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For the adventurous river cruiser, perhaps one who already has played out the more traditional Rhine and Danube itineraries, can we suggest testing the waters in Mother Russia? Most river cruises are sure to either begin or end in St. Petersburg and Moscow. While itineraries tend to do an overview of these imperial cities, add some extra time to make sure you absorb all that these cities have to offer. Because river cruise boats are able to sail directly into the heart of European cities, it is easy to hop on/off to get into all the action.
Moscow offers the Kremlin as a must see. This 15th-century city is chock-full of palaces, armories, cathedrals and Medieval fortress. Always wanted to see a Faberge’ egg up close?, be sure to visit the Armoury Chamber to do just that. 
Stop at the Bolshoi Theatre and Red Square, where you have a perfect view of the bubble domes. Have lunch (reservations necessary) at 1 Red Square where you will have sweeping views of Moscow’s main plaza. The restaurant sits on the top floor of the National History Museum so diners can gaze across at the St. Basil’s. Try Koulebiake, a dish of sturgeon with rice, cream and spices baked inside pastry.
Culture anyone? A few hours is all that is needed to visit Sergiyev Posad, a Golden Ring city that is home to one of the four most important Russian Orthodox monasteries. A great side trip is the Novodevichy Convent, most renowned of cloisters.
St. Petersburg is next and the Winter Place to see the State Hermitage Museum, a must. Keep in mind that Viking River Cruises for 2012 will give passengers a behind-the-scenes look at the art vaults in the museum. Don’t miss St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt. And of course, you must visit Pushkin to take in the rococo splendor of Catherine Place.
Passion for the arts? You will swoon over the Russian Ballet at the Alexandrinsky Theatre. Other highlights include the Church of the Resurrection and Palace Square.
Russian cruise itineraries will sail May through October this year. TIP: American citizens still need a visa to travel to Russia. River cruises often provide the visa to its guests. You can also obtain visas through your local consulate. For more information, just contact me - Linda Schooley, Travel Designer
Posted in Cruises, European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Armoury Chamber, Bolshoi Theatre, Catherine Place, Church Of The Resurrection, Cruise Boats, Faberge Egg, Imperial Cities, Lunch Reservations, Medieval Fortress, National History Museum, Nevsky Prospekt, Novodevichy Convent, Orthodox Monasteries, Paul Fortress, Russian Ballet, Russian Cruise, St Basil, State Hermitage Museum, Viking River Cruises, Winter Place
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Cruising through Germany’s Rhineland is incomplete without a pre/post-stop in this cultural and wellness oasis. I love to say the name, Baden-Baden and for river cruisers who are starting or ending a journey in Basel, Switzerland, we suggest tacking on an extra three days to explore Baden-Baden, at the foothills of Germany’s Black Forest.
 You are just 1-1/2 hours by ICE high speed train from Basel to this picturesque spa town enhanced by the hills of the Black Forest. TIP: The same high speed train service operates between Frankfurt Airport and Baden-Baden. We suggest flying in or out of Frankfurt to make the transition easiest.
Your first day must include lunch at Rizzi Wine Bistro & Restaurant, the in-restaurant of Baden-Baden. Serving alfresco Mediterranean cuisine, it overlooks Lichentaler Allee, a historical park and garden. Get acclimated to the city with a guided tour or ask me about your own personalized “on your own” touring. Some of the highlights include the thermal baths to Kurhaus, the Casino Baden-Baden and much more.
A morning horse carriage ride along Lichtentaler Allee start the day off just right. Art aficionados will love to visit the Museum Frieder Burda or the State Art Gallery (you won’t have to walk far to visit both museums, they are connected to each other). History buffs will flip over the 2,000 year old Roman Bath Ruins, as well as the Baden-Baden Museum which showcases Baden-Baden’s wellness history.
Be sure to devote the afternoon to pampering at one of the city’s modern spas. The Caracalla Spa is one of the most luxurious in the city (marble columns & turquoise blue pools), with 32,000 square feet of bather’s paradise. Indoor pools with massage jets, neck shower jets, water mushroom, bubble seats and beds, two outdoor pools, hot & cold water grotto, aroma steam baths, brine inhalation room, solarium and relaxation loungers TIP: You need at least 2 hours to appreciate all Caracalla has to offer.
