that you are sure to take pleasure in.
For those tempted to stay on the Left Bank, the Hôtel Pont Royal is an exclusive boutique hotel nestled in the charming Saint-Germain-des-Près neighborhood and known since the 1940’s as the literary hotel of Paris. Many great writers have called this hotel their home away from home. Mahogoney, silk and stone give the hotel a rich warm comfortable feeling. The friendly staff handles all your needs with such a personalized touch that it is easy to feel at home here. The restaurant in the hotel, L’Atelier, is overseen by three-star Michelin rated chef Joél Robuchon who produces phenomenal food and serves it in its unique red and black lacquered restaurant.

Shopping also has a distinct flavor divided by the banks of the Seine. Many of the big designers have stores on both banks, but each store tends to have its own feel. The shopping on the right is all about the designers, haute couture, and simply oozes with fashion. A stroll down the top fashion streets of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré or Avenue Montaigne will give you a new appreciation for fashion. Dressing to the nines is a plus to command the best service in the luxury boutiques, but even if you are just window shopping you can still enjoy the people and the fashions.
The left bank has its share of designer shops too, but it also has lots of antique, home furnishing, and art shops. The Saint-Germain-des-Près area has a great network of streets to stroll and shop. Even with the declining dollar you still might find a treasure tucked away. There are still bargains to be had here if you search or you know where to look. If you prefer the larger shops, the oldest department store in Paris, the Bon Marché is a favorite on this bank. It has a nice selection of merchandise, a gourmet shop, and best of all it is not as crowded as its competition on the right bank.
Keep in mind that in order to really experience Paris you should spend some time on each bank. Both are equally charming and interesting, but in the end you will probably develop a strong connection with one or the other. Ah Paris, c’est la vie!

Who can resist buying a little something to take home as a treasured memory of their trip to France. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order.

I think I buy a beautiful scarf everytime I go to Paris from either a outdoor vendor or my favorite scarf shop, Selection Privee on rue de Rivoli.

Wine is another great buy. I love to look for wines that I can not get at home and bring them back to enjoy and remind me of sitting in a cafe enjoying a glass or two.

Perfume! I can remember the first time I walked into the Bon Marche department store in Paris and walked through the perfume counters. The scents that hung in the store kept calling to me, smell me, buy me! Who can resist finding a new perfume and if you really want to experience perfume visit Grasse where you can even mix a bottle of your own.

If you are visiting Provence, you will be tempted by the table clothes, Provencal fabrics, quilts, lavander sachets, soaps, olive oil, Provencal herbs, and pottery….just to name a few.

Buy a local painting and hang it on your wall when you return home. You can enjoy this reminder of France for many years to come and dream of returning.

Buy an ornament at a Christmas market or a hand made souvenir. Chocolates, chocolates and more chocolates. Maybe even hot chocolate from Angelina’s in Paris.

Oh and don’t forget all the Eiffel Tower souvenirs to go on you desk or key chain at home. Even splurge a little and find just the right limoge box.

Visit a local grocery store and see the different food items that make great gifts for the folks back home to sample a little bit of France. The little sea salts are my favorite.

So many things to enjoy and bring home, but even if you can only afford one thing, it is always fun looking!

This is the perfect time of year to explore the markets of France. Although the sun filled days of summer are perfect for a stroll in the market, this is something that goes on year round with some of my favorite markets coming to be only in December for Christmas. 

 Everytime I visit, it is a pleasure to spend the mornings exploring the amazing markets. The wonderful treasures and smells of all the fresh fruits and vegetables, antiques, clothes, fabrics, pottery, flowers, and just about anything else you might want are often hard to resist. The Christmas markets offer a wonderful variety of gifts, spiced cider, and treats along with the decorations and lights and can really get you in a holiday mood. One of my favorite things to do is shop for a picnic lunch and then enjoy many of the beautiful gardens or parks.

Exploring these markets gives you an up close view of life in France. You can mingle and begin to understand life in France and the importance of the social aspects these markets have for the French people. Of course you will see your share of travelers throughout the markets too, especially in Provence. Who doesn’t  love the Provencal fabrics,linens,  herbs and pottery that you can take home and treasure each time you use it.

So the next time you are in France, make sure you stop in at a market for the best taste of France.

Check out our list of Parisian markets at http://www.parisshoppingjourneys.com/France%20Journeys%20Paris%20Markets.pdf

One interesting thing about being in the travel industry is being able to see and experience travel trends on a daily basis. As a France travel specialist, it is great fun to see where people are going and to help them to discover there dream destinations in France. However, each year a destination quickly becomes the years new  trend.

Perhaps sometimes you can link this popularity back to specific magazine or newspaper articles, movies, books, etc, but regardless of what is the cause, each year always brings a new trend. This years destination is always a popular choice in France, but the surprise this year seems to be an even higher increase in travelers to Provence. Travelers are not only going to Provence, but they seem to be staying longer.

