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Post by sistereurope on Jul 24, 2010 22:01:23 GMT -5
Just wanted to post somewhere that I just finished the tricky booking of our Oct trip, which included 2 separate FF mile airlines: Baltimore to CDG, train to Lyon, 4 nights at a b and b in Lyon, car rental to one night in a farm in Chateauneuf-de-Gadagne, then on to an apartment in Vieux Nice for 7 nights, CHEAP AF flight to CDG from Nice, then back to the US on our separate FF flights.
Weird feeling that Paris is not in the mix this trip. But I'm so excited to discover some new French faves...with the memories of Paris in May, and the knowledge that I will, God willing, be back in spring/early summer of 2011...
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 25, 2010 4:38:30 GMT -5
 Congratulations on your booking, Sis! As others have pointed out, even Paris lovers are allowed to visit and enjoy other destinations. 
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Post by jo on Jul 25, 2010 7:17:11 GMT -5
Awesome! I know you guys will have a great trip and we be lucky enough to read all about it. It may be the push I need to find out there is life outside of Paris!
JO
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Post by Katharine on Jul 25, 2010 7:47:47 GMT -5
This sounds like a fantastic trip. I love, love, love the south. Never been to Lyon. Did you choose it for the food? I understand it really is the foodie capital of France (shhh, don't tell Paris).
Now for th fun planning of what to do. Will you have a car when you are in Nice?
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Post by holger on Jul 25, 2010 8:00:22 GMT -5
Love Lyon. Have been there twice and adore it. The old part of the city is fascinating as are the traboules. The Resistance Museum is worth a visit as is the silk museum. And there are still some shops that sell silk in yardage and also scarves designed and made in the area. Just be careful as there are also the usual schlock tourist traps with scarves from China, etc.
There are many wonderful restaurants and many serve quenelles one of my favorite places. When things settle down here, I will look up some restaurant names. Tomorrow we get four 21 year old Danish guests--our great nephew and three friends, who are "planning" a U.S. Road trip at some point. Have no idea when they will get it organized and will depart on it.
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 25, 2010 9:28:21 GMT -5
thanks all, you know that I will be sure to report on both the planning and the end result...no one gets the Paris/France love like my friends on OP! ;D This trip has been through many permutations! First, we were going to go to Paris and Burgundy, then decided to tack on Lyon (yes definitely for the food Katherine!) Although I hate the word, I guess we are foodies as I put much research into the restaurant list. My husband has been all over France but never to Lyon and he was psyched... Anyway, that was the plan, and I had also thought about biking in Burgundy...until I realized that October could mean sunny warmth...OR cold misty rain. And when I thought about that, I realized that I needed to feel the sun, and smell the sea, and Nice and the south of France started calling. Mister Sister wanted to keep Lyon, so Paris was sacrificed for this trip.Jo, I will pave the way for you... I feel brave ;D So if you will indulge me for a few more minutes, here's the plan so far: 4 nights here www.bellecoursurcour.com/A b and b in a 17th C apartment in the heart of Lyon. Not expensive, and evidently the woman who runs it took it over from her family. It used to be a hotel of sorts, and supposedly Napoleon and Talleyrand stayed there! We pick up a car at the end of the stay there, and drive to chateauneuf-du-papes, where we will have lunch at a place where we ate before: www.vergerdespapes.com/So after doing some eating and wine tasting, we will spend the night here: www.mas-des-vertes-rives.com/on a working farm, so my hubby can talk chickens and gardens with a French farmer! the next day we drive to Nice and get rid of the car. I rented an apartment in the old town: www.rivierapebbles.com/nice-france-apartment/rentals/70/I loved Nice when we were there a few years ago, and felt that we didn't have enough time to do everything! The food is fabulous, and there are a few museums (Matisse) that we didn't get to see. We also plan to go to Antibes to see the Picasso museum and eat what Chowhound says is the best bouillabaisse in the Cote d'Azur. And there are the perched villages like Eze and La Turbie. We'll definitely go to Menton web.france.com/places/menton and hopefully take a dip in the sea (which is said to stay warm into Oct). And I'm planning a day trip to one of the towns on the Italian Riviera, maybe here: www.gouillou.com/photos.php/en/cat70/pho63/bordighera-%28italy%29.htmlIt's an hour away by train, and there are buses that run all along the Cote d'Azur and cost 1e. Well, I've rambled enough...thanks for the indulgence, and I will keep you all posted on plans, and of course will be reading about and sharing your joys of Paris! ;D |
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Post by travelluver on Jul 25, 2010 9:40:19 GMT -5
Sounds like a great trip - the nice apartment looks fab!
