🎼 🎶. Starry Starry Night... 🎼 🎶.

 Provence is well-known around the world for its “painter’s light” and the bevy of famous artists that came here to live & paint; Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso,  Marc Chagall, Mistral, Camus, Renoir, and Vincent Van Gogh just to name a few...  For those of you who love art, (Micki) one of the cities we'll be visiting on The Beautiful Villages of Provence Tour is Arles... It's a wonderful city sitting right on The Rhone River just at the delta of the Rhone and The Mediterranean Sea... And of course it's most well known for being one of villages in Provence where Vincent Van Gogh lived and painted over 300 of his most famous paintings in the late 1800's...

Starry Night Over the Rhone

Starry Night Over the Rhone (September 188ight over The Rhone8) was one of three paintings made during the same month that incorporate the night sky and stars as fundamentally symbolic elements. He also painted Cafe Terrace at Night in Arles and we'll actually pass this cafe on our way to the Place du Forum in Arles and you'll get to see this famous cafe...

Ever since Van Gogh arrived in Arles, he was constantly preoccupied with the representation of "night effects". In April 1888, he wrote to his brother Theo: "I need a starry night with cypresses or maybe above a field of ripe wheat." In June, he confided to the painter Emile Bernard: "But when shall I ever paint the Starry Sky, this painting that keeps haunting me". 

 Van Gogh's famous "Starry Night" also painted 
in Provence, but from his Asylum window in the
village of  St. Remy which we will also be visiting

Starry Night Over the Rhone was painted at a spot on the banks of river which was only a minute or two's walk from the The Yellow House on the Place Lamartine which Van Gogh was renting at the time. The night sky and the effects of light at night provided the subject for some of his more famous paintings, including The Starry Night, the most famous Van Gogh night stars painting. 

The challenge of painting at night intrigued Van Gogh. The vantage point he chose for "Starry Night Over the Rhone" allowed him to capture the reflections of the gas lighting in Arles across the glimmering blue water of the Rhone. In the foreground, two lovers stroll by the banks of the river. Here his stars glow with a luminescence, shining from the dark, blue and velvety night sky. Dotted along the banks of the Rhone houses also radiate a light that reflects in the water and adds to the mysterious atmosphere of the painting.

Starry Night Over The Rhone at Musée d'Orsay in Paris

Depicting color was of great importance to Van Gogh. In letters to his brother, Theo van Gogh, he often described objects in his paintings in terms of color. His night paintings, including Starry Night Over the Rhone, emphasize the importance he placed in capturing the sparkling colors of the night sky and the artificial lighting that was new to this period. Here, everything lies spread beneath the sparkling tranquillity of the natural lights in the heavens. The glittering stars and wavy reflections in the water could scarcely cater better to Romantic tastes. In fact, this night scene was prompted by a genuinely moving experience of the endless darkness, an experience Van Gogh describes in a letter: "Once I went for a walk along the deserted shore at night. It was not cheerful, it was not sad - it was beautiful." This is the only place in his letters where he is so far carried away as to invoke Beauty so emphatically - reason enough to view his enthusiasm as something more profound than a mere momentary indulgence in aesthetics. Van Gogh was drawing upon all his Romantic resources, contesting the positivist attempt to see the stars, scientifically and banally, as mere objects in the realm of the known. A deep abhorrence of this attempt can be seen in the way his religious impulses surfaced once more: 

It does me good to do something difficult. But it in no way changes the fact that I have an immense need for (should I use the word) religion; and then I go out at night into the open and paint the stars, and I always dream of such a picture with a group of lively friendly figures...  ~ Vincent Van Gogh

10 Facts that You Don't Know About the Masterpiece

1) "Starry Night Over the Rhone" was part of the 1889 Society des Independents exhibition in Paris, and was one of only a few Van Gogh artworks shown publicly prior to his death. 

2) Van Gogh completed the painting in September 1888 while in Arles but before entering the mental asylum at Saint-Remy where he would paint Starry Night. 

3) Unlike Starry Night and Café Terrace at Night, "Starry Night Over the Rhone" was inaccurate in its placement of the Big Bear constellation in the heavens. 

4) The gas lights and their reflections in the river were a relatively new phenomenon in Arles. Paris itself had only been lit at night since around 1853. 

5) The thick brush strokes and texture in the painting were described by critic Georges Lecomte, a contemporary of Van Gogh, as a "ferocious impasto." 

6) "Starry Night Over the Rhone" remained with private owners in the Netherlands until 1922 when the Buffa Gallery of Amsterdam acquired it. Since 1975, it has resided at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. 

7) The places where Van Gogh set up his easel to do his plein air paintings are now part of the Van Gogh Tour in Arles.

You'll be on the Rhone River's Promenade  in Arles where Van Gogh painted Starry Night Over The Rhone!

8) In 2015, Van Gogh's "Starry Night Over the Rhone" was displayed beside contemporary Edvard Munch's "Starry Night". Both feature a night sky and a pair of lovers, but stylistically, they are quite different. 

9) Through his use of the complementary colors blue and yellow in "Starry Night Over the Rhone," Van Gogh heightens the brightness of the lights, suggesting their harshness in the natural landscape. 

10) The blue and yellow hues in the painting also complement each other in terms of temperature. By juxtaposing yellow against blue, Van Gogh adeptly conveys how the heat of the lights burns upon the cold water.

Listening to this song about Vincent Van Gogh will mean so much

more to you as you watch this video of his paintings... most painted in Arles

This will be The Classic Summer Vacation! (the emphasis here is on summer)

 

There will be lots of sunshine
in Provence!

 With your trip to Provence coming up this summer, a lot of you are starting to think about clothes and packing...  And of course the big questions are always "What's the weather gonna be like while we're there?  What does everybody wear? And do we need anything dressy?