Want something a little different? try the historical Roman-Irish Bath Friedrichsbad which dates back to 1877. This is known as the temple of well being with 17 stations designed to enhance physical and mental health. Be sure to ask about the ideal route between the stations. TIP: You need at least 3 hours to enjoy Friedrichsbad.
After a day of satisfying body and mind, traveling gourmets will love a dinner at Baldreit, a cozy wine tavern with terrace and courtyard. Night owls must ivist the Casino Baden-Baden which gives off the vibe of a French Royal Palace (Note that guests will have to show a valid ID or passport to enter the casino). TIP: Men must don a jacket and tie.
Before leaving Baden-Baden, do take a day trip to the Black Forest (grab a cuckoo clock in a can) or the Mummelsee Lake which is a 40 min. drive from the town center, where nature lovers can hike and bike the trails. Need speed? Check out the Mercedes-Benz Museum or the Porsche Museum, both showcasing the history and diversity of these world-class automobiles. The museums are in Stuttgart, an hour drive from Baden-Baden.
Wine enthusiasts? Less then 5 miles from Baden-Baden city center is Rebland, a haven for wine lovers, with wonderful views over the Rhine Valley and the Black Forest. This is one of Germany’s most popular Rieseling areas. The three villages of Steinbach, Varnhalt and Neuweier in this wine region have cozy wine taverns, restaurants and wineries that make a full day of epicurean adventures!
Yes, Baden-Baden is a great favorite of mine and I think you can now appreciate why-Linda Schooley, Travel Designer
Posted in Cruises, European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Aroma Steam, Basel Switzerland, Caracalla Spa, Casino Baden Baden, Frankfurt Airport, High Speed Train, History Buffs, Indoor Pools, Marble Columns, Massage Jets, Mediterranean Cuisine, Outdoor Pools, Picturesque Spa Town, River Cruisers, Roman Bath, State Art Gallery, Steam Baths, Thermal Baths, Wellness Oasis, Wine Bistro
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 Now, more than ever, I think looking at Travel Insurance as a necessary addition to your vacation travel funds makes sense. We have sold Travel Guard exclusively for 25+ years and have always been happy about the way claims have been handled and the many insurance products offered. We have compared may companies and there is a good reason we have remained loyal to this company, that being, you get the most comprehensive policies with the fewest exclusions at the best pricing.
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked insurance questions, a good read I think;
1. Doesn’t my credit card have travel insurance?
No, not in the way most travelers want it to.
Credit cards that have ‘travel insurance’ provide little coverage, but nothing in comparison to a separate policy from a travel insurance company.
Some cards provide cancellation coverage, but with an annual limit ($1,500-$2,500 per 12 month period), and the list of covered reasons is limited. Interruption coverage is limited as well, as is travel delay coverage.
Most importantly though, is that almost no credit cards provide medical expense or evacuation coverage.
2. Won’t my regular health insurance cover me abroad?
Not completely. Most regular health insurance plans provide partial or no coverage while you are traveling in another country. For Medicare, there is never coverage abroad.
Countries with ‘universal health care’ might assist with minor needs, but they are under no obligation to do so. In the event of major or ongoing medical expenses, they would cease to help, and they would never pay to evacuate you or help you return home.
3. Will my cruise line refund me?
A little. It depends on when you cancel, but generally you won’t get much back.
Most cruise companies have a declining refund schedule where they refund less and less the closer to the departure date, until they refund nothing at all. Generally within 2 weeks there is zero refund, and even canceling a month before will usually only get you a 25% refund.
4. Are hurricanes covered?
Yes, many plans cover hurricanes and weather under trip cancellation coverage.
To be covered you need to 1) make sure it is listed as a covered reason, 2) buy before the storm is named, 3) insure for the full trip cost, and 4) some plans require that you buy soon after your trip payment to avoid the waiting period.
5. Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Yes, many plans offer a waiver that removes the pre-existing condition exclusion.
