Toujours France French Travel Specialists

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Toujours France French Travel Specialists

Toujours France specialises in crewed hotel barges and personalised small group tours in France. www.frenchbarging.com.au & www.toujoursfrance.com.au

Toujours France specialises in crewed hotel barges in France, Italy, Belgium, Holland and the UK. A barge cruise is a delightful and unique way to discover some of the most beautiful regions of France! We also offer personalised small group tours throughout France and diverse destinations throughout the world.

17/06/2024

This is our villa in Provence for the next week. I’m showing this region to 10 lovely ladies, as well as learning and sharing thoughts about wellness and nutrition with . Our private chef is popping in every day to give us a beautifully prepared breakfast and several delicious dinners… and we’ll also enjoy some fab restaurants, starting with a dinner in a lovely courtyard restaurant in Avignon this evening.

The sun is shining, the lavender is blooming, the bees are buzzing and the birds are singing. This’ll do! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

13/06/2024

A few weeks ago we were in Eze, and I forgot to post about it! How could I neglect showing you this spectacular little corner of the French Riviera, which is one of my favourite places in this region?! So here we go…

Eze has been occupied over the centuries by the Celts, Romans, Moors, Savoyans, French, and lastly, during the Napoleonic Wars, the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. Then in 1860, the citizens of Èze (who must have been bloody sick of being ruled by so many different people by then 🙄) unanimously voted for its annexation to France by referendum, along with the whole County of Nice.

Eze became incredibly popular after the Côte d’Azur became the trendiest place to be in the early 1900’s, and the arrival of the railway between Nice and Menton.

It now boasts the Jardin Exotique, full of tropical plants like cacti, succulents and date palms which was created after WWI; lots of cute little boutiques and cafes; and two 5* star hotels - the Chateau de La Chèvre d’Or and Chateau Eza (former residence of the Swedish royal family) - both absolutely stunning.

French writer George Sand put it nicely when describing Eze:
“It is really an enchantment the panorama of the corniche… The curves of the coast offer at each step a splendid background. The ruins of Eze, planted on a cone-shaped rock, with a picturesque village perched on a sugar loaf, stop the glance inevitably. This is the most beautiful point of view of the road, the most complete, the best composed.

The views are out of this world; absolutely jaw dropping in fact. Don’t miss a visit to Eze if you’re on the Côte d’Azur - but go early, or late in the evening, to avoid the crowds! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷💕💕💕

12/06/2024

RIP FRANCOISE HARDY

French icon, singer/songwriter, actress and fashion muse Francoise Hardy has passed away… so sad, although she had been ill for a number of years. For those who don’t know her, she first burst onto the music scene in 1962 and became a cultural icon in France.

She was known for her melancholy ballads and symbolised France’s Yé-yé (yeah yeah) pop movement, so-called because of its nod to English music.

She was born in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1944… and was only 17 when she had her first hit song, “Tous les garçons et les filles”, where she sang of all the boys and girls walking hand in hand, while “I walk alone through the streets, my heart aching”. It was an instant hit in France and broke through in the UK charts, where she also had a hit with “All Over The World”, an English-language version of her song “Dans le monde entier”, reaching number 16 in the charts in June 1965.

Hardy was a muse for Yves Saint Laurent and Paco Rabanne (who designed a minidress out of gold plates for her!).

Mick Jagger once called her the “ideal woman”, and Bob Dylan penned several love letters to her.

In later years she collaborated with a number of artists, including Blur and Iggy Pop, and she was also an actor - appearing in films by directors including Jean-Luc Godard, Roger Vadim and John Frankenheimer.

Her career spanned more than 50 years, during which she released nearly 30 albums. Rolling Stone ranked her at number 162 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023.

She was amazing.

France’s Culture Minister, Rachida Dati, today wrote on social media: “How to say goodbye to her? Eternal Françoise Hardy, legend of French song, who entered, through her sensitivity and her melodies, into the heart of an entire country.”

RIP Francoise. 💕💕💕🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

21/05/2024

THE PUEBLOS BLANCOS OF ANDALUCIA

The “Pueblos Blancos” or “White Villages” that are scattered around the region of Andalucia are so-called for obvious reasons! All the houses are painted white. The reason for this may seem obvious too, ie to reflect the sun (it gets extremely hôte down here!) but there are other reasons which date back to the time of the Moors on the Iberian Peninsula, who first developed the technique of painting their houses in a substance called “cal”, made from slaked lime. Recent studies have shown that cal has qualities that repel bacteria that cause diseases such as cholera.