So here's the lowdown on the weather;  Provence enjoys hot, sunny summers and over 300 days of sunshine, similar to that of other Mediterranean areas and the Côte d'Azur.  Rainfall is infrequent and averages around 60 days each year, and most of this falls in late autumn during October and November. Long time historical averages for  late June into July for Provence are average high temps of around 84 to 86 degrees F in the mid afternoons...  and average low temps (overnight) of  about 60 to 62 degrees F...  But keep in mind, while these temps can give us a good guideline,  these are just the average highs and lows of the day, and as we all know, historical averages  can vary dramatically from actual temps we'll experience... What we can tell you, is that we've been in this region many times in late June to mid July and have encountered very warm afternoons; 90 - 95 degrees and above!  It can get very warm...

So with average highs (typically) running around 85 degrees in late June, you certainly want to bring  some lightweight summer clothing... And of course, your swimming suits!   But keep in mind, the temps listed above are the highs and lows of the day...  And the week you're at the Villa is actually going to be near the true beginning of Summer, and we'll be experiencing some of the longest days of the year,  somewhat longer than in the US, with sunset not occurring until almost 10pm! 

A Summer vacation in Provence brings a 
traditional and festive atmosphere!

Late June into early July has become the  prime time for vacationing in Provence, as so many folks want to catch the peak bloom of the Lavender Fields, and to avoid the high summer heats and those oh so famous European heat waves that often occur in late July and August...  But with that being said, we've run into some really hot weather in late June, and those temps could just as easily be well above or below average...  

This is a transitional season, we'll be touring all day, and you'll be outside a lot more then you likely are at home... We suggest you bring lightweight summer clothing and at least one very lightweight summer sweater and perhaps a very light windbreaker or rain jacket for a cooler day or evenings...  Another thing to keep in mind is that in late June in Provence, sunset doesn't happen until almost 10pm! And with that, we'll end up spending a lot of time outside at the Villa in the late afternoons and into the evenings.  And Château du Soleil has so many wonderful outdoor recreation & leisure areas to enjoy; several shaded Terraces, Patios, Gardens with Fountains and Statues, multitudes of loungers with umbrellas, a full outdoor summer kitchen, dining areas, a breezy Solarium, and of course a wonderful swimming pool! (heated if needed)

If it's warm, we may take a break to dip our toes
in the water at The Pont du Gard!

So, do we bring shorts,  pants,  jeans,  sport jackets, dresses, neckties?  Should I bring high heels? What should we bring?

We always tell our guests to dress in whatever you're most comfortable in... There is no dress code! Our Tours and the overall itinerary is very casual... There is no need to "dress-up" unless you want to...   If it's important to you to "fit-in" or look French, know that the average French person dresses up just a little more then the average American on vacation...  more so in the bigger cities like Paris, Marseille and Avignon... But you're on vacation and you should dress in whatever makes you comfortable... We dress casual!

Sacrè Coeur in Montemarte, Paris 

If you enjoy touring the big Cathedrals, know that some of the bigger famous cathedrals have more relaxed dress codes than those in Italy... The unwritten rule has always been "knees and shoulders need to be covered", but this isn't enforced as strictly as it is in Italy.   Many women carry a very lightweight scarf to cover their shoulders or wear around their waist if wearing short-shorts, a tank top, or a sleeveless tube top!  While it's more rare to see French men in shorts, our guys should feel comfortable wearing shorts, jeans or khakis... Many women vacationing in France wear casual pants, capris, shorts or casual sun dresses...  And lastly, at the Villa, the atmosphere is very casual...  It's just us... t-shirts, swimming suits and bare feet are totally acceptable...

The outdoor rec areas & gardens at Château du Soleil
are wonderful & have a resort feel... 

And then there's "footwear..."   We always say wear whatever you're comfortable in!  But remember we will be doing a fair amount of walking during the daytime... and of course, a lot of the streets you'll be walking on will be cobblestones!  So  we suggest comfortable walking shoes for touring!

While June/July is one of the least rainy times of the year in Provence, you never know when you can experience a brief summer shower,  so  Terese & I each also always carry a tiny travel umbrella tucked away in our daypacks as well as a super lightweight rain jacket... (we suggest you do too)  You don't want the very rare possibility of a rainy day to spoil your vacation fun!  You're gonna love Provence & we'll you'll have a blast at the Villa!

Happy Thanksgiving America!

As America gives their Thanks to the world, we'd like to offer our Thanks to America! As you get together today with your loved ones we can't help but remember what president John F. Kennedy so famously told the world: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to just utter words, but to live by them." The poppy fields all over Europe are a constant reminder of the sacrifices America made for The world... We are truly & forever grateful... America, may your Star Spangled Banner fly free & proud today and everyday! 

Happy Thanksgiving America!

Poulet Cordon Bleu - Tout Simplement Délicieux

Poulet Cordon Bleu ~ Tout Simplement Délicieux (Simply Delicious). We're in the test kitchen again working on a possible new dinner entree for our upcoming Provence Tours this summer...  While we bring in our own private French Chefs at the Villa, we know the selection of foods for our meals is ultimately important to the immersive experience... And with that, we personally always put a lot of work into deciding on the menus... 

our dinner last night... the good news is, we only ate two, so we'll be enjoying again tonight!

We of course want these menus to reflect French Cuisine, and lean toward the Provençal tastes... but because we serve Family Style, we also want these foods to be universally appealing...  So last night we worked on spicing up our own take on the traditional (Poulet Cordon Bleu) Chicken Cordon Bleu...  

The French term cordon bleu is literally translated as "blue ribbon". According to Larousse Gastronomique, the cordon bleu "was originally a wide blue ribbon worn by members of the highest order of knighthood, L'Ordre des Chevaliers du Saint-Esprit, instituted by Henri III of France in 1578. Originally the recipes were Swiss, and consisted of Schnitzel instead of chicken... but the name came from the fact that the original recipes were first demonstrated at the famous Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Paris...

if you've never tried Maille,
we definitely recommend it!