To be covered you need to 1) buy your plan soon after your first trip payment, 2) insure for the full trip cost, 3) be medically cleared for travel at the time of purchase.
6. What does travel insurance cost?
Insurance costs 4-8% of the trip cost (pre-paid, non-refundable expenses).
Basic plans can be very budget-minded at less than 4%, and premium vacation plans can be over 12%. Travel medical insurance is sold on a trip=length basis, and can be as little as dollars per day.
7. When should I purchase my plan?
Within days of making your initial trip deposit.
There are many benefits to purchasing the plan sooner, including maximizing the period of cancellation coverage, and being eligible for pre-existing condition coverage and hurricane coverage.
8. How do I know I can trust the company?
Our comparison tool only features companies that have years of experience with solid AM Best ratings of financial stability, and they comply with a Zero Complaint Policy.
9. What is the refund policy?
A 100% refund of premium within the Free Look Period is guaranteed by all companies. This allows travelers to review their policy and return it for any reason with the time period (less a small administration fee $5-$8)
10. How do I buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance can be quoted and purchased instantly online using a credit card.
Since travel insurance is a temporary insurance product, there is generally no underwriting period or medical examination required. You can get a quote online, buy with a credit card, print your email confirmation, and you’re all done. Let’s Go! Travel offers this service for our clients or we allow them to purchase their policies online by using our handy website link.You can purchase travel insurance ANYTIME using our link, even if you haven’t booked travel with us!-Linda Schooley, Travel Designer
Posted in Cruises, European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Credit Cards, Cruise Companies, Cruise Line, Departure Date, Exclusions, Good Reason, Health Insurance, Health Insurance Plans, Insurance Products, Insurance Questions, Interruption, Medical Expense, Medical Expenses, Necessary Addition, Travel Delay, Travel Funds, Travel Guard, Travel Insurance Company, Universal Health Care, Vacation Travel
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Europe’s political capital offers much more than Art Nouveau architecture or impressive art collections-what I focus on (always!) is the culinary offerings in this most beautiful of places in France. Did you know that Belgium invented moules frites (mussels & french fries) and you won’t find better mussels in the world-gently cooked in white wine and garlic broth (my mouth is watering, is yours?). This is also the place to get your fries fix, served in cones and dipped in mayonnaise, all washed own with one of the 500 different varieties of beer. Not to mention chocolate!. Beyond these great culinary feasts, this destination has Michelin-starred gourmet cuisine for those so inclined. Brusselicious! kicks off in 2012 with culinary events scheduled throughout the year. Just next to the Grand Place, one of the prettiest squares in Europe, you will find the beautiful Hotel Amigo. Having hosted dignitaries and stars and the award winning Italian restaurant, the Bar Amigo, a great gathering place. 
If you are lucky, the historic center in the above picture, the Grand Place, may be entirely filled in a carpet of flowers. You have to time this right though, since it is for three days in August, even years only. This central square is lined with ancient guildhalls housing bakers, butchers and cabinetmakers. The brewer’s guildhouse now houses a brewer’s museum.
Take a seat at one of the many “sidewalk” cafes in the Galleries Royales Saint-Hubert and order a cafe creme before the crowds arrive. Rain or shine, the covered shopping arcade is a sublime spot, surrounded by luxury boutiques, for a cup of coffee (the original Neuhaus chocolate shop is located here). Enjoy the cast-iron columns and glass-paneled roof of the Galeries. Next, stroll up the Place Royale to the Magritte Museum which opened in 2009 to much fanfare. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium renovated one of its buildings, powering it with green electricity and transforming it into a cutting-edge temple to Magritte, the world’s most celebrated surrealist and Belgium’s native son. Follow a chronological journey through some 200 works by this mater. TIP: Pick up the Brussels Card for city exploration and you will get free admission to 30-plus museums and free use of public transportation.
Stave off your hunger with a sugary pick-me-up at Laurent Gerbaud’s chocolate shop. After all, Belgium is the world’s chocolate capital and its citizens consume an average of six kilograms (over 12 pounds to us). Even the pickiest of chocoholics will be drooling over Gerbaud’s artisanal creations.