This is one of the most beautiful of the white villages - Zahara de La Sierra. It’s absolutely breathtaking - lots of lovely little streets to explore - and the highlight is the climb up to the 10th century Moorish castle (later taken over by the Christians during the Reconquest) - it’s steep but relatively short and the views are amazing! Put this on your Andalucian itinerary! 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸

16/05/2024

Seville is a city that vibrates with extraordinary life, colour, and passion. That’s why it’s one of my favourite cities in Europe. Tapas, orange trees, flamenco, tiny narrow streets and grandiose squares, tiled moorish buildings, the superb cathedral (3rd largest in Europe by the way), and a sense of brotherhood and community that shines through even when the city is full of tourists, like it was yesterday!

We were lucky enough to be here yesterday for the El Rocío pilgrimage, celebrating the Virgin of el Rocío, beginning in Seville and ending in the little village of El Rocío.

The legend goes that a local shepherd found a carved image of the Virgin Mary in a tree trunk. He took it with the intention of taking it to Almonte but fell asleep along the way. When he woke up, it had gone. He went back to where he had found it…and there it was. When he recounted the event back in the village, the locals decided to build a hermitage to revere this miraculous Virgin.

There’s a party atmosphere during the pilgrimage - it’s not just about religious devotion, although that’s definitely evident!. But here’s also guitar, song, Flamenco, food, and that very strong sense of brotherhood!

There are four standard pilgrimage routes depending on where pilgrims come from in Spain. People walk, ride and travel in colourful caravans pulled by oxen .The Camino de Sevilla’ is the most famous route and taken by people travelling from Seville but also from other parts of Spain and across the world.

Records show that the first brotherhood dates back to the 16th century. There are now over 120 similar brotherhoods right across Spain and in Seville yesterday everyone was wearing a medallion around their necks to show which brotherhood they belong to. It was SO fabulous to see this and we felt so lucky to have been here at the right time! 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸

15/04/2024

RIP Ian Parmenter.

I did some fabulous foodie tours with Ian between 2006 and 2010 so those of you who came on those tours with us will be very sad to hear of his passing.

Ian was a larger-than-life character who was one of Australia’s first celebrity chefs, presenting 450 five-minute programs of the cookery show Consuming Passions (2nd photo above) from 1992 to 2001, on the ABC. Consuming Passions was also broadcast in 19 other countries. Funnily enough though, he had no professional experience as a chef! He started life as a journalist and after emigrating to Australia from England, became a TV Producer with the ABC in Perth… his culinary skills were developed privately, and eventually led him to his own very successful show! His 5 minute snippets before the ABC nightly news had a huge following, because he was so clever and witty in the way he presented… and had a beautiful “caramel” toned voice (that description from my friend and colleague Kate , who was also co-director on a couple of those foodie tours, and became a great friend of Ian’s… he absolutely adored Kate)!

Ian was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2011 for his service to the food and tourism industries as an event director, author, journalist and broadcaster.

Ian was a great raconteur and host who lived his life to the fullest… and SO entertaining to have on a tour! He loved all things French and especially, of course, French wine and cuisine, and passed on that passion to our tour guests with such flair and eloquence. And he always had that very cheeky smile! I feel very sad to think the world has lost such a personality. I don’t have a memory of him that isn’t filled with fun and laughter. This first photo is of Ian and I with chef Marc Meneau, who owned a very famous Michelin starred restaurant called L’Esperance, near Vezelay, in Burgundy. We couldn’t get over how much he looked like Sir Les Patterson. Boy how we laughed!

Vale Ian. 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

14/04/2024

Want to whet your appetite for barge cruising via a new series with Australia’s very own Justine Schofield?! Justine has been cruising on 12-passenger luxury barge “La Belle Époque” and discovering the delights of Burgundy - make sure you watch on Lifestyle Food tonight at 6 pm!

Most barge cruise departures for this year are sold out but after you’ve seen the stunning experience that is barge cruising, give me a call or send me an email to book your cruise in 2025! You can see my details and more information about La Belle Epoque at www.frenchbarging.com.au
… and remember, Belle is only one of a wide range of barges in France and the UK that I can advise about and help you book. So once you’ve had a look at her on my website, have a lovely trawl through the rest and indulge yourself in a bit of armchair travel, through the beautiful images and video you’ll find at each page!

*Tip: Make sure you have some French cheese and a glass of wine at your side when you do! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

03/04/2024

This is Stephanie and Caroline Tatin. These geniuses invented one of my favourite French desserts, the Tarte Tatin. This is an absolutely delicious upside down apple tart where the apples are caramelised in butter and sugar before the tart is baked; and it’s baked with the pastry on top and then inverted onto a plate after baking so that the apples end up on top as shown here.

The tarte was the signature dish of the sisters’ hotel, the Hotel Tatin in the Loire Valley, in the late 19th century. There are a few myths around the invention of the dish; one is that Stephanie left the apples cooking in butter and sugar for too long and, smelling the burning, tried to rescue the dish by putting the pastry base on top of the pan of apples and quickly finishing the cooking by putting the whole pan in the oven. Others say the sisters didn’t invent it at all but were passed the recipe by a friend who was the private chef of a Count.

