A beautiful Fountain in a beautiful square and a Chimney in the Marais

There is a quiet little square in the 2nd arrondissement, close to the Bibliotheque (National Library) with the name Square Louvois.

and..........
A fashion store in the Marais - The Uniglo company built around a chimney built a long time ago.

Joy riding in a Ferrari high above the French Cote d'Azur

The mountain and coastal roads of the Cote d’Azur are considered some of the most gorgeous drives in the world. Now imagine taking their hairpin turns and breath-taking stretches behind the wheel of a convertible Ferrari F430 F1 Spider. You can enjoy an exhilarating ride next to a professional instructor or drive the car yourself (with a co-pilot instructor). Prices range from 59€ (for a 15-minute ride as the passenger) to 790€ (for three hours driving yourself). You can start your trip in Eze, Monte Carlo or Nice. Whether you want to be pilot or co-pilot, this is an experience you won’t forget! (And to make sure you don’t, a camera at the rear of the car will record the whole drive and you can have a copy of it on an SDHC for an additional 49€.)

A clients report on one of my favorite France hotels in the Loire valley area - Chateau de la Barre

Thursday, May 15th, 2014

Accommodations: Chateau de la Barre

The main house as seen from the sunken garden.

We tried something new when planning our trip this time: we decided to work with a travel agent. We’ve done pretty well planning trips on our own in the past, but this time we wanted to be sure that we were making the most of our limited time. The Loire Valley is a very large region and is very spread out. We knew we’d need a car but still wanted to plan to stay where we could visit the points of interest with a minimum of driving time. Our travel agent, Howard at Protravel International in Beverly Hills (who spends a good deal of time in France himself) helped us not only with our itinerary, but also had some excellent contacts and was able to recommend accommodations that we might not have unearthed on our own, as well as getting us some very nice upgrades in some places. He suggested that we split our stay in the Loire Valley between two locations.
The first, Chateau de la Barre is about 45 minutes outside of Le Mans. It’s the home of and run as a luxury small hotel by the Count and Countess de Vanssay, and has been in his family since the early 1400’s. Some parts of the main house date back even further. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by the family dogs and the Count (who introduced himself as Guy and was as charming, funny and down-to-earth as you could imagine). He helped us with our luggage, then offered us some fresh apple cider made from an apple tree on the property in one of the sitting rooms. The day had been cool and drizzly and the fire and cider were welcome.

Our room was the Chambre Jaune, which featured an Aubusson tapestry behind the bed, and some 18th Century Italian furniture. (The bed linens were actual linens, embroidered.)



Nice toiletries too…

The view of the garden from our window was lovely.

Fresh flowers from the garden in our room. Guy handles the cultivation and arranging of fresh flowers that grace every room.

The room itself was spacious and comfortable. We were treated to a lovely breakfast each morning of fresh fruits, yogurts, cereals, pastries, juices and scrambled eggs. There are two dining rooms and the number of guests determines which is used for breakfast. We also joined a “Grand Siecle” dinner in the large dining room, hosted by the Count and Countess on our second evening there and it was exquisite and very memorable. There were two other couples by that point staying at the chateau, and it was a convivial evening. But first the Countess gave us a tour of the main parts of the Chateau, including the old “main keep” which dated from the 1300’s (and included an interior well as a defense against a siege). Because the chateau has remained in the same family through the centuries, much documentation from even the earliest years survives and the family history is fascinating (and would make for a GREAT novel!).

This main stairway is from the 14th century.

Defensive tower from either the 15th or 16th century, can’t remember. That sunken area was part of the moat.

The gardens.

These sheep roam free on the land. They’re rounded up annually, sheared and vaccinated, and then turned loose for another year.

Mme. de Vanssay (Marnie) was also SO incredibly gracious and helpful with suggesting activities and places to eat, providing maps and driving directions, and she goes out of her way to make her guests’ stay as comfortable and entertaining as possible. This was such a luxurious, unique and memorable experience, one I would recommend it highly if you’re planning to visit the Loire Valley.
Chateau de la Barre, Conflans-sur-Anille, FR.
Howard E. Lewis, France Specialist: howard.lewis@protravelinc.com

Classic Burgundian fare - found in a budget eatery just outside Beaune - This is what makes driving in France so much fun!

I stumbled across this budget eatery quite by chance on a drive outside Beaune. It turned out to be a wonderful place to eat and while away the hours on a sunny afternoon on a tree-shaded terrace as I put away copious portions of duck and beef dishes at very reasonable prices and a great staff and owner. 
L'Auberge du Marronnier, place du Marche, Chateauneuf en Auxois

Paris newest roof top restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel - "Pack my bags"

Taking Parisian dining to new heights, the crowning glory of The Peninsula Paris is L’Oiseau Blanc restaurant, bar and terrace, complete with a retractable roof and stunning views over the capital’s most iconic monuments. In this elevated setting, traditional French dishes are reinterpreted with contemporary flair by Chef Sidney Redel in a “bistronomique” menu designed to delight. The aviation-themed interior celebrates flying aces Charles Nungesser and François Coli who attempted to cross the Atlantic in 1927 from Le Bourget.