Now its off for lunch to the trendy Chatelain neighborhood, perhaps eating at La Quincaillerie, a lively brasserie housed in a former iron monger’s shop complete with brass fixtures and an enormous rail-station clock. The fabulous oyster bar here is not to be missed, as are the seafood specialties and gourmet classics, such as honey-glazed duck.
Comic book fan? Check out Brussels’ Belgian Comic Strip Center. It is fun to see Belgium’s beloved comic-strip hero, Tintin, with Snowly the dog. But the building alone is worth it, a masterpiece in glass and steel created by architect Horta who championed the Art Nouveau style at the turn of the 20th century.
OK, the day is winding down, it is about 6 PM and Sante’ – aperitif hour/ Forego wine for one of Belgium’s famous beers. A rich brewing tradition with hundreds of diverse varieties, each served in its own unique glass to maximize the flavor. Try a pale ale made by the Trappist monks.
Dinner attracts a fashionable and fun crowd at the Belga Queen, a restaurant that occupies a landmark 18th-century building with stained glass ceiling and a Cigar Lounge Bar in the former bank vault. The cuisine highlights the best of Belgium, even the Arabica coffee beans are roasted locally.
Brussels is a favorite destination for me to send clients to, because of all the above and more…..a splendid day awaits just an hour from Brussels by car or train to the “Venice of the North”-Bruges!!!!-Linda Schooley, Travel Designer
Posted in European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Art Collections, Art Nouveau Architecture, Cabinetmakers, Cast Iron Columns, Chocolate Shop, Culinary Events, Culinary Offerings, French Fries, Garlic Broth, Gourmet Cuisine, Grand Place, Luxury Boutiques, Neuhaus Chocolate, Places In France, Royal Museums, Saint Hubert, Sidewalk Cafes, Sublime Spot, Three Days In August, White Wine
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We are now in Troyes and start off the morning with a walking tour. This historic village offers half-timbered medieval buildings and cathedral.  Visitors to the Champagne region east of Paris typically head for Reims, to view its cathedral, basilica and Champagne caves. In doing so, they often overlook Troyes, just south of Reims.
Troyes (pronounced trwah), was once a center for stained glass and textiles. It was also the home of the 12th-century poet Chrétien de Troyes, who wrote versions of the Arthurian legends, and of andouillettes, sausages, made in Troyes from tripe and famous throughout France.
The many cobblestone, pedestrians-only streets in the town’s historic center give Troyes an intimacy that belies its population of over 60,000. An outline of the city looks like a Champagne cork with the medieval and artisanal vestiges mostly in the St.-Jean quarter at the base, and the administrative and ecclesiastical center at the head. Lunch can be had at the stylish Le Damier or any one of the wonderful small cafe’s.
The last stop on this sampling tour is, in fact, Rheims, with its world-famous cathedral, which surpasses even Paris’ Notre-Dame in medieval splendor and where French kings were crowned until the 1820s. Take a guided tour of the town if you wish, but after dinner do take in the sound and laser light projection show on the Rheims cathedral facade, a superb way to end your journey. Impressive as the cathedral is by day, modern technology actually enhances it at night, enabling visitors to see even more incredible details!
So ends our French Touring Sampler, but certainly not the possibilities of touring France!-Linda Schooley, Travel Designer
Posted in European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged 12th Century, 1820s, Arthurian Legends, Cathedral Basilica, Cathedral Facade, Champagne Cork, Champagne Region, ChréTien De Troyes, Cobblestone, East Of Paris, French Kings, Laser Light, Light Projection, Medieval Buildings, Medieval Splendor, Paris Notre Dame, Rheims Cathedral, Schooley, Touring France, Vestiges, Walking Tour
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We are still in Burgundy, touring the Abbey de Fontenay, in Montbard. Dating from 1118 (wow!) Fontenay is among the oldest intact Cistercian monasteries. Located on a private estate, the abbey welcomes as many as 100,000 visitors annually as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
From here we depart Burgundy for Auberive, located in the Champagne-Ardennes region. Stop here for arustic lunchat the Auberge du Palais Abbatiale. After nourishment, you can visit the nearby Abbey of Auberive, a monastery-turned-art-museum and exhibition space, to see artwork by noted French sculptor Marc Petit. This is great fun seeing a French artist of today in such lucious surrounds.