I like the first version but regardless I think we need to pay homage to these fabulous demoiselles who made the Tarte Tatin a staple of French patisserie! It’s so YUM and dead simple to make and very slimming 😉😉😉

One fun fact: the sisters didn’t set out to create a “signature dish”. They never wrote a cookbook or published their recipe; they never even called it Tarte Tatin. That recognition was bestowed upon them by Curnonsky, the famous French author and epicure. Then the famous Parisian restaurant Maxim’s put it on their menu as Tarte Tatin, after the sisters’ deaths, and voila! A legendary dish was born.

Google a recipe and give it a go… you’ll thank me! Some like it with vanilla ice cream but I prefer it with a copious amount of whipped cream 😊😊😊🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

29/03/2024

Joyeuses Pâques everyone!

Do you know what the Easter Bunny is called in French? 🇫🇷 Well, somewhat predictably it’s the “Lapin de Pâques”… but good to know, n’est-ce pas? 😊

As my tours during the European summer draw close every year I am super busy getting all final arrangements done and all my ducks in a row. So I’ve neglected my social media a bit of late. However, come May 2nd I’m off to Portugal, Spain, France (mainly) and the UK and it’s SO easier to be inspired and post lots of “stuff” so please follow along and enjoy!

I’ll be back before then though, once I get train tickets, accommodation, transfers, restaurants and travel insurance booked, dietary requirements noted, detailed itineraries issued and my own personal arrangements finalised (that always comes last)! This year I have 60 people travelling on four tours and another 60 people on barge cruises… what a fantastic time they have in store!

Happy Easter, Joyeuses Pâques… take time to relax and I wish you a fab time with friends and family, wherever you are!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷💕💕💕

06/03/2024

I FINALLY found a really good and simple software program to make videos (thank you Canva!) and this is my first attempt. I hope you enjoy it! Remember, if you're thinking about a barge cruise in France (and UK & Italy), I'm your girl! I know the barges inside and out, after 23 years of selling (and travelling on) these cruises... so I can answer ANY question you might have about this absolutely brilliant and unforgettable kind of French holiday!

More intimate than a river or big-ship cruise, with a maximum of 12 guests; unparalleled standard of cuisine and wine; spectacular locations throughout the most beautiful regions of France, Scotland, Ireland, England and northern Italy; captivating excursions; loads of optional walking & cycling; the ultimate in relaxation... this is a unique experience you'll never forget. But be careful, you may become addicted! I have clients who have done 8, 9, 10 barge cruises in different regions... I think that says it all!

I would love to hear your comments if you have done a barge cruise with me or if I have organised one for you... I know other people who haven't had this experience will appreciate your feedback as much as I do!

Music: Adventurous by Roman Senyk

28/02/2024

LE TRAIN BLEU, PARIS

Whenever I am meeting guests at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris to take the train down to the south of France, I make our meeting point at the bottom of the staircase in Hall 1, which leads up to the famous restaurant, Le Train Bleu. And I always encourage them to a peep into the restaurant before we head off… because it’s truly amazing! The most opulent station restaurant in the world I believe!

Built in 1900 at the time of the Universal Exhibition and originally the station buffet restaurant (!), Le Train Bleu is a Belle Epoque jewel. Paintings, chandeliers, gilt, floors, panelling, leather banquettes and furniture literally transport you to another world! In 1963 the buffet became “Le Train Bleu”, named for the legendary train that served towns along the glittering French Riviera. It now boasts 2 Michelin stars.

I have poked my nose in a thousand times, but only ever ordered a coffee! Le Train Bleu (weirdly for a Michelin starred restaurant) gets some mixed reviews, but I’d still like to try it one day, if only to sit and have a meal amongst all that opulence! I’m interested to know if anyone reading this has dined there? Please comment if so! 🇫🇷🍾

22/02/2024

I love weird stories, especially weird French stories, and this is a good one!

In 2021, NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars discovered a mineral on the surface of the planet called nontronite.

The amazing thing is, guess where nontronite can also be found? 62 million kilometres away, on planet Earth,in the Dordogne region of France!

Nontronite is an iron-loaded clay mineral that was first found in mines between Saint-Pardoux-La-Rivière and Nontron in 1822.

How can it be? Well, it turns out that on Mars, the creation of these rock formations is almost identical to what happened on Earth several millions of years ago… but only in this tiny corner of France! 😮

Don’t you find that incredible?!!

After the discovery, NASA named a bunch of these rock formations and craters after villages in the Dordogne… Brantôme, Riberac, Limeyrat, Coutures, Daglan and Sorges, to name a few.

I had a lovely long lunch in the pretty village of Daglan last year with my group, and had no idea of this fab little fact! That up in space, on Mars, there is now another Daglan!
🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

09/02/2024

Happy Chinese New Year and especially to all you Dragons out there, like me!

