2014 - 70th Anniversary of D Day

Next year is the 70th anniversary of D Day and the liberation of France.
Although its too late to book something around the first 2 weeks of June (The official celebration of that famous day) , any other time of year is perfect to Visit Normandy. Beautiful, fascinating Normandie

A Country B&B charm meets sophisticated style (and a serious spa!) - just 20 minutes outside Paris

I have just returned from a weekend at a lovely retreat just outside Paris and I can tell you, this will be my retreat for a few days every time I am in Paris ( which is 3 to 4 times a year).

                                         LES ESTANGS DE COROT

A Country B&B charm meets sophisticated style (and a serious spa!), just twenty minutes from downtown Paris’s  and ten minutes from the Chateau de Versailles.

Les Etangs de Corot is a delightful refuge where guests ( 95 % French clientele)  can relax in country-chic accommodations, explore beautiful nature trails, feast at a gastronomic restaurant, and get pampered in a world-class Caudalie Spa.

Les Etangs de Corot in Ville d’Avray is named for its historic setting, overlooking the ponds and forests that inspired many great painters and writers—notably the forefather of Impressionism, Camille Corot. Owned and operated by Alice and Jérôme Tourbier, who also run Les Source de Caudalie in Bordeaux, the 43-room hotel, combines upscale creature comforts with the charm and character of a weekend country house.

Utterly charming, Alice Tourbier’s smart and original interior design integrates antique furniture and contemporary decorative accents throughout the hotel. In a nod to the illustrious artists who spent time in Ville d’Avray, the guestrooms feature reproductions of 19th-century French landscape paintings. The cozy guestrooms and suites are individually decorated with family heirlooms and flea market finds (including secretary desks and brass lamps) and modern flourishes like bold Farrow & Ball patterned wallpaper and oversize mirrors. The suites feature a separate living room and rustic-chic slate bathrooms. The best guestrooms look out onto views of the forest and the lily pad–covered pond.

There are three in-house restaurants at Les Etangs de Corot, each offering a unique ambiance and menu. The gastronomic eatery Le Corot features large bay windows, high ceilings, chandeliers and dazzling blow-ups of the eponymous artist’s famous paintings. The menu does feature game (such as roasted venison with berries, celery, and quince wine sauce) there are also plenty of lighter options like a flaky John Dory fish flavored with ginger consommé and lime.

Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Café des Artistes is a more casual dining option. With mismatched bistro chairs and no tablecloths, the ambiance here is more country-chic than Versailles-glam.. In the summer months, a third dining option is available. Les Paillotes is a lofted covered terrace overlooking the scenic greenery and pond where guests can dine en plein airon summery fare like pea and mint gazpacho, sea bass à la plancha, and strawberries and cream.

Like the Tourbier’s property in Bordeaux (Les Source de Caudalie), Les Etangs de Corot incorporates wine into all aspects of the hotel experience. For example, the long windowed hallway connecting the reception area to the bar/lounge is lined with 2,500 empty green bottles from the family’s château, Smith Haut-Lafitte. Complimentary glasses of wine offered upon arrival (which can be enjoyed at a moment of your choosing) make guests feel right at home, and a unique tap system in the hotel’s open cave next to Café des Artistes allows diners a rare chance to sample grand crus by the glass. But perhaps the most luxurious wine-related indulgences are hotel’s signature spa treatments, which feature products derived from grape vines as well as the grapes themselves. Known for antioxidant treatments and luscious skin-care products,Caudalie Vinothérapie® was developed by Alice Tourbier’s sister, Mathilde Thomas. The original spa is part of Les Source de Caudalie and the newest outpost, at Les Etangs, features a large outdoor hot tub, a water-massage area, and treatment rooms with beautiful views of the natural surroundings.

Couples looking to escape city life for a night or two of R&R without committing to a long haul will appreciate the fresh-air atmosphere, proximity to Versailles, and the luxurious spa treatments.

Just Back From Almost A Month in France - Details To Follow

                                        ( Howard in Strasbourg's Petit France District in Strasbourg) 
Christmas In France is always a joy, especially seeing the fabulous windows at the legendary Paris department store - Galeries Lafayette.
But Christmas is really special at the various Christmas Markets in Germany and Eastern France. If you have never been, then you are missing a spectacular celebration. 
In Alsace (Eastern France on the border of Germany) sits the city of Strasbourg. it is one of my favorite places to visit anytime I am in France. It's only a 2-1/2 journey train trip from Paris; an easy one day trip round-trip from Paris. 
Here you'll find many wonderful Christmas Markets selling not only tree decorations, but winter mulled-hot wine and food like local sausages and foie-gras. The city is beautifully decorated and the holiday spirits reins supreme here!
So stand by for more of my trip updates in the next few days.