Late afternoon and its time to drive to La Boisserie, country home of the former French President Charles de Gaulle, located in the village of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises. This village is very unassuming and sits among beautiful rolling hills. The house is lovely and offers family furniture, a library and may mementos from world leaders. The church is exactly what one would expect in a rural French village. Charles de Gaulle is buried here, with a towering Alsatian white cross marking his grave. 
Finally, dinner and accommodations can be found in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises and the next day you can continue your touring, perhaps eating at the Michelin one-star L’Hostellerie la Montaigne for lunch. From here you are off to the historic Clairvaux Abbey, which once served as a prison.
From Clairvaux, you can travel to Urville for a late-afternoon vis8it with the family owned Champagne producer Drappier. After the tour, a sampling of different champagne vintages in small bottles is offered before departing in the early evening for Troyes.
Return for more on the perfect French wine tour!-Linda Schooley, Travel Designer
Posted in European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Alsatian, Champagne Ardennes, Champagne Vintages, Cistercian Monasteries, Clairvaux Abbey, Drappier, Exhibition Space, Family Furniture, Fontenay, French Artist, French Sculptor, French Village, French Wine, Montbard, President Charles, Private Estate, Schooley, Unesco World Heritage, Unesco World Heritage Site, White Cross, Wine Tour, World Heritage Site
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 A 10 minute taxi ride from the cruise port and you have arrive at this artsy corner of the Eixample District. Sant Antoni, Barcelona is so cool, here are only some of its offerings;
A Catalan food blogger, Marcel Fernandez, has been blogging about locals-only tapas spots and old school bars since 2007. He has opened the MOrro Fi tavern, an intimate seven-seat bar (yes, you read it right, only seven seats), featuring white marble counters and Galican pine floors. The bar specializes in classic Spanish drinks, such as a Casa Mariol redwine and lemon-line soda concoction called Tinto de Verano.
Built in 1882, the neoclassic iron and glass Mercat de Sant Antoni has always been the centerpiece of this neighborhood (pictured in this blog). The building takes up an entire block. There is a grand refurbishment plan in the working, slated for completion by 2014 that will upgrade the market with some modern facilities (such as air conditioning). Until then, mini-mall-size tents have been set up in the closed-off Carrer del Comte d’Urgell just outside. Fishmongers, green grocers, butchers and antiques all share space and peddle their wares daily, much to the delight of everyone. But wait, on Sunday mornings the market attracts diehard coin dealers, used booksellers and stamp collectors.
Art is represented by the tiny Galeria Alegria, not a super serious space, but much fun. Set in a converted one-car garage of only 96 square feet, its front doors are painted turquoise. Inside this laid-back gallery primarily exhibits pieces from unrepresented local artists and its openings regularly spill out onto an ivy-covered garden.
Architecture in Barcelona is never quiet, always stimulating and the Biblioteca de Sant Antoni-Joan Oliver looks like a bar code, very large, with alternating vertical panes of glass and sheets of black steel. The building is most striking for its location, standing proudly amid a row of demure, grey-and-peach town houses (one wonders how those town houses felt when this building was being planned?).
Paris has the Moulin Rouge, Barcelona the windmilled El Molina. Built in 1898 the theater ran for almost 100 years before it was closed for 13 years and a floor to ceiling renovation began. As of 2010, shes back with bling! Now her seats are Swarovski-crystal studded, she has a curvilinear stage and a third-floor lounge glittering with gold tiles. Evenings find cabaret stars, tango dancers, vaudeville performers and flamenco artists, all sharing the spotlight on a rotating basis.
Sydney Australia you say? The year-old Federal Cafe’ is touted as a “Sydney-style’ spot, but there are no boomerangs on the walls, no Outback kitsch, just a bright blond-wood dining area with communal tables and a sunny rooftop terrace that provides refreshing contrast to the surrounding areas. The menu is Down Under inspired with burgers topped by grated fresh beets in the Aussie tradition, scrambled-eggs on a platter that includes sourdough toast with Vegemite. Somehow this all works with a Catalan accent to boot!
