For our 2010 tour to France we will indulge ourselves the pleasures to be found in and around Paris. We are taking a slightly different tangent this year, one I've been anxious to explore myself. We are, as the French would say, going to "leche vitrines" or window shop (literally "lick the windows"), "tasting" the sights, sounds and flavors of the things the French are famous for: their sweets - chocolates, ice cream, pastries--, their regional wines, their beautiful outdoor markets, their fashionable boutiques, their diverse people.

In addition to Paris, we will spend a day in the Champagne region, visiting the Cathedral in Reims where kings of France were crowned and sampling some bubbly in one of the city's wine cellars. Later, we'll take a longer break to see some sights in Brittany and Normandy.

We are limiting our group to 14 participants this year to make possible our off-the-beaten-track visit to Paris and environs.

Since each day will include many photo opportunities, we will meet early on with American fine art photographer Meredith Mullins, author of In a Paris Moment. Meredith, who lives in Paris, will give us tips for enhanced picture taking, as she takes us out along the quays and bridges of the City of Light.

With our upgraded photo-taking skills, we will visit the markets of Paris--flower, food, bird and antique. We'll stroll in a garden and along the quays with cameras in hand. To inspire our creativity, we'll visit boutiques specializing in ribbons, buttons and threads; we'll note colors, shapes, architectural features and city life and, depending upon current exhibits, may take in a small museum or two. As we walk the streets of Paris, we'll be tempted to stop by a tea shop for a something to indulge ourselves: a pastry, piece of chocolate or delicious sorbet and drink so we can continue our daily excursions well-refreshed.

We will join American ex-pat Richard Nahem, who writes an insiders' guide to Paris, Eye Prefer Paris, and who will lead us on a gourmet and chocolate walk, visiting his favorite hideaways in the Marais, discovering Paris delicacies and irresistible treats. I'm sure we'll be tempted to taste a few. An optional cooking class, which will broaden your skills and delight your senses, will be offered for the first 8 who sign up (supplemental charge is 160 Euros).

Mid-tour we take a 3-day break, traveling west from Paris by TGV (high speed train), splitting our stay between Saint Malo in Brittany and Bayeux in Normandy. Saint-Malo is an old port city on the emerald coast. Its Old Town, destroyed during World War II, was rebuilt with its old skyline of towers, ramparts and buildings, restored in beautiful granite.

A short distance from Saint Malo is Mont Saint-Michel, a rocky cone-shaped islet connected to the mainland by a causeway. Here we find a castle, Benedictine abbey church, and at the base, a small village, all built of granite. We'll visit the 11th-15th century Gothic abbey and monastic buildings at the top of the mount, and then enjoy the small houses and shops at the bottom. We promise you will find Mont Saint-Michel marvelous and memorable.

After our visit to Mont-Saint-Michel, we continue to our hotel in Bayeux. Once there we will walk the length of the Bayeux Tapestry, all 230 feet, to marvel at the embroidered details famously chronicling the events leading up to and the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. On another day, we'll go by private bus on a poignant journey to the Peace Memorial Museum in Caen, the Normandy landing beaches and the American Cemetery.

After our Normandy sojourn, we will return to Paris for our final opportunity to visit the must-see shops and boutiques.

When you choose to travel with us, we know you'll be pleased with our plans. Since our first tour in 1995, we have worked diligently planning the daily activities of our tours so we can offer you the best possible experience. Jeanne's daughter Bonnie Bennett, a French major, is her assistant for the tour to France. We hope you will join us for the fun. We are seasoned travelers who love exploring in France. Look closely at our on-line brochure France for the itinerary and details. Print the 2010 brochure to share with friends. We encourage you to sign up now.

The Pleasures of Paris & the Countryside

May 10-May 23, 2010

Cost: $4100

Limited to 14 participants

Click here for printable brochure