 More and more people are venturing out of Paris and into many regions of France, so it isn’t any wonder that these travelers have selected an area with plenty of sunshine, charming towns and villages, roman ruins, picturesque vistas, and sensational food and wine. With barely six months into the year, trends can change and I can’t wait to see what the second half of the year holds. I look forward to the trends with great anticipation and I invite everyone to discover France. www.francejourneys.com

If you haven’t flow Open Skies, now is the time to give it a go. This all business class airline has a two for one deal going until May 31, 2009. It means alot to travel  7 hours or more by plane with plenty of room for your legs and not feel like you are sitting in someones lap. It may mean you have to travel from Newark and you will have a domestic flight to get there, but this is a minor detail to pay for your comfort.

The airline was once L’Avion and although it hasn’t change much since being taken over by British Airways, it is an easy decision to fly on a plane that would normally hold 200 people and by choice the airline arranges the plane to only seat 80.  Hats off to the airline that gives something back to the customers comfort.

Thinking back on my recent visits to the South of France I never tire of the magic it holds. This trip I really enjoyed visiting Antibes. I had been there in the past and was not a big fan, but this time it was different. Maybe it was finding the perfect place to stay. Imagine a terra cotta Italian style villa with beautiful fountains, pool, and an over all relaxing atmosphere. I felt so at home at the  Hotel Imperial Groupe that I didn’t want to leave.

Another one of the highlights of the trip included a visit to an Absinthe Bar, also in Antibes. This was alot of fun since I was with a small group and I was surprised to learn that there is a method to preparing and drinking absinthe. First of all the owner gave a little history of Absinthe and invited us all to put on a hat from the bar, since this is customary in these establishments. Next our glasses were filled one per table, since we were told that the absinthe is so strong it kills any germs. I was thinking OK I guess I am game to try. A decanter with little faucets was filled with water and placed in the middle of the table.  The glass was placed under one of the faucets and a flat type spoon with holes was placed on the top of the glass. A sugar cube that was soaked in absinthe was placed on the spoon and the faucet was turned on to a slow drip to dissolve the sugar cube. Once the sugar cube was dissoved, you turn the faucet off and drink the cloudy beverage. It did have a licorice taste and wasn’t half bad. What a great morning…..then it was off to lunch.

Lunch was at a restaurant right on the water in Antibes and although the food was very good, the biggest surprise was the toilets in the restrooms. Upon flushing the seat began to move until it had rotated in a complete circle and been cleaned by something on the back of the toilet. Check out this video you won’t believe your eyes. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=432632

Just back from Provence and the Cote d’Azur and my trip left me yet again wondering why I live in Michigan.(cloudy and cold 6 months of the year). Don’t get me wrong, Michigan has its good points to lakes, seasons, family, but maybe this time of year I am just ready for the nice weather to come and southern France was the anwser.  

As for my trip one word comes to mind. Magnifique! This trip I flew into Marseilles, I usually fly into Paris and take the train down to Avignon. Having never done this before it was very easy, but there is something about the train that I really enjoy. Provence is one of my favorite regions of France. The feeling here is relaxed and welcoming. The region has much to offer and many of its locations, small towns and villages have been the backdrop for many of movies and books.  Once you have been to Provence and see its beauty,it is no wonder most will return again and again.

Avignon has some superb hotels and some great restauants too. For those looking for superb accomodations in Avignon, consider Hotel d’Europe,  La Mirande, or Cloitre Saint Louis. While La Mirande and Hotel d’Europe have a very elegant and classic french appeal, Cloitre Saint Louis combines old world architechural excellence with modern furnishings. These hotels all have remarkable restaurants and all are worth a try. My favorite meal this time to Avignon was my meal at La Mirande. What I remember most is the pumpkin soup that was a gastromic experience unto itself. Each bite of the soup brought a new surprise and flavor. Imagine tastes of pumpkin, carrot, onion, and cream melded together in this wonderful soup.  Yummm!

The city of Avignon is a fantastic site to see with the fortified walls around the city center, charming squares, shops, markets, and of course one of the highlights, the Palais des Papes. The Popes Palace is where the Popes lived in the 14th century and the gothic architecture is very impressive. I had the opportunity tour the palace and to do a wine-tasting. A selection of Cote du Rhone wines were presenting in a small boutique with some exceptional varieties. So if you visit, don’t pass up a chance to get a bottle or two of some of the best Cote du Rhones wines to back to your room to enjoy.

I also had the opportunity to do a wine-tasting at Caves Mousset. This beautiful chateau and cellar overlook the picturesque vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape. The tasting itself was a progression of several wines from the area and the presenter was very knowledgable. There is a beautiful hotel and gastronomic restaurant, Chateau des Fines Roches next door that offers a beautiful and romantic setting with rooms  and a garden terrace that look out on the vineyards. This was my second visit here and I think I rather prefer September with the vines at there fullest and grapes ready for harvest. In springtime the vines are still very small from where they are cut back after harvest, but still……anytime of year is always great for a tasting.

Another amazing treat, was to visit La Bastide des Princes, a small and charming B & B located between Orange and Chateauneuf du Pape. The B & B has five tastefully decorated rooms that overlook the beautful garden and grounds. One of the highlights was the cooking class that Chef Phillip Paumel puts on with the product of your efforts being served in a traditional provencial dining  style. The food was amazing from start to finish and Phillip and his wife Annie are very gracious hosts and make their guest very welcome.

More to come.