Dragons should wear red underwear during CNY. To ward off any dangers that might befall you in your birth sign year, it helps to wear red, because it helps ward off evil and bad luck. And red is a lucky color that can also bring people fortune and prosperity.

So pop those red un**es on today, Dragons, and have a safe, happy prosperous year full of good fortune! ❤️❤️❤️

04/02/2024

Cotignac is a picture-perfect little village in the Var region of southern Provence, north west of St Tropez and south of the Gorge du Verdon, a little piece of paradise dating back to Roman times. Despite its beauty, it’s off the usual tourist trail which makes it even more appealing to me! I’m taking a group there this year and I can’t wait!

One of the many unique and beautiful things about Cotignac is the 80 m tall and 400 m wide cliff that acts as a mere backdrop to the pretty village today, but since ancient times has been used as shelter during times of invasion…
some of these troglodyte dwellings are still used as homes today and you can walk up easily from the village via very picturesque paths and stairs.

In the 60s and 70s the village became known as “little St Tropez”, because of its popularity amongst French showbiz stars and politicians who wanted a more tranquil lifestyle as an alternative to the busy Côte d’Azur. The establishment of nearby Miraval Studios attracted rock stars from all over the world, such as AC/DC, Pink Floyd, The Cranberries and The Cure - and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought more attention to the area when they bought Château Miraval and winery (Brad still part-owns the chateau and studios after an acrimonious lawsuit). David Bowie holidayed here… and if it was good enough for Bowie, it’s good enough for me! 🤩

There’s so much to enjoy here apart from a walk up the cliff (“La Tuf”); classic Provencal buildings with pastel shaded shutters lining cobblestone streets, pretty squares and fountains, a colourful weekly market, tempting little boutiques and lovely outdoor cafes and restaurants.

I follow a lovely lady who is a resident of Cotignac and who writes about village life and the surrounding area throughout the seasons… and takes beautiful photos! I have her to thank for all these gorgeous shots! 💕💕💕🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

31/01/2024

If you are looking for that elusive “special” corner of France to spend a few days, that no-one knows about… have a look at the little island jewel off the west coast, the Île de Ré. Well, to say no-one knows about it is not quite true… the French, and particularly Parisiens, certainly know about it; in fact it has been called “the 21st arrondissement of Paris”! It’s SUPER popular during the French school holidays! But I find there are not too many Aussies that know about it so… you’re welcome. Read on. It’s absolutely delightful.

The Île de Ré is joined by a bridge to the mainland, not far from La Rochelle. It’s unique in France, full of beautiful sandy beaches, vineyards, pine and cypress trees, oyster beds, salt marshes, and TEN super cute little villages all brimming with white cottages along cobblestone streets with colourful flowers growing against the walls.

Saint-Martin-de-Ré is the “capital” of the island and has a lovely little lighthouse and a small port in the centre of the village. The streets are lined with high end shops and heaps of restaurants and cafes. There’s a small park as you enter the village where you’ll find donkeys wearing culottes. This was first introduced years ago by the wife of a farmer to try and protect the legs of their donkeys from mosquito bites. This breed of shaggy donkeys is only found on Ile de Ré. I said it was unique!

My other two favourite villages are la Flotte, which has a cute market every morning, and Ars-en-Ré which is the old salt capital, identifiable by the black and white bell tower of the Saint Etienne church. The streets are more narrow and there is another charming harbour there. Ars-en-Ré and la Flotte are both on the list of the most beautiful villages in France – two on one tiny island!

And finally… my favourite thing of all… the Île de Ré is heaven for cyclists with 60 miles of bike paths criss-crossing all over the island! What more could you want in one fabulous little destination?! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷💕💕💕

11/01/2024

I’m having a ball going through boxes of old photos and scanning them all and it’s such a trip down memory lane. I hope I’ll have more old shots of France to show you by the time I’ve finished! But here’s a start… most from 1988, after I had spent a couple of years living in France and London and had come back to Australia and was working for Ansett.

1. Paris, 1988 - what chubby cheeks!

2. Paris, 1988 - showing that the landscape doesn’t change much, including the traffic!

3. Paris, 1988 - donkey on the parvis of Notre Dame… I don’t think they allow donkeys there any more!

4. A Citroen 2CV “limousine” - they were rare back then so I doubt you’d see any at all now!

5. Monaco, 1988 - me sneaking up behind a good looking guard at the Royal Palace… I wonder what he looks like now?! The guards were all so handsome we decided that Stephanie probably vetted them all personally 😊