Our own take is slightly different from the traditional...  Interested in trying this in your own kitchen?  You can find a million recipes online, but here's our take: We filleted boneless - skinless chicken breasts... hammered them thin... lightly spiced the insides with what else but Herbes de Provence... we stacked & layered the fillets with a thinly sliced, spiced Capicollo Ham, and layers of Swiss, Parmesan, and Brie Cheeses... and then lightly drizzled the inside with our own homemade blend of Maille French Dijon mustard and mayonnaise...  We tightly rolled & pinned the breasts, and then coated the entire roll in mayonnaise and rolled the whole breast in a  50/50 mix of Italian & Panko breadcrumbs with freshly grated Parmesan... a slight drizzle of EVOO and then into a hot oven on a rack...

When throughly cooked, we take them out rest them for 5 minutes, and then slice the stuffed breasts into 1' inch rolls... plate them... and drizzle with our own Creamy Dijon Parmesan Sauce; a traditional rue of melted butter, fine sifted flour, milk, dry white wine, dijon mustard, garlic, and freshly grated parmesan...  

They were delicious!  We'll talk to our Chef about this, but you just might find these on your plate in Provence this Summer! If you try these yourself, we suggest using a nice dry white or perhaps a dry rose wine... You've heard the old saying: We love to cook with wine... Sometimes we even put a little in the food!"

Tipping... it's more than just a town in China!

 Traveling in a foreign country can be slightly intimidating, but it doesn't have to be... you might not know the language, and likely you're not 100% familiar with the local customs or culture... This is normal, and we see it as our job to "get you mentally prepared" so that you have a better feel for what's happening around you!

Here at Adventures to Tuscany, you'll hear us talk a lot about truly authentic experiences and deep cultural immersion... We pride ourselves on working hard to prepare our guests for their trips, so that you know how to plan for your trip... you know what's going on around you, and that you have the best experience possible. Most Tour operators do very little of this, and when their tour guests get to their destination, they of course muddle through... but often they feel somewhat "lost" as to what's expected of them or what they're supposed to do... questions abound, and typically because of the standard 40 -50 person group sizes, those questions often go unanswered... or most often because of the large size of the group, a guest ends up just asking the question to another tour member who doesn't really know the answer either... 

Our goal has always been to overcome these issues, and we use this BLOG as our main conduit to prepare you by feeding you just one spoonful a day... If you've been following along, you may not realize it, but you're already far ahead of most Americans who travel to France... You've already read a lot of customized articles addressing the who, what, when, where and why's of your Tour... And we'll be posting at least a lot more articles before you leave for France!  And we're just getting started! If you continue to follow along with the BLOG, you'll be an expert by your departure...  And that is our goal! As always, please reach out to us if you have questions, or if we can help in any way!

Tipping seems to be a low priority issue to people as they're planning for their trip... but the issue quickly grows as you're finishing first meal in France, and your check comes.  Even here in America, the topic of tipping has become a major issue... 

Tommy calls this "The French Flinch"

Tipping in restaurants in France...  Probably one of the most heavily debated and argued topics among frequent international travelers... And with this in mind, we're going to try to give you a little confidence with your tipping practices for your upcoming trip... 

Know this first & foremost:   In 2008, the French Government put in place a law that requires most restaurants and cafes to add a service charge to the bill, this allows them to tax tips. Known in French as Service Compris, the restaurant will usually add around 15% to the bill, and while it most often applies to restaurants, it can also be added in other instances.   You will not see this 15% indicated on your bill... By French law it is added to the menu price of each individual item you order.  It generally doesn’t go directly to the waitstaff though. But in concept, this service charge is indeed in place to pay their salary.

To truly understand this topic, you must first talk about The French Culture and what local French people do in their daily lives...  Here in the US, most of us know and understand that our waiters & waitresses get paid a lower base wage and depend on gratuities for their living...  And that gratuity over the years has pretty much become a standard of 15 to 20%, and it's often the minimum expected whether you got special service or not...   In France, waiters & waitresses are professionals and they get paid a full wage, and could never make it on tips because in their culture, they just don't tip very much, if at all... and they're not necessarily expected to do so...

In France, waiters are paid a livable wage with benefits and do not depend on tips, nor do they go out of their way to give customers the same service we’ve come to expect in the USA. Being a waiter in France is often thought of as a profession and not something you do for six months as a student for extra pocket money. That’s not to say they won’t provide good service. It’s just that waiters in France are not trying to serve you in a certain way in the hopes of earning a big tip.

Generally, French waiters aren’t going to tell you their name and check on you multiple times throughout the meal and keep refilling your water. They do their job appropriately  — what’s normal for French culture — and get paid for it. It’s not a well-paid job or one that will make someone rich, but it’s a job and waiters have a work contract and are compensated via a salary. And the French sometimes leave a small tip as a gesture of appreciation for great service. 

For the most part, most native French do not tip very much...  It's just not part of their culture... In a restaurant, they'll often just leave "the change."   IF they got really good service... Perhaps if their check is 38 euro, they'll just leave 40 euro to pay the bill... (around 5%).   Seriously, a lot of French do not tip at all... We're talking zero... zilch... notta!   It's not that they're cheap; it's just not a thing in France. And quite honestly, most French waiters don't expect a tip... (except from Americans... more on this later)

What complicates all of this is that most Americans, over the last 70 years, who don't understand this issue, don't know what to do... They feel guilty not tipping, and they end up leaving the typical 15 - 20% tip that they do in the US...  This, over the decades, has created a very weird, hard to explain "double standard" where many waiters and waitresses (especially in the bigger cities like Paris) while knowing full well they'll get little or no tips from their fellow Frenchmen, will still expect Americans to leave big tips...

So this is what makes the debate go on forever;  Your typical American, feeling guilty about not tipping, will end up asking the waiter or people sitting nearby; "Is the tip included?"  Now you have to understand this: the service and tax are both included in the price you see on the menu (indicated by the words service compris, and it’s 15%). So they legitimately will tell you "No, the tip is not included..." because it is not!  So the American leaves a 15 - 20% tip on the table!   And this is why this issue is debated so heavily all over the internet! 