Thank you Budget Travel for content ideas.
Posted in Cruises, European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Catalan Food, Coin Dealers, Cruise Port, Eixample, Fishmongers, Garden Architecture, Green Grocers, Joan Oliver, Marble Counters, Mini Mall, Minute Taxi, Neoclassic, Peach Town, Pine Floors, Redwine, Sant Antoni, Seat Bar, Share Space, Stamp Collectors, Taxi Ride
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If you’re wondering about when is a good time to come to Champagne in 2012, then let me help you. Anytime is a great time, but there are some special events happening this year that you won’t want to miss, especially if you love the bubbly as I do. 
If you’re a real champagne aficionado, you won’t want to miss these two special tasting events in April, dedicated to smaller champagne makers:
Terres et Vins (actual date to be confirmed, but will be early April) and the other is Les Artisans du Champagne, Reims on the 17th April 2012 at Régates Rémois (Reims Rowing Club)
At each event, some 15-25 selected champagne makers present their champagnes and often the still wines from which champagne is blended. This is a truly fascinating experience, and whichever event you choose, you’ll come away with a brilliant insight into the skill of making champagne, making your next champagne moment amazing!
On the last weekend in May, there’s La Foire de la Gastronomie et du Vin in the village of Mailly Champagne. This is a fabulously French, informal and rustic fair and on a warm day, it’s magical. The roads in the village are closed off, and the champagne producers open their doors, set up stalls outside and welcome you to taste and discover. Just stroll around the village tasting food, wines from around France and of course champagne, and soak up the atmosphere.
The Fete Henri IV in Ay, only happens every two years, and it’s happening this July 2012. So don’t miss it or you’ll have to wait another 2 years. Come on down on the first weekend of July to sample the delights of the champagnes of the former capital town of champagne. There’s “open house” at many of the champagne makers, including Bollinger, street barbeques, open-air music, all sorts of food stalls and a great atmosphere.
The Harvest normally happens in September, but it really depends on the kind of weather we’ll be having, so I’ll keep you updated if you want to come and experience the grape picking . Last year it was all over by the end of August and I was lucky enough to be part of the team at Champagne Henriet Bazin for just one memorable day. We began the day with an Oenovasion Vineyard Tour in Nicolas’ Landrover Discovery where we literally went off the edge of a cliff into the vineyards! After a simple lunch of traditional grape-pickers’ fare, with champagne of course, we were whisked off into the vineyards again but this time to pick and harvest the grapes. If you want to know what it feels like to be part of the fabric of this region, then you won’t want to miss this experience. Watch this space!
With summer behind us, and the harvest taken care of, we can turn our attention to one of the best wine fairs I’ve ever seen. It’s the “Foire des Vignerons Indépendents” (Reims Wine Festival) and it’s at the Parc des Expositions in Reims from the 9-11th November. Another great place to experience the atmosphere of Champagne, with not only champagne makers, but wine makers from all over France who gather here to meet with wine lovers like you. If you want to stock up on your wines and champagnes for Christmas, at prices you’d never see outside of France, then you won’t want to miss this event.
And to round off the year in true Champagne-style, the annual Habits de Lumières Festival in Epernay in December is a spectacular experience. It’s happening in 2012 on the 7th – 9th and it’s another great opportunity to be part of the fun of Champagne life. Many of the big Champagne Houses on the famous Avenue de Champagne open their doors to welcome us. There’s food, music, street entertainment and fireworks, and of course, champagne!
And we haven’t even mentioned all the champagne houses to visit and good restaurants to try, village festivals to enjoy and the culture and heritage to experience, at any time of the year!