Hope we are able to get together before you leave!
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Post by geordy on Jul 25, 2010 10:02:16 GMT -5
Sis, The trip sounds fab!!!!!!!!!!!! I think for most of us our LOVE of Paris extends to the rest of France too..though of course Paris is the jewel in the crown! And it is not like you won't be back to Paris anytime soon! ;D Ive also been to Nice and Lyon..though because of an airport mishap Lyon was cut short by a day...a day I could definitely have used to eat well...so I'd love to get back there! Enjoy the anticipation! |
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 25, 2010 10:37:30 GMT -5
I love the looks of that B&B in Lyon !!! |
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 25, 2010 10:59:01 GMT -5
I found that b and b on TA! I'm very excited. As you can see, I used my 5 days in bed recovering from my back pain to do some serious trip planning. I'd love some Lyon restaurant tips. I can't believe it, all my years as a Francophile and I had never even heard of a Lyonnaise Bouchon! |
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Post by GitteK on Jul 25, 2010 11:44:53 GMT -5
Dawn, that's incredible ! A well-earned exalt for adventurous trip planning.
I'd like to do a
flight Copenhagen to Nice, stay in Nice 2 days, rent car
drive about Provence for about 4-5 days
hand in car at Aix-en-Provence, stay there 3 days
train up to Paris, stay in Paris for xx days
flight home to Copenhagen
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 25, 2010 13:07:50 GMT -5
Gitte, you were definitely my inspiration, as your trip to Samos really made me think that I wanted to be near the sea, and feel some autumn sun...I also wanted to be back in the south of France, and to see some of Italy...and so there's how the seeds for this trip were planted! One of my favorite vacations was the trip a few years ago, where we flew into Nice, stayed a few days, then rented a car and made our way through Provence and the Corrbieres to Barcelona. It was so cool to see the way everything changed from one part to the other. Of course, then I missed Paris so I've had to go back there a few times since... |
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Post by Sandy M on Jul 25, 2010 20:14:20 GMT -5
Dawn,
What a fantastic trip - you'll have a wonderful time and I wish we could all go with you!! I hope you have time or should I say "make time" to go to Eze Village - unbelievable place and I know you would like it! Sorry I won't get to meet you in Paris in October - maybe next Spring!
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Post by PariS on Jul 26, 2010 1:29:32 GMT -5
Sounds like a great trip, Sis! If I remember correctly, you were in Eze for Easter one year, right? I love that place.
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Post by mossie on Jul 26, 2010 8:51:14 GMT -5
For all those who love rural France, this article in the Weekend FT may interest you. tinyurl.com/39gqvn6 |
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Post by PariS on Jul 26, 2010 9:21:31 GMT -5
Fun article, Mossie! Taking in one of the fêtes votive would be an adventure--and some of the hotels listed look to be great places to stay.
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Post by Jody on Jul 26, 2010 12:14:21 GMT -5
Thanks Mossie, that article also had a bunch of good links on the page!
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Post by luvparee on Jul 26, 2010 13:57:27 GMT -5
Hey Sis! I'm sooo jealous!
I was in Lyon 2 or 3 nights on our way down to Avignon and the Luberon several years ago (8 now -- how time does fly!). A lovely town! Don't miss the traboules. Fabulous covered winding indoor walkways in old Lyon (so the silk wouldn't get wet!). Wonderfully some redone in the best faux paint treatments I've seen in a long time. You need a map to find them as they're not highly visible. Also lots of trompe l'oie (sp?!?) in the city.
Do go up to Fouviere for a look down on the city. Then walk down to the arena (was my first arena and I was blown away by the age and how well it still looks at its age!).
The silk scarves in Lyon are gorgeous. We went to a place called "Maison Canelles" (or something close to that!) and did some shopping! We were with a Lyon native so had a great tour.