   What we suggest:  Do what the French do! Just round-up and leave the change... (perhaps a euro or two per person). Or if you feel you need/want to perhaps a small 5 - 7%  tip...You can now feel relieved of your guilt... You've shown respect, and you've left a much bigger tip then most Frenchmen ever would... (again, most just don't tip). If someone has done something extraordinary and special for you, (perhaps you've asked for a very special table, or something not on the menu) and you want to do something special for them in return, you could leave 10%... That, in France is a huge tip!  And of course, if you're just an overly generous person, trust us, no one will hate you if you leave them the standard 15 - 20% that you might do in the US!   

(ps: just a little addendum to this advice... Sometimes our guests see us giving large tips when we're entertaining our Tour Groups... Let us assure you, this is different. We are indeed running a business and often times are going back to establishments where we have long relationships...  and it's important to us to get specials considerations... We have perhaps asked for special pricing,  special tables, or other special considerations for our groups, and we happily tip these folks generously for accommodating our requests...)

Le bonheur ç'est la bonne bouffe et le bon vin...

we'll all be here in a few short months!

 There's a very famous French saying: Le bonheur ç'est la bonne bouffe et le bon vin... (Happiness is good food and good wine!)

If France is one of the culinary meccas of the world, then the region of Provence in The South of France is definitely one of its prized jewels! The fantastic Mediterranean weather is not only great for wine, sunflowers, lavenders and olives but a plethora of fresh produce as well as meat and fish, which are integral to Provencal cuisine.  Indeed, the heart of Provençal dishes lies the interplay of heightened French technique of cooking where the flavors are preserved without any one ingredient being dominant. There is a wonderful interplay between color & flavor, vegetables and meats, and it all comes with a hint of spices that truly define the The French countryside, but are not too overpowering. 

As many of you know, Terese and I do a lot of research and work to come up with not just the itineraries for our Tours, but also the menus for our Tours...  We go to a lot of restaurants in the region when we're researching our Tours... We take photos of their menus, and try a lot of the classic regional cuisine so that we might learn what would likely work best for some of our meals...  From Ratatouille to Salade Niçoise... and from Pastis to Tapenades... and we also  the hardships tough sacrifices of researching and tasting the wines!

A Provençal favorite; Pieds et Paquets

And while we like the menus to be authentic to the region, we've learned over the years to be careful not to over-do the authenticity, as French and American palettes can be quite different... For example, in Provence,  Pieds et Paquets is a regional favorite... (It consists of sheep's feet and stuffed sheep's tripe stewed together). And while the locals find this to be a truly outstanding dish, we tend to shy away from dishes that might not be a favorite among our guests...

So this morning Terese & I are having The Croque Madame for our Breakfast . 

The classic French Croque Madame... oh la la!!!

The Croque Madame is probably one of the very most popular French Bistro Classics... It would be hard to find a French restaurant without this on the menu...  Layers of special French Ham mounded with a generous blend of grated Gruyère, Cheddar, Emmantal & Parmesan Cheeses smothered in a rich rue of Bèchamel sauce spiced with a sprinkle of shaved nutmeg and Herbes de Provence... atop velvety smooth Brioche breads spread with a classic French Country Dijon Mustard... broiled in a hot oven to golden brown and topped with an over-easy fried egg.   

As they say in France; Oh La La...  (once you have this, you'll never go back to the Egg McMuffin!) 

0ooh La' La'... I didn't know it was gonna be this involved

Don't strain your eyes here... this isn't really your itinerary!

 So here at Adventures to Tuscany, we've been bringing our exclusive little Tour Groups to Europe for  over 23 years now... and one of the things we've learned, is that it's usually at about this point with our blog postings, that some of our guests start thinking "wow, I didn't know it was going to be this involved..."   

Let us assure you; most of what you're seeing here on The Blog is purely for your knowledge & convenience and to get you mentally prepared so that you know what to expect... (especially if you're going to be doing a pre-Tour extension...)

What we've learned over all these years is that the best way to avoid any misunderstandings, frustrations or disappointments, is to communicate with you as good as we can, so that you're able to visualize your Tour and any pre or post destination far in advance;  Where you're going to be... how you're going to get there... the cars, the radios, the Villa,  the amenities,  the daily activities, the Breakfasts, the Luncheons, our Swim Parties, our Happy Hour parties, our evening Dinner Parties, the Wine, Beer, Prosecco and Champagne Bars, the evening theme parties, the live entertainment, our Chefs, the Wine Estate Tours,The Beautiful Villages tours, the medieval cities,  etc, etc, etc...   

Château du Soleil will take your breath away...

We know it can seem like a lot to take in...  It IS a lot of stuff!  But really, the only thing you guys have to do is make your flight & rental car reservations and pack a suit case... That's it... We take care of everything else... and if you need it, we'll be glad to help you with your flights & rental car reservations. And if you are also planning a pre or post Tour destination, we'll be happy to help with that as well... We can often recommend flights, transfers, hotels, sights, activities, etc... We usually stay away from restaurant recommendations, as everyone's tastes and opinions can vary dramatically.

After a full day of Touring Provence, your afternoons & evenings should be fun & relaxing... But most of the big tour companies just drop you off at your hotel after the afternoon's activities and you're often left to fend for yourself for dinner, drinks, entertainment and the evening's activities... And that of course can be pretty stressful... (and pretty expensive).  Wait a minute... what did you pay all that money for?

At Adventures to Tuscany, we say: what makes us different, makes all the difference in the world! After we come back from touring The Beautiful Villages in the afternoons, we're just getting started!  

The summer kitchen at the pool... In the background, you'll see 
the lights from our home base hill town village of Venasque

So picture this: you come back to your incredible private hilltop Villa... You take your shoes off and get comfortable... There's a wonderful OPEN Wine, Beer, Prosecco and Champagne Bar set up for you... And at your leisure, the group gathers outside for Happy Hours while our  Private Chefs are in the kitchen preparing another outstanding Mediterranean Dinner Party... A large charcuterie platter of amazing Provençal Saucisson, Jambon de Bayonne, Pâté de foie gras, and assorted Cheeses and Olives appears on the Bar...