 For more information 
Posted in European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Aficionado, Air Music, All Sorts, Artisans, Atmosphere, Bollinger, Brilliant Insight, Champagne Makers, Champagne Reims, Champagnes, Fete, Food Stalls, Food Wines, Good Time, Great Time, Henri Iv, Open House, Producers, Rowing Club, Weather
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Are you ready for Djon? Our next chapter in French Touring starts in this oh so French city! There is so much more to Dijon then it’s fine mustard and I have to tell you it is hard to right a short synopsis, because of the varied activities here. I think I need to offer an in-depth posting very soon. Djon is a very historic city dating back to pre-Roman times. Gustav Eiffel (yes of Eiffel Tower fame) was, in fact, born in this city. It is easy walking and offers great biking. The Burgundy Canal runs through it and is so lovely to stroll by. The city’s Cathedral and museum are nice to visit, but I have to say I can stay in this town forever. It is everything you expect a French town to be & more!
Leaving Dijon you can visit a very miniscule hamlet of Barbirey-sur-Ouche for an outdoor lunch at the L’Eire du Temps-a bistro cafe and a small inn. The “Eire” is for the cafe’s Irish co-owner and the multilingual play-on-words name is courtesy of her Franch husband. After lunch, work it off by cycling along the Canal du Bourgogne and watching barges float along the canal, transversing the locks. (This is what river barging gives you!). Bike to the Abbey de la Bussiere-Sur-Ouche to spend time walking around the grounds and viewing the Abbey’s gorgeous stained glass windows.
From her you can then head for Armoncon for tea at the imposing Chatea de Chailly, a castle and inn featuring a swimming pool, tennis court, golf course, fine wine cellar and the Dome du Cosmos, a unique mosaic tile and stained-glass peace chapel inspired by the owner, who is of Japanese descent (quite unusual). If you can tear yourself away from this wonderful place, you can then opt to travel to Saulieu to check in at the Relais Bernard Loiseau and dine at the restaurant named for the famed late chef. This inn has beautiful grounds with gardens, pool and health spa.
As you can see, this area of Burgundy is jam-packed with things to do and see, not just wine driven, but certainly wine inspired. Please join me for the next installment and if you need more information on any of the places mentioned in this blog, don’t hesitate to contact me  .
Posted in Cruises, European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged Bernard Loiseau, Bistro Cafe, Burgundy Canal, Eiffel Tower, Eire, Fine Wine, French City, French Town, Gustav Eiffel, Health Spa, Japanese Descent, Mosaic Tile, Outdoor Lunch, Peace Chapel, Play On Words, Pool Tennis, Roman Times, Stained Glass Windows, Tennis Court, Wine Cellar
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 We are leaving Beaune to visit Comete Senard, a leading Burgundy producer in the tiny commune of Aloxe-Corton, a source of top-level Burgundy. Comte Senard has a great restaurant that offers a very local lunch of beef bourguignon, accompanied by-of course, wonderful wines! Lunches include wine-tasting menus at different levels.
Close by is Chateau Clos de Vougeot, a 1,100 year old Cistercian abbey located in some of the world’s most desirable and expensive vineyards, now shared by 80 owners. Here is a video, though in French, that shows you the lovely countryside andChateau CLos de Vougeot. The chateau, now a museum, is very much the physical and spiritual heart of Burgundy, and home to the Confrerie du Tastevinage, the internation brotherhood of Burguncy wine lovers. As such, it hosts as many as 100 exceptional dining and wine-taasting events each year. I have always found it very attractive that France’s vineyards are very small compared to say, California’s, and in being small there is such a great feeling of intimacy when you visit.
Another wonderful casual restaurant, deep in the countryside at the Abbey de la Bussiere-Sur-Ouche, is the Bistro des Moines. This is an inn and restaurant and part of a restored 12th-century abbey.
I hope you are enjoying these short inside looks at the fabulous French Vineyard Countryside, I know I am enjoying writing them. Watch for Part 4, posting soon!
Posted in European Travel, Lets Go Travel Blog, News
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Tagged 12th Century, Aloxe Corton, Brotherhood, Burgundy, Cistercian Abbey, Clos, Clos De Vougeot, Comte, Confrerie, Countryside, Des Moines, French Countryside, French Vineyard, Intimacy, Lunch, Sampling, Spiritual Heart, Tasting Menus, Wine, Wine Lovers, Wines
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