The restaurants name is after the plane ( The White Bird) that tried to make the first the Atlantic crossing, two weeks before Lindbergh; but they never made it and were lost somewhere over the ocean.

Paris Guimet Museum - Day Of The dragon

In Vietnam the dragon occupies a special position within an imaginary bestiary. This fascinating chimera provides a lively representation of its role as kindly protector; for centuries, Vietnamese artists have represented the meanders of its silhouette. Shaped like a snake, the dragon belongs to an aquatic world where it is both guardian and provider. Able to influence drought and flooding, it is equally at ease in a subterranean milieu, in water and in the skies. Focusing on images of the dragon, the exhibition covers a thousand years of history, from the Bronze Age to the twilight years of the last royal dynasty, through a new selection of works from the National Museum of Vietnamese History in Hanoi and the Musée national des arts asiatiques ― Guimet. The presentation leads the visitor through the developments of an iconography that was frequently associated with royalty and its prestige.

A Year In Monaco - It's the place I go back to time and again - I love it

A Bowl of Chocolate anyone? then Head over to the 69 rue du Bac in the 7e..............

If you love chocolate, then you must not walk, but run to Chapon Chocolat in the Left Bank

Bordeaux - St Emilion unusual wine cellar tour

Chateau Villermaurine, located on the outskirts of the village of St Emilion, offers one of France's most creative wine cellar guided tours. Latern in hand, you can discover the superb underground quarries of this grand cru classes through a sound and light show which combines history and legend and of course wine!

Why I love France - Cafes - Chez Felix (Carcassonne).. its nothing special and that's it - it's just that!

Chez Felix There is a quintessential French bar in every town in France and it is uniquely ‘French’. It serves the same purpose as a pub in Ireland or a tea shop in England - it is a social center where news is exchanged, sport is watched and the world is put right. It is a café, open early serving coffees and croissants to those heading off to work, a brasserie, with the plats du jour chalked up on a blackboard outside just before midday and a bar, serving wine and pression to locals and tourists alike until whatever time in the evening they decide to close (never a fixed time). It is of another time, another century. It feels out of place and yet is so certain of it’s place. It is shabby and unchanged which somehow gives it more a sense of permanence. Newer bars and cafés come and go around it whilst it remains unmoved

Weekend residence of the Windsors - Just outside Paris

Le Moulin de la Tuilerie is best known as the former weekend residence( at the edge of Paris) of Edward, Duke of Windsor, and his wife, formerly Wallis Simpson. Theirs was one of the great love stories of the 20th century: in 1936, Edward VIII renounced the British throne in order to marry Mrs Simpson, an American divorcee.
Now, you can rent their weekend retreat and be a part of this special, romantic English history. 
I grew up on stories about this fabled romance, I heard at firsthand the stories from my grandmother, and for a time, was a member of the Windsor society (before it folded)  and I have ( if I can be so modest) have a large collection of The books about the Windsor's. 

My favorite shirt - The Mariniere

The striped Breton shirt as we know it today came into being shortly following the 27th March, 1858 Act of France which introduced the navy and white striped knitted shirt as the uniform for all French navy seaman in Brittany. The shirt was originally known as marinière or matelot. The original design featured 21 stripes, one for each of Napolean's victories. Since 1889, the garment was manufactured by Bretagne, Tricots Saint James in wool and cotton for sailors. It then become popular with Breton workers, for its ease of wear and practicality. The official striped navy and white shirt became more generally a working mariner garment as it was picked up by men of the sea; seafarers and sailors across the region of Northern France. The distinctive block pattern of stripes on the French striped shirt made them easier to spot in the waves. The garment usually had a boat neckline. Inspired by sailors, after a visit to the French coast, Coco Chanel introduced the design to the fashion world through her nautical collection in 1917. The Breton top became a symbol of haute-bourgeois loveliness during the pre-war Riviera years.

The World has gone mad...It's a sad day for French Cuisine - Frances's top chef 'goes Vegetarian'

Alain Ducasse, the godfather of French gastronomy has just announced that his new restaurant in the newly reopened Plaza Athenee in Paris will be banishing  meat from its menu. 
He will also banish cream, while butter and sugar will be used as sparingly as possible. 
OK, so its a new day for Vegetarians, but for me and many others, its one of the saddest days in cooking history and I will not, let me be clear, I will not book for any of my clients a table there. 

What to do in Paris for Christmas?

One of the magical sites and sounds in Paris during Christmas is the site of a ski resort opposite of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero on Ice. Here you'll find an outdoor ice-rink, giant igloo, snowman etc. and also 100 or so wooden chalets, gastronomy, crafts and numerous traditional event for a magical Christmas. 

All one could hope for in a crusty old bistro in the Marais - La Petit Celestin

John Talbott, my go-to-guy in Paris when it comes to new and old restaurants, suggests this bistro in the Marais. It has red awnings, red facade, red tablecloths, a cool modern decor, and attentive staff.
And who not resist a platter of sauteed girolles, parsley and garlic!

Paris is for Lovers..................................Especially at Christmas time!

"Paris loves lovers, for lovers it's heaven above Paris tells lovers, love is supreme, wake up your dream and make love Only in Paris one discovers the urge to merge with the splurge of the spring Paris loves lovers for lovers know that love is everything" - Cole Porter