Perhaps you take a dip in the heated pool... or just grab your camera and take a stroll around the gardens to catch another picture of the amazing red Provençal sunset setting over the nearby village of Venasque... While the 

This is an outstanding setting for our evening parties!

sun begins to dip behind the hills of the Luberon, the Chefs serve dinner outside on The Grand Terrace as a beautiful moon slowly starts to rise over the Estate... And, all the while, La Vie En Rose is playing softly in the background...

This isn't a dream... this is how we spend our late afternoons & evenings at the Villa... We celebrate! Remember, this is late June / early July... The sun  won't even start setting till around 9pm... and the lounging and recreation areas outside on the Terrace and around the pool are wonderfully lit...  There's even music speakers and wi-fi boosters outside throughout the property! This estate is the perfect setting for a party! We start with Happy Hours & Swim Parties... Move on to wonderful Dinner Parties en plein air... And ultimately have evening theme parties! We even bring in a musical act one evening for dancing and a private concert!  We know; the guys all say to themselves "I don't know that I'll be dancing..."  but after a dip in the pool, happy hours, a magnificent dinner with wonderful French wines, and a few glasses of Champagne after dinner... the live party music in this incredible & romantic setting tends to bring out the dancing shoes in everybody!

Suffice it to say, you won't have to fend for yourself; you won't go hungry... you won't go thirsty... and you won't get bored!  And this isn't one of those "a glass of wine with dinner deals"  It's an OPEN Wine, Beer and Champagne Bar! And these aren't the cheap Vin de France box wines like you'd get in a carafe at banquet hall set up for your typical Bus Tour Dinners... these are AOC & IGP protected reserve Wines and Champagnes from all over France! (exclusively French wines (in the bottle) that you'd typically pay $18 - $70 a bottle for here in the US). You won't have to drive anywhere in the evenings, so late afternoons & evenings at the Villa can turn into as much of a party as you're up for! And best of all, you won't have to worry about menu prices or wine list prices at the Villa... It's ALL included!

But trust us, once you've booked your flights & rental car, that's really about it... The Tour itself is pretty much all inclusive (with the exception of 3 lunches) and it's all planned out...  There's really not a whole lot for you to do... That's the whole idea behind an escorted & guided Tour...  

The upstairs Terrace off of The Gran Solarium

Everything that we mention here on the blog is just knowledge & resources that we put out there for your convenience, and a few optional suggestions for personal travel accessories...   If you've arranged your flights & rental car, all you really have to do is show up!  (maybe bring your camera and swimming suit!) Trust us-You're going have the time of your life!  If you're new to Adventures to Tuscany, and haven't done it yet, take a minute and read the reviews and testimonials on our website - they're real reviews from real people... Full names and addresses!  Many of them right from your own hometown...  You might even know a few of them!  click here for reviews

🎼 🎶 Oh Lord won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz...

Janis Joplin

 🎼 🎶 Oh Lord, won't you buy me A Mercedes Benz...

My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends

I worked hard all my lifetime, No help from my friends

Oh Lord, won't you buy me A Mercedes Benz... 🎶

So as you already know, you're going to need a car for your Adventures to Provence Tour... You can pick up a rental car at any of a number of places over there.... France has all the big names you know like Hertz, Avis, etc... and a bunch more that you may not be aware of... like EuropeCar, Sixt, Kemwell, etc.  What you want to do is make arrangements to reserve your car soon. There have been shortages of rental cars worldwide ever since the rental car companies sold off their fleets during the pandemic and once travel started up again, they were having a hard time getting new inventory! And just like here in the US, car manufacturers have still been having a difficult time getting parts they need like chips...  And while things have slowly been getting back to normal, there are still shortages... So we suggest you don't wait till the last minute to do this!  It's simple supply & demand economics; as inventory starts to get low, prices tend to get higher.

We usually use AutoEurope.com... they're an American consolidator/agent that works with all the rental companies, and because of their size & volume, their prices, convenience and selection are hard to beat...  We've recently made our personal car rental reservations for all four of our upcoming summer Tours next year in Tuscany and Provence,  and we used AutoEurope.com.  And of course you'll also find companies you may be more familiar with online like Hertz, Avis, etc.

Tips for car rental ;

You can make arrangements to pick up your car from offices at the airport, or arrange to pick up at one of their intercity offices... Usually, just like here in the states, rentals cost about 7 -10% more to pick cars up at the airport (airport /convenience tax), but you have to measure that against convenience...  

Rental car operators  typically make cars available in upwards of 10 categories; Mini, Economy, Compact, Mid-Size, Family Size, Luxury, SUV, Station Wagon, Minivan, etc... Make sure you get a car with enough room for you and your luggage!   That may sound obvious, but believe me, both cars and their trunks are smaller in Europe!   If you're sharing a car with others,  4 people, 4 suitcases and 4 daypacks WILL NOT usually fit in a mini car... you'll probably want at least a Compact or Mid-size vehicle... If it's just two of you, and you're only coming from Marseille or Avignon, the little Fiat 500's are a really fun, economical and classic choice!  But if you're driving from farther away and spending several hours on the highway, you may want to consider a compact or mid-size.  Also be aware, that unless the car your renting says "guaranteed model" in it's online description (usually only on higher-end luxury models) then it likely says "or similar" meaning you'll get whatever's available in the size/category when you pick-up.  