6. Monaco harbour, 1988 - if you zoom in you’ll see that the shape and look of super yachts has changed somewhat!

7. My beautiful Mum, Chamonix 1988

8. Chenonceau, 1988 - Looking a bit grumpy I must say!

9. Near Les Baux, Provence

10. Back to 1986… driving in Provence with my brother and friends in a classic 2 CV!

Some of the photos from 1988 were from a trip I did with my brother and Mum and Dad, designing the itinerary myself, booking hotels etc (by the way, how the heck did we ever do that without internet?!!) and I remember so clearly my darling Dad telling me that I should think about showing people around France for a living!! Took me another 12 years, but… I took his advice! 💕💕💕

20/12/2023

I have had a few messages asking why I’m not posting any more!! It’s nice to think some people miss me 😂

It’s been a very busy time as my daughter is getting married this Friday, plus Christmas shopping… plus work, preparing for all the tours and cruises next year!! So please forgive the lack of contact lately, I’ll be back after my stint as Mother of the Bride 👰‍♀️ and Christmas… and in the meantime, here’s a quick post to say, Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année!

My favourite “thing” at Christmas time in Paris are the gorgeous decorations at Galeries Lafayette, and in particular, the annual Christmas tree which is different every year and always stunning!

Galeries Lafayette is a very beautiful late 19th century department store, built in the exquisite Art Nouveau style of the period. It was actually the creation of two cousins from Alsace who opened a small haberdashery shop, 70 m2, on the corner of rue La Fayette and rue de la Chaussée d’Antin in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It’s come a heck of a long way since then, occupying more than two city blocks on Boulevard Haussmann, as well as several other locations. And you can buy just about anything you could possibly want, from French cosmetics, homewares, shoes, bags, jewellery, haute couture fashion labels along with beautiful “off the rack” local brands and much, much more. It’s a shoppers paradise not just for the superb range of goods they sell but for the absolutely stunning architecture! And as for sale time… don’t get me started! Amazing!

The spectacular glass dome, rising to a height of 43 metres, is the iconic symbol of Galeries Lafayette and it’s under that dome that the Christmas tree stands. They even now have a glass platform on which you can walk out under the dome and get up close and personal with the top of the tree!

Have a wonderful Christmas full of family, friends and delicious food (and lots of wine, of course)! And Happy New Year. Thank you all for following my travels and little stories this year! 🎅🏻🎄🎉🍾💕🥰

14/11/2023

In 2024 European Waterways celebrates its 50th anniversary! 50 years of introducing guests to fabulous wine and food, charming little French villages, magnificent chateaux, historic sites, gorgeous markets and stunning country vistas... on board converted goods barges that became luxury floating hotels. 50 years of the most amazing and fun kind of travel you’ll ever find. 😊🇫🇷

In 2023 I also celebrated an anniversary with European Waterways! Back in October 2003 I did my first barge cruise with them, on “La Belle Époque”, in Burgundy. I became passionate about barging very quickly (what’s not to like?!) and since then, over the last 20 years I’ve booked literally hundreds of people on their wonderful barge cruises.

I can’t begin to count the number of barge cruises I’ve been on myself in the last 20 years, and the great thing about that (apart from me having an excessively good time on each one 😊) is that my knowledge of each barge is unparalleled - I know all the barges inside and out, down to the size of the whirlpool bath on “Impressionniste”, the cabin layouts on “Athos”, and which wineries you’ll visit on “Panache”! One of the most important (and enjoyable) parts of my job is to help my clients choose the barge, region and cruise itinerary to best suit them. I love what I do! And there’s nothing better than hearing about what an amazing and unforgettable trip they had, on their return.

You can read all about barge cruising at the link in the bio, but if you’d like to discover the wonderful world of barging the old fashioned way, I have a limited number of European Waterways’ beautiful glossy 50th anniversary brochures. Message me (privately) if you’d like a copy and I’ll draw 5 names out a hat to send a copy to!

03/11/2023

It was World Ballet Day on Wednesday so I’m a little late with this… but did you know that it was actually Louis XIV who founded the first school of ballet, in 1661?! Yep, the great Sun King, who was a devout catholic, a ruthless war monger, a merciless opponent of Protestantism and any other bodies that rebelled against his divine rule (because he was, after all, God’s representative on earth), was also a patron of the arts… and loved ballet!

Louis had ballet lessons from the age of 7. He took part in court ballets and at the age of 15 he famously danced the role of Apollo in “Ballet of the Night”, complete with a huge headpiece with sun rays coming out of it - this is where he first got the idea of calling himself the “Roi Soleil”, the “Sun King” 🤔

I love that Louis did not seem to regard wearing feminine clothing and wigs a blemish on his warrior-like reputation; a fore-runner of cross-dressing, way back in the 1600’s! Here he is in Rigaud’s famous portrait, in croisé devant pose, complete with tights and a nice little red heel, ribbons and a diamanté buckle.