Are you going to drive somewhat slowly down from Chateauneuf in order to stop at a few of the Luberon villages? The wine route down from CdP is gorgeous! The fall colors should be spectacular.
Have fun planning your visitor stops and your foodie stops!
Enjoy!
joy/luvparee
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Post by framboiseetrose on Jul 26, 2010 18:03:00 GMT -5
Dawn/Sister E, what a wonderful planner you are! Great trip you have booked! You are going to enjoy every minute of it. Just think - you will enjoy your first Lyonnais Bouchon!!
Paris will always be there waiting for your return!!! Just think how Paris will be so happy to see you again after your trip to Lyon and the South.
I'll have to wait for another trip to meet you.........
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Post by anneparis on Jul 27, 2010 13:27:20 GMT -5
Hi Dawn, I have spent all my summer vacations in the French Rivieira from the age of 9 to 25 !If you are interested, I have a few recommandations : Last july, I spent a day in Italy, at the border between France and Italy, in a small village called "Vintimiglia", Vintimille in french. This is where the Parisian ladies used to go to buy their fake Dior, Chanel or Prada handbags, but now it is stricly forbidden.  The farmer's market is great, you can buy great italian produce and there is a pasta restaurant that I would recommend : San Giuseppe (on the other side of the bridge, in the old part of the village). Their lobster pasta is amazing (a bit expensive, but all their other dishes are excellent). I have been there by car, but I think it is quite easy to go by train from Nice. Also, I spent half a day in Nice, in the old part of the city : the market at "Cours Salaya" is really beautiful, you will see gorgeous zucchinis, zucchini blossoms, eggplants, tomatoes, peaches, apricots and many other produce and also you can find tapenade (olive spread), candied fruits, olive oils, rose-based or orange-blossom-based soaps, and so on...Don't miss a visit of the Old Nice, around the market (I saw a group with an english-speaking guide) and also don't miss to taste Fenocchio's ice-creams. They have classic but also weird flavors like bellpeppers, tomato, olive !! Funny. There are also several interesting museums in Nice like Museum of Fine Arts, Marc Chagall and Contemporary Art,...) Some gourmet shops in Nice : Confiserie Auer, not far from the market, for their candied fruits and Florian (I think there is a guided visit of their workshop) on the port. Restaurants : Nissa Socca for nicoise specialties, Villa d'Este for great (and huge portions) italian food. "La petite maison" is known for being the best one in Nice, our president Sarkozy is a regular customer. I don't know what that means, I haven't been there myself. Antibes (the old part of the town) is cute as well as its market. "Les Vieux Murs" is a very good restaurant. We have also been once to the beach at Juan les Pins, a very touristy town, but it sort of has its charm with many trendy clothes shops, cafés (beware, most of them are tourist traps, I would recommend Le Crystal), and many beach clubs (La jetée is a good one, as well as Bijoux Plage, a bit further from town center). But expect crowded beaches with beach mattresses stuck to each others, absolutely no intimacy at all. The villages around Nice that I enjoy the most are Mougins (by the way, Bistrot de Mougins is very good, the owner Alain speaks a very good english and this is where my husband asked my father his permission for marrying me. Sweet memory), Saint Paul de Vence (Alain Llorca's restaurant in La Colle sur Loup has a beautiful view on Saint Paul and its remparts ), and Eze (have a drink at Chateau de la chèvre d'or on their terrace with a wonderful view). Monaco can also be a fun visit, if you like casinos. Menton is a beautiful city, very" italian". You will be surprised to hear many people speak italian there. The Provence specialties are seafood, nicoise salad, pan bagnat ( a briochey sandwich with tuna, egg, bellpeppers, tomato, black olives), socca ( a specialty from Nice, looks like a thin slice of pizza but it is made with chickpea flour), tapenade (olive spread), zucchini blossom fritters, swiss chard tart, and many others... Do not hesistate to ask me if you have any question. Anne |
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Congratulations on your booking, Sis! 
The farmer's market is great, you can buy great italian produce and there is a pasta restaurant that I would recommend : San Giuseppe (on the other side of the bridge, in the old part of the village). Their lobster pasta is amazing (a bit expensive, but all their other dishes are excellent). I have been there by car, but I think it is quite easy to go by train from Nice.
hahahha