Insurance

You'll need insurance coverage in France... And you can check with your personal auto Insurance company  or your credit card company to see if you're covered for a rental in France. If either your insurance company or your credit card company tells you you're covered, we suggest you get it in writing! It won't help at all, if you have a claim to say "the lady on the phone told me I was covered".  We strongly suggest getting a car with "full insurance coverage" (zero dollar deductible... i think AutoEurope calls it no-deductible coverage).  It's a few dollars more, but it pays off easily when you're returning the car and they try to tell you "that scratch/dent wasn't there when you picked it up..."   When it comes to the insurance coverage, do what Nike says... "Just do it"!  Make sure you list on the rental contract everyone who will be a driver... and any damage already on the car... (even small scratches) and take pictures with your phone of any damage you see on the car before you leave the rental lot... You'll have to pay extra for extra drivers, but if you had a fender bender, and the person driving isn't listed on the contract, the damage won't be covered

Car Rentals typically cost approx 7 - 10% more if you choose to pick-up/return at the airport as opposed to a city office... But it's certainly a lot more convenient... the choice is up to you...  We suggest you check car rental prices often as they move them up & down almost daily... After a while you'll get a feel for what's a decent price.

Stick or Automatic

As you're searching for cars, be aware that most cars in Europe are standard transmission, and you'll need to highlight "automatic transmission" in the search criteria if that's what you want. (usually about 25% more for a car with auto trans). If you don't do this, you'll likely end up with a car with a stick shift.

Make sure when you pick up the car, you find out if it's "gasoline or diesel" and where the latch for the gas lid is... they can be hard to find... (more info on fueling in future posts). If you put the wrong fuel in the car, the engine will stop working! (and you'll be financially responsible).

Short-Term Leases

If you need a car for at least 15 days, you might want to take a look at & consider a "short-term lease".  This is just what it sounds like; A Lease instead of a rental...  You lease the car from the manufacturer and they buy it back from you at the end of the lease. There are a bunch of valuable benefits to these short-term leases: first off, it's just like buying a car... You get a brand spanking new car (never been driven)... it's a guaranteed model (no "or similar". you know what car you're getting)... it comes automatically with no-deductible insurance for no extra cost... Family members can be additional drivers at no extra cost... all these cars usually come with built-in GPS units... and lastly it's usually less expensive than renting IF it's 15 or more days... the longer the lease period, the more money you save over renting .  (we personally most always lease as opposed to rent as we typically need a car for upwards of 30 days). If you have questions about leasing, reach out to us and we'll be happy to help you!
 
Maps

We also strongly suggest you have both a good map and a GPS unit... we can help you with acquiring really good Maps.  The one they'll give you at the car rental office is typically totally useless( often times it's very small scale, and sometimes it's just a bad photocopy of a small scale map)...   We suggest Michelin Maps, they're by far the very best...  Michelin Provence #527 available from Amazon.com Click here .  You'll see lots of maps available online... In our experience, none are as good as Michelin.  If you have a portable GPS unit you plan on taking, you'll need to check to see if it has "Europe Maps"...   (it probably doesn't) You can either choose to rent a car with a GPS in it, rent a GPS from your car rental office, or choose to use the maps program on your cell phone. 

They'll also offer to rent you a "mobile wi-fi hotspot..."  Our experience with these was so-so at best... not that great...  The good news is there is free wi-fi available at the Villa... but just be aware, wi-fi internet access is rarely as fast anywhere in Europe as what you're probably used to here in the US... but it does work fairly well and it is free!

On the day you return your rental car, fill it up immediately before you return it, and "keep the receipt" for the gas... in fact, we suggest you take a picture of it with your phone...  show the receipt to the attendant and get him to note on the contract, that the gas tank is full... (keep the receipt, you may need it later.)

 Lots more to come... As always feel free to contact us with any questions...

Beautiful Gordes!

 Here's another little video to give you a feel for one of Provence's most famous medieval hilltop villages ~ Gordes (the S is silent ~ gourd).  It's just down the road 10 minutes from our Villa and you'll love this village! It sets high in the Provençal hills, and the Abbaye de Senanque (say-knock) with it's famous lavender field sets at the bottom of the mountain.

Bonjour in the morning... Bonjour at night... Bonjour to the French girl in the middle of your flight!

  There's always a slight bit of apprehension surrounding our two little language ditties in the right sidebar; Parlez Vous Francais and Mangeons  The lists just keep growing!  So folks alway ask:  

1. 

                                          A little "Bonjour" goes a long way...

   Wait, do I have to speak French?
2. Do I have to learn those words... 
3. So, do people there speak English? 
4. Do you guys speak French?

So the answers to those questions are: No... No... No... and Yes (a little)!  No, you don't have to speak French, and No, you don't have to learn those words, and No, they don't speak English, they speak French!  And lastly: Yes, we speak a little... what we call "Survival French..."  We've learned a  bit as we've traveled to France many times over the last 30 years, and we try to keep up with it by using DuoLingo online... and lastly, Terese worked many years for Ponant, a French Expedition Cruise company headquartered in Marseille, so we'd get over there most every year as she went to their headquarters for meetings, and of course many of her colleagues were French.  (we had been thinking of developing a TV show - "Terese in Provence" but the Emily in Paris folks beat us to the punch!) So while we personally are by no means fluent, we do of course need to be able to communicate with the people in the local communities where we work with real estate brokers, hire our chefs from, acquire foods, wines and provisions, and arrange tours, etc... 

We encourage our guests to try to learn at least 200 words of French...  One, it will make your life a little easier while you're there... (especially in cafes). Two, it shows a sign of respect to the local people... and Three, we guarantee you'll definitely have a better time, a more satisfying vacation experience, and most importantly - you'll feel really good about yourself!

So some of the local people do speak a little bit of English...  And certainly in the bigger cities like Paris, Marseille, Aix, Avignon and Arles you'll find more people, especially in the hospitality industry (hotels & restaurants) that speak decent English...  But in Provence, there will be fewer people that speak English... In small shops & stores that deal mostly with tourists, you're more likely to find someone who speaks some English... But in shops & stores that the locals use (think clothing, grocery, banks, hardware, farmer's markets, etc) it's not unusual that no one there speaks any English...  And if they do, they're often reluctant to use it because they, just like many of us, don't feel confident in their ability...  Usually their English is a whole lot better then our French... But you have to always remember, it's not their native language and most have never been to the US... More often then not, besides French, they speak a little Italian, Spanish, German and Dutch as these are nearby countries that share borders with France... So English is like a fifth language to them...  Keep in mind, when you're talking to them, and they pause before answering you, they're thinking in French and are translating in their minds to English... Often, when you ask them something, you'll see their eyes staring upwards as they struggle to think of the translation...