It’s known that Louis continued to dance all his life, and the school of ballet that he created went on to become the wonderful Paris Opera Ballet, which is today based at the Palais Garnier. If you’re in Paris, go and see this stunning building. The interior is magnificent. Make sure you do a tour that includes entry to the theatre itself, to see the stunning ceiling by Marc Chagall. Or better still, go to a performance!

And when you’re there, remember that it all started with the Roi Soleil, Louis XIV! ⚜️⚜️⚜️

31/10/2023

No it’s not France… but what a spectacular part of the world is our Great Ocean Road! We have been staying on a beautiful farm in Sugarloaf (Air BnB) and this first photo is what I woke up to this morning - complete with alpacas in the foreground! 😊

Showing off this beautiful part of the world to my gorgeous English Goddaughter and her friend - who probably did not expect to come all the way to Australia to see Highland cattle 😆

The Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and all the beautiful seaside towns along this stretch of coastline… divine. You can travel the world and sometimes the best things are very close to home! 🥰🥰🥰

09/10/2023

La Roque Gageac, in the Perigord (Dordogne) region of France, is a tiny but spectacular village. I would like to say that it’s a sleepy little village with a huge history… but it’s not sleepy. It attracts thousands of visitors every year precisely because it is so beautiful – but in my book, it’s still well worth visiting!

There’s always space for a picnic on the banks of the river - my group and I did this in July when we were there, after visiting the Sarlat market and stocking up on fromage, charcuterie, baguette and of course, wine! After lunch, it’s always an absolute delight to take a river cruise on a gabare (the old river boats that were once used to transport wine, wood, fish, salt, chestnuts and truffles along the river) as far as the magnificent Chateau of Castelnaud and back. Stunning!

La Roque Gageac is squished between the Dordogne River and a hug cliff face, and has a few unexpected treasures including a troglodyte fort, a tiny 14th Century Romanesque church and an exotic garden which, due to an unusual microclimate, grows extravagant Mediterranean vegetation: more than 20 species of palm trees, banana trees, lemon trees, olive trees and fig trees! There’s a delightful mix of fairly humble cottages and the more impressive dwellings of the former gentry – it’s an enchanting and unique village, especially in a country where beautiful villages are commonplace!

It’s very evident why this was such a great location, back in the Middle Ages. The Dordogne River was a major trading passageway and had become a bustling river port. But confronted with the threat of Viking invasions and numerous wars, the cliff-face was a terrific spot for an impregnable fortress.

Over the years it has proved to be a bit precarious though… there have been three major landslides in modern times, including in 1957, when a deadly landslide on a section of the cliff destroyed 6 houses and a barn, killing 3 people. It was on a Sunday, and a tour guide once told me that the three people that died were the only people that were not in church when the landslide happened, so clearly in La Roque Gageac it’s best to go to church if you know what’s good for you! 😊

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The Carrières des Lumières at Les Baux-de-Provence is the most incredible sound and light show you’ll ever see. Situated in an old stone quarry (so that the images project onto the different planes and angles of the cut stone) the team that designs these shows are world leaders at their craft and the result is simply astounding! This year we saw “Egypt of the Pharaohs” with music ranging from classic Egyptian to Operatic to Led Zeppelin! Do NOT miss this fantastic spot if you are coming to Provence… it’s brilliant… and if you’re travelling on one of my tours, it’s always included! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

THE EL ROCIO PILGRIMAGE

Seville is a city that vibrates with extraordinary life, colour, and passion. That’s why it’s one of my favourite cities in Europe. Tapas, orange trees, flamenco, tiny narrow streets and grandiose squares, tiled moorish buildings, the superb cathedral (3rd largest in Europe by the way), and a sense of brotherhood and community that shines through even when the city is full of tourists, like it was yesterday! We were lucky enough to be here yesterday for the El Rocío pilgrimage, celebrating the Virgin of el Rocío, beginning in Seville and ending in the little village of El Rocío. The legend goes that a local shepherd found a carved image of the Virgin Mary in a tree trunk. He took it with the intention of taking it to Almonte but fell asleep along the way. When he woke up, it had gone. He went back to where he had found it…and there it was. When he recounted the event back in the village, the locals decided to build a hermitage to revere this miraculous Virgin. There’s a party atmosphere during the pilgrimage - it’s not just about religious devotion, although that’s definitely evident!. But here’s also guitar, song, Flamenco, food, and that very strong sense of brotherhood! There are four standard pilgrimage routes depending on where pilgrims come from in Spain. People walk, ride and travel in colourful caravans pulled by oxen .The Camino de Sevilla’ is the most famous route and taken by people travelling from Seville but also from other parts of Spain and across the world. Records show that the first brotherhood dates back to the 16th century. There are now over 120 similar brotherhoods right across Spain and in Seville yesterday everyone was wearing a medallion around their necks to show which brotherhood they belong to. It was SO fabulous to see this and we felt so lucky to have been here at the right time! 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸

