Dates: April 24th- May 2nd, 2010
$2,699
plus tax* based on double occupancy
Airfare
& day trips all included
Day one: Departure from Minneapolis/ St-Paul to Paris.
Day two: Arrival in Paris
at mid-day. Transfer from the airport to
downtown Paris
in the 12th district. Neighborhood orientation and leisurely walk
along the Seine River
with visit of Notre Dame, overview of the Conciergerie,
Ste-Chapelle, Hotel de Ville & the Pompidou Center…What a day!
Day three: Day trip to the village
of Giverny
to visit Claude Monet’s home & gardens.
Montmartre visit late afternoon with Sacre-Coeur church and Painters’ Square. Today will be
filled with color.
Day four:
Flea markets & antique shops of Paris. This is your chance to look
for treasures. If you are shopping for large pieces, please make your own
shipping arrangements as you work with the dealers. We can’t leave Paris without a Louvre
Museum visit. If you have seen the Louvre before, use your
time as you please.
Day five: Departure for the countryside via the high-speed train. Arrival
at our next destination at mid-day: Besancon, is a former Roman outpost, voted one of the greenest
cities of France. It is nestled in the Doubs
valley surrounded by several hills. It is loaded with charm, and its manageable
size will make you feel at home very quickly. Guided city
tour.
Day six: Today is a day to remember as we go to Epinal
in the Vosges Mountains
to visit the American
Cemetery. Everyone has visited the Normandy beaches, but few have been at this
destination. Lunch-time
in Riquewihr, a small village nestled in the
vineyards of Alsace.
Late afternoon visit of the heart of Colmar
with its timber framed homes, bold colored stuccos & medieval cuteness.
Day seven: Today is a day dedicated to small towns and villages of the Doubs
region of Franche Comte, a province next to Switzerland. Our mystery tour will charm you as we rub
shoulders with the people of “Real France”. Afternoon in Neuchatel, Switzerland:
a lovely town on the lake with the Alps as a
backdrop…you will be enjoy the beautiful scenery. Return to home base in Besancon late afternoon,
early evening.
Day eight: Rise & shine bright and early as today we’re going to the village of Villersexel
for its May Day celebration. This village of 1500 will have a holiday
atmosphere: the fragrance of Lily of the Valley (the traditional flower offered
to dear ones on May day) will permeate the air.
Village streets will be lined with estate sale vendors of all kinds. The local bakers will have worked over time
to offer their delicious treats…Enjoy this festive and laid back atmosphere.
Return to Paris in the evening via the
high-speed train again, and late evening at the Eiffel Tower.
Day nine: Time for one last café au lait and croissant in Paris. Smell, taste & enjoy. Late afternoon return to Minneapolis.
Au revoir Paris!
Inclusions:
- Airfare
from Minneapolis to Paris
- Hotel
with breakfast buffet (private bath)
- Train
pass or point to point tickets (High Speed train & others) with
reservation fees.
- Coach
bus for flea market expedition at Villersexel.
- Services
of a full time escort to help with your every need.
- Day
trip to Epinal, Riquewihr
& Colmar.
- Day
trip to the Doubs villages for our
mystery tour.
- Guided
visit of Besancon .
- Farewell
dinner
- All
walking tours.
Not
included:
- Lunches
& some dinners
- Taxis,
subway tickets
- Museum
entry fees
- Tips
to drivers & hotel personnel.
- Departure
tax and fuel surcharges of $343 (subject to change.)
P.S. Events listed may occur in a different order.