"Terese in Provence"

Usually, locals will be patient with you & you'll find a way to communicate with each other... and when you do, everyone feels good about it!  But it helps if you know at least a few words... Again, it shows respect to them... That's why we always say: "a little bonjour goes a long way..."

More often then not, in the Provence area, you'll find that the women speak at least a little English and the men often don't speak as much, if any...  We've always speculated that it's because more of the women end up working in hospitality, and more of the men more likely end up working at the Wineries, Olive Press Mills, in the fruit orchards and in the vineyards and olive groves...

You're gonna love Provence!

We're just a little over 7 months out from your upcoming Adventure To Provence this coming June!   This video from Wolter's World talks about a lot of the places we'll be visiting on the Tour, and even addresses why we do our Tours the way we do...  I think he over-emphasizes what he calls the "hoards of tourists", but of course it is true that Provence is one of the most aspirational vacation destinations in all the world, so yes we will encounter some crowds here and there, but they're not that bad...  We'll have you in several of the destinations that Mark talks about in the video, including Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence, Gordes, The Pont du Gard, The Lavender Fields, Roussillon, The Abbeye de Senanque, Mont Ventoux, and a wonderful & classic Provençal Wine Estate!  Hope you're getting excited!  It'll be here before you know it!

🎶🎼🎶 Take the last train to Clarksville, and I'll meet you at the Station... 🎶🎼🎶

 Some folks have told us they're going to Paris for a few days before Provence... Some folks have noticed that often times the  most frequent and least expensive flights to France are direct non-stop flights to Paris... Either way, if you're interested in flying into Paris before coming to the Villa in Provence, know that you can get from Paris into Avignon (about 45 minutes from the Villa) in as little as 2 hours and 35 minutes on the train... But know that there's lots of different trains into Avignon, and their time schedules and prices can differ dramatically...

Want to know how to get from Paris to Avignon by train? We have gathered for you all the useful information about this trip!

beam me up Scotty...

The fastest trains from Paris to Avignon take around 2 hours and 36 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 581 kilometres.  On weekdays, the first train leaving Paris is scheduled to depart at around 06:07. The last departure is usually at around 21:37. On Saturdays and Sundays, trains leave Paris at around 07:15, with the last train leaving at around 21:37. There are frequent services on this particular rail route. On average, there are about 60 trains per day travelling between the two cities. They leave several times per hour.

Is there a direct train from Paris to Avignon?  Yes, there are direct trains from Paris to Avignon. You'll usually find around 33 direct trains on the route from Paris to Avignon every weekday.  There are typically fewer trains leaving at weekends, when you'll usually find around 30 departures.

How long does it take to travel from Paris to Avignon?  The Paris to Avignon train travel takes as little as 2 hours and 36 minutes on a TGV (high speed) train.

What are the Paris to Avignon train times and schedule?  If you're travelling on a weekday, you'll find the earliest trains to Avignon leaving Paris at around 06:07 and the last train leaving at around 21:30. At weekends, the first train of the day leaves Paris at around 07:15, with the final departure at 21:37.

What does it cost to take the Train from Paris to Avignon? Prices for a single ticket between the two cities start from $29.45.  TGV trains can be more expensive, and depending on time of year and time of day, can range from $49 to as high as $180 depending on class of seat, time of day, day of week, time of year.  Note also that the TGV trains direct to Avignon come into the Avignon TGV station, different from the Avignon Centre station.

When should you book your train tickets from Paris to Avignon?  Trains in France usually open for booking around 3 months in advance. If booking is not yet open for your travel dates, you can set a booking alert and you'll receive an email as soon as the cheapest tickets are released for your train journey.

Which train companies operate between Paris and Avignon?  More than one train company operates on the route from Paris to Avignon, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:  Alleo,  TGV

High-speed Trains à Grande Vitesse or TGV trains are the comfortable, modern flagships of the French high-speed rail network. TGV trains run mainly on high-speed lines at speeds of up to 350 km/h. An increasing number of TGVs are double-decker trains, referred to as TGV Duplex.  The TGV is the fastest way to reach hundreds of destinations in France. TGV trains speed from Paris to major French cities including Bordeaux, Avignon, Lyon, Nantes and Nice. Operated by SNCF, the French national railway company, there are also inter-regional TGV services and direct TGV trains from France to a dozen cities in Germany and a handful of stations in Italy and Spain.

If you're traveling with friends, know that you can book what
we like to call "party seats" with seats that face each other
with a table in the middle... A bottle of wine, a block of cheese,
and a baguette...it makes the ride a very fun adventure!
(and yes, you can take your own food & wine on the train)

Before you board There are no check-in or customs procedures before boarding TGV trains. However, ticket control and passport checks take place once onboard international services. Express check-in is available (around 10 mins).

Onboard  Air conditioning comes as standard on TGV trains. There is good luggage space on board, but bear in mind that your luggage has to be labelled. On TGV Duplex trains, choose a seat on the upper level for better views.

Free wifi is available in both Standard Class and First Class on TGV inOUI and all TGV trains offer power sockets in both classes too.  There are toilets, sometimes with baby-changing facilities, at the end of most carriages.

A bar-bistro carriage, called 'Le Bar TGV', is part of every TGV (although it may not be open on some short-distance services or at the very start or end of some longer journeys). It offers hot and cold snacks, sandwiches, breakfast, salads, cakes, hot and cold drinks, beer and wine. There is also a mobile food and drink cart that passes through the train carriages.