PORTUGAL AND RELIGION Okay bear with me because I’m about to do a post on churches and please don’t turn away! 😅 I may have mentioned this before but I’m pretty sure I was a Medieval European Catholic in another life because I never cease to be totally awe-struck and gobsmacked by churches over here and let me tell you, the churches in Portugal make you want to fall to your knees in wonder. Religion aside, European churches, cathedrals, basilicas and so on are just purely and simply HISTORY. And every single one has its own history, so you never stop being amazed (well I don’t anyway)! See the glass case in image 9? That’s in the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus in Braga, and contains a drop of blood from Pope John Paul II, who elevated it to Basilica status in 1964. My guide told me it was blood spilt from his attempted assassination in 1981. I don’t know if that’s true but do I care? No I do not, because it’s a good story and regardless, having a relic of the Pope is a very cool thing for a church (or Basilica) to boast about. The churches I’m showing here are in Coimbra, Porto and Braga and they are absolutely stunning. Incredibly detailed and ornate. See the altar in image 8? That’s not a painting - they are actual statues of Roman soldiers who were present at the crucifixion, posed all over the huge altar so it’s basically a 3D depiction. Sound tacky? It’s not, it’s amazing and unique… and awe inspiring. Portugal is one of the few Catholic countries where people still regularly attend Mass. Perhaps they’re like me and just like looking at all the decoration and thinking about the history, but I think not. I think they are true believers and that makes me feel humble. So there you go… a post about churches from a modern day reincarnated medieval European Catholic pilgrim. 🇵🇹 More about Porto tomorrow… 🙏💕

Beaune is a beautiful walled town in the middle of Burgundy. It’s a popular wine making destination where you can sip French wines and explore the SUPERB Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune vineyards, and eat lots of yummy Burgundian food! Saturday is market day in Beaune and it’s an absolute ripper! Not only is it a great market but it’s in such a beautiful setting. The building you can see with the tall spire in some of the reel is the Hotel Dieu - Hospices de Beaune, founded in 1443 as a hospital for the poor. This gorgeous building is topped with the beautiful distinctive glazed Burgundy roof tiles and the museum inside is fantastic! Apart from the Hospices, the whole town is full of stunning architecture… Beaune is my favourite town in Burgundy and a delightful spot to spend a few days; and it is also one of the places you will visit while cruising on our beautiful luxury hotel barges Impressionniste and Finesse! These Burgundy itineraries are superb! Link in the bio. *On another note… it was white asparagus season when I shot this, as you can see! I love white asparagus and it’s everywhere on French menus from April to June. I love it with a simple butter and lemon sauce, or with a hollandaise… of course accompanied by a glass of Chablis (which is also near Beaune)… yum! Can anyone tell me why we don’t have loads of white asparagus in Australia? I mean, you can get it here and there, but not in the huge quantities that you see in France! Surely it should be possible! 🤔

I FINALLY found a really good and simple software program to make videos (thank you @canva !) and this is my first attempt using it. I hope you enjoy it! Remember, if you’re thinking about a barge cruise in France (and UK & Italy), I’m your girl! I know the barges inside and out, after 23 years of selling (and travelling on) these cruises... so I can answer ANY question you might have about this absolutely brilliant and unforgettable kind of French holiday! More intimate than a river or big-ship cruise with a maximum of 12 guests; unparalleled standard of cuisine and wine; spectacular locations throughout the most beautiful regions of France, Scotland, Ireland, England and northern Italy; captivating excursions; loads of optional walking & cycling; the ultimate in relaxation... this is a unique experience you’ll never forget. But be careful, you may become addicted! I have clients who have done 8, 9, 10 barge cruises in different regions... I think that says it all! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 I would love to hear your comments if you have done a barge cruise with me or if I have organised one for you... I know other people who haven’t had this experience will appreciate your feedback as much as I do! *I know it’s in landscape format which is not the best for Insta…. apologies for that but you can also see it at my Vimeo page at the link in the bio! Music: Adventurous by Roman Senyk

Luxury Hotel Barge Cruises!

I FINALLY found a really good and simple software program to make videos (thank you Canva!) and this is my first attempt. I hope you enjoy it! Remember, if you're thinking about a barge cruise in France (and UK & Italy), I'm your girl! I know the barges inside and out, after 23 years of selling (and travelling on) these cruises... so I can answer ANY question you might have about this absolutely brilliant and unforgettable kind of French holiday! More intimate than a river or big-ship cruise, with a maximum of 12 guests; unparalleled standard of cuisine and wine; spectacular locations throughout the most beautiful regions of France, Scotland, Ireland, England and northern Italy; captivating excursions; loads of optional walking & cycling; the ultimate in relaxation... this is a unique experience you'll never forget. But be careful, you may become addicted! I have clients who have done 8, 9, 10 barge cruises in different regions... I think that says it all! I would love to hear your comments if you have done a barge cruise with me or if I have organised one for you... I know other people who haven't had this experience will appreciate your feedback as much as I do! Music: Adventurous by Roman Senyk

Just going back through my videos from my last few tours. This night market in Sainte Mondane was a cracker! Just a tiny little hamlet but hundreds of people turn up from all over the region to get together - families, friends, from babies to the elderly… to eat, drink, dance, chat and have a chuckle. The vibe is brilliant. What a fantastic rural community! And as étrangers, we were welcomed and had a ball. 😊😊😊🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

A SPECIAL WEE SPOT AT STIRLING CASTLE… I’ll let the video tell the story! 💕💕💕

CRUISING ON PONANT: Panoramas of the Aeolian Islands Today was such a WOW! day from the moment I opened my curtains… Seven islands make up the volcanic, windswept archipelago of the Aeolian Islands , named in antiquity after the Greek god Aeolus, controller of the winds. The islands were formed by volcanic activity over 260,000 years ago, and two of them - Stromboli and Vulcano - are still active, regularly spewing lava and sulphuric gases miles into the skies above. We were in Lipari today (which I have mispronounced in the video 🙄) and it was absolutely stunning, a day topped off by a cruise around Stromboli at sunset which I will put in my next post! Lipari is a classic example of the Aeolians in that a) it’s volcanic and b) has a history of being possessed by the ancient Greeks and then the Romans and then other invaders including the Spanish… and now they are just peacefully Italian. Per fortuna! 🇮🇹😊

CRUISING ON PONANT - MALTA Part 2! Here we are in Victoria, Gozo! Gozo is the second biggest island of the Maltese Archipelago, and we’re lucky enough to be here for the Feast of the Assumption, also known as the feast of Santa Maria, which marks the ascent into heaven by the Virgin Mary. This popular Maltese festa is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celbrated in 7 towns and villages: Għaxaq, Gudja, Ħ’Attard, Mosta, Mqabba and Qrendi in Malta, and Victoria in Gozo. They all compete ferociously to present the biggest and best (and loudest, it appears!) celebrations! Super fun evening amongst the festivities which included the Leone band, dancing, singing and fireworks - and we walked around the ramparts of the spectacular Citadel. Amazing! I’m loving Malta! 💕💕💕

“Malta, Italian Shores & Isle of Beauty” - a 10 day cruise on board Ponant’s “Le Bougainville” - I’m beyond excited to be experiencing this fabulous cruise line for myself and my clients! Stay tuned for our beautiful daily ports of call and some stunning coastline! Thank you @annabelleponant for helping me get here! 🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🍾🍾🍾 #ponant #ponantcruises #luxurytraveladvisor #luxurytraveller #maltatravel #lebougainville

The fascinating art of caber tossing! Yes we’ve gone from the sunny south of France to a rather-less-sunny Scotland, for the Aboyne Highland Games - and what a super fun day these Games are! The idea is to toss the caber so that it turns end over end, falling away from the tosser. The distance thrown isn’t important - the winner is the tosser who gets the caber to fall directly away from them closest to the “12 o’clock” position. And it’s not easy, as you can see! The last successful tosser in this reel was the guy who ultimately won the contest. He was a mountain of a man! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The joys of barge cruising… 🍾🇫🇷🍾🇫🇷🍾

One of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France”, Domme. I’ll let the videos and images say it all. One of the highlights here is the Tour des Portes, the tower where a number of Knights Templar were imprisoned in 1307 after being targeted (and many of their order massacred) by the orders of the Pope and the French King. While imprisoned there they covered the walls with “graffiti” - messages and symbols representing their Christian faith but also their anger and frustration towards Pope Clement V and King Philippe IV. A nightmare for them… and as usual, the reason was a Game of Thrones - those in power feeling that their control and financial position were being threatened. 😥😥😥Medieval France was brutal.

Our stunning villa in the tiny hamlet of Sainte Mondane in the Dordogne region. Everyone is in heaven! We are overlooked by the Chateau de Fenelon (last image) which you can see from the garden. It’s a perfect, idyllic set-up for a group of friends or family - and our villa manager Sharon is a superb chef, into the bargain! I’m loving the brekkies… we are tucking into delicious fresh produce - beautiful freshly laid farm eggs, crispy local bacon, sweet juicy fresh melon, raspberries and strawberries, buttery croissants, pain chocolate and more. And she’s cooking us some superb dinners as well - she’s a gem. I can’t imagine a more beautiful setting for our meals, overlooking this spectacular valley! The weather’s warm enough for us to swim well into the evening, and the chilled rosés are going down nicely 😊

And my other favourite view from l’Art de Vivre… coming in to our mooring at the Cliffs of Saussois!

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