Booking and printing options. TGV tickets are open for bookings 90 days in advance.  A reservation is needed to travel onboard all TGV trains.  TGV train tickets have no hidden fees and they include the price of your seat reservation.  Get the lowest prices on TGV trains by booking early and don’t wait until the last minute as cheaper seats sell out quickly.  Opt for off-peak TGV trains if  you have to travel at short notice. Off-peak TGV trains are more affordable than ones running mornings and evenings along with those running around the holidays, Fridays and Sunday afternoons.

 Classes of service   TGV trains offer seated accommodation in two classes: Standard Class and First Clas

TGV First Class.   Seating in TGV First Class is more spacious with three seats across the aisle rather than four. Some seats are arranged in groups of two or four across a table, others are airline style. On a small number of very new TGVs these airline-style seats can be reversed to face the direction of travel. For couples travelling together, a pair of seats across a table (called a 'Club duo') is a great choice.

A small number of TGVs now offer wifi in First Class, and SNCF plan to enhance connectivity as older trains are refurbished. All TGVs have power points for First Class passengers (European two-pin norm). Seats recline for added comfort and there is plenty of space for luggage.

TGV Standard Class  Seating in TGV Standard Class is arranged in pairs of airline-style seats across a central aisle in open-plan carriages. There are some groups of four seats around a table, while others are arranged in pairs, either facing or with your back to the direction of travel. A novelty on some of the newest TGVs is that these airline-style seats can be turned to face the direction of travel.

For the very best part of this post click here

 

What's that NTA logo on your website?

 Someone has asked about the NTA logo on our website, and wanted to know if that was some sort of company or organization that we use to arrange our Tours?

So, no... Terese and I  personally research, design, curate and escort all of our Tours ourselves...  NTA is The National Tour Association... It's an International Travel Trade Association of Tour Operators that we're honored to be a member of...  To our surprise, beyond having to pay our annual memberships dues, we actually had to prove our worthiness to become a member...  We had to document things like;  Legal Incorporation, having a Federal Tax ID, filing Federal Corporate Tax Returns,  having at least 5 years of Incorporation, having professional Tour Operator's General, Professional and Corporate Liability Insurance Coverages and showing a verifiable pattern of expanding business development.  

We had been invited several times over the years and finally joined about 8 years ago...  We initially had some hesitancy, as for a very small operator like ourselves, it's a significant annual membership investment to belong to NTA and even more of a financial commitment to meet all their requirements... but we do get a lot from them including ongoing webinars, legal advice, industry insights,  professional Tour Development advice, International networking and even discounts on things like our various professional Tour Operator's Insurances. They also of course, provide political advocacy & lobbying for our industry.  

Over the years they've been very helpful with the many issues we have with contracts both here, and in Italy & France... From help with contracts for Villa leases, Tour guides, Wineries, Vendors, suppliers, etc...  

When travel bans during the pandemic prevented us from running our Tours, we were unable to cancel and get refunds on expensive Villa leases,  so we were faced with some difficult decisions on how to handle our guests... NTA firmly reminded us of what we in the Tour Business always call "The Golden Rule" ~ when in doubt, always treat your guests the way you would want to be treated...  And that is why, as many of you know, we offered all of our up-to-date, fully paid & scheduled guests 100% of their money back immediately.  We didn't have to do it, and 95% of operators only offered rescheduling, but the choice of a refund is what we would have wanted if we were the guests... we believe that integrity won us some loyalty from both our Tuscany & Provence guests, and overall we only lost a total of 4 guests through it all.

many people are surprised to find out that Provence is one of
the world's largest cherry growing regions

As a Tour Operator, you're faced with these types of decisions all the time... For us, estimating expenses two years in advance is one of the most difficult parts of what we do.  Our research trips tend to always be more expensive than we estimate, Villa leases tend to compound way above average year to year, inflation spirals the costs of all our provisions,  political environments make international currency exchange rates fluctuate dramatically,  airfares to reach our destinations are unpredictable, ongoing advertising costs to market our tours always exceed expectations, chefs change their availability based on pay, even the weather effects the price of wine... And when we market & sell Tours so far in advance, you can sometimes see profits slowly evaporate... Many operators overcome this, by the fine print in their contracts that say "your tour costs can change up through the date of departure".   

At Adventures to Tuscany, we don't do this...  We live with and honor the prices we quote and our Tour prices are locked in the moment you signup and pay your deposit!   And all our Tours include our exclusive Money-Back Tour Cancellation Protection;  If for any reason Adventures to Tuscany cancels a tour you have reserved, the entire amount you have paid to Adventures to Tuscany LLC for the applicable tour will be immediately refunded to you within 14 days after the tour's cancellation. Or, at your choice, you may choose a credit to apply to another tour date. In our 23 years of running Tours, we've never had to cancel a Tour up until the pandemic, and we're certainly hoping that nonsense is over!

Some of you benefited from our Tour Cancellation Protection Program when we were forced to cancel Tours at the beginning of the pandemic...  and we immediately issued refund checks to quite a few of you. We were so grateful that so many of you came back to us to sign up for another Tour.  So again, NTA's Golden Rule advice has shown benefit to all involved!

And while our Tour Cancellation Policy protects you if we are forced to cancel a Tour, we always remind and strongly recommend to guests that you should strongly consider purchasing simple inexpensive Travel Insurance in case you need to cancel your vacation.  If you need Travel Insurance, we always recommend and are a referring affiliate to insuremytrip.com and only if you use this link here, we receive a small token referral fee from them at no additional cost to you.  We've seen numerous guests benefit from having travel insurance over the years... It of course seems most obvious if you have to cancel... but a comprehensive policy can also cover flight delays, baggage delays, baggage loss, medical costs, dental costs, etc...  We most recently benefited from our travel insurance this year when an Italian Air Traffic Controllers strike stranded us for two extra days in Florence on our return home. Our Travel insurance reimbursed us approximately $1000 in hotel, meals, taxi, and miscellaneous expenses caused by the strike.