Group Activities with Karen
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Contents:
Introduction to Paris Tour
Unlimited city travel
Museum Pass
Seine boat cruise
Parisian restaurant
Outdoor food market
Confectionery & chocolate tour
Outdoor picnic
Casual cooking dinner party
Private French chef
dinner party
Get oriented with a guided “Introduction to Paris ” tour using the bus and metro to show you some of the main sights of the city: The Notre Dame cathedral and Ile de la Cité, the striking Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), the Louvre, the Tuileries gardens, the fateful Place de la Concorde where the guillotine stood, the famous Avenue des Champs Elysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. PARIS WALKS, founded by Peter & Oriel Caine, will provide this tour, and is the leading English language walking tour company in Paris since its founding in 1994. Peter and Oriel Caine are qualified guide lecturers. They have a team of guides, all are university graduates, knowledgeable, professional and enthusiastic about Paris and its history, and each have many years experience as guides. Peter has a degree in History and History of Art, and Oriel has a masters' in History and French literature. They are British but have both been living in Paris for the last 20. They have developed about one hundred different themes for visits in and around the city. In 2003, they published the book Paris: Then and Now, a beautiful record of the city ~ past and present. This 3-hour tour will give you an overview of the city, and show you the different modes of transport so that you feel confident about using the excellent Paris public transport on your own.
Travel as a local. You will have unlimited metro and bus travel within the city of Paris, using a weekly Carte Orange pass. Please note: If you need to go outside central Paris (zones 1 & 2), to Versailles for example, you will need a separate ticket.
Enjoy free, direct entry to over 60 monuments and museums' permanent collections with a 4-day Paris Museum Pass. Not only will you gain free entry, but you will also avoid standing in line.
Enjoy a late afternoon Seine cruise ~ a breathtaking way to discover the historic sights of Paris from the perspective of her waterway. You will see the monuments while passing under Paris' many unique bridges ~ each telling a story of their own.
Dine in the fine ambiance of a traditional Parisian restaurant. You will experience an evening of French cuisine in a popular neighborhood restaurant. The restaurant experience is an institution in France, a leisurely evening-long experience featuring several courses complemented with wine.
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Participate in one of France 's long-held traditions: Outdoor food markets. Your first morning in Paris, we will meet at an authentic neighborhood market rarely seen by tourists: Marché Alésia. We will enjoy a leisurely outing to discover a tremendous array of delicious fare, including abundant fish and seafood, cheese and meats. We will purchase a variety of items, choosing from among the finest delicacies in Europe, for our Cooking Dinner Party, as well as for our picnic lunch to be had at nearby Jardins de Luxembourg. You will have ample time to purchase provisions for yourselves to stock your new kitchen. We will also meet and visit with vendors, and sample the some of the tasty products. For your convenience, Karen will have a rolling caddy to transport your purchases back to your apartment.
Discover the secrets of renowned Pâtissier Gérard Mulot, who has a famous pastry shop in St-Germain-des-Près district of over 25 years. During a 45-minute escorted visit, you will be taken behind-the-scenes of his newest pâtisserie, Magasin La Glacière in the 13th to witness the creation of chocolates, confections, and macarons. You will meet the pastry and chocolate chefs who will explain and show how they create these exquisite delights...and then you will be invited to taste!
Savor an outdoor picnic with fresh delicacies from the market. After selecting our goodies from market, we will take a short walk to the Jardins du Luxembourg ~ the most popular park in the whole of Paris. Marie de Medicis, wife of Henri IV, ordered the Palais du Luxembourg built here in 1612 ~ although she didn't get to enjoy it, having been forced into exile by her son, Louis XIII. The gardens are the real attraction ~ classically French, well groomed and formal, with urns and statuary on pedestals, encircling a centrally located picturesque water basin.
Participate in a Cooking Dinner Party with your travel companions and a local Parisian or two. Choosing from what is unquestionably some of the best food in the world, we will delight in preparing & savoring an evening meal together. We will prepare our menu based on what we find at market earlier that morning. I have invited our French cousins to attend the dinner ~ they are bilinqual and will be glad to meet the Americans.
Have a dinner party with a Private French Chef preparing a gourmet meal just for you and your travel friends. You will begin the experience with hors-d'œuvres and champagne, then progress to the table for a traditional 3-course French meal. In the true French style, wine will be selected to perfectly complement each course. You will have the option to observe or even participate in some of the meal preparation, if you wish …. Or you may simply prefer to arrive at the appointed time, ready to savor and indulge in French gastronomy in the beautiful, intimate “at home” setting.
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___________________________ Optional Activities available through Karen Contents:
Musée Edith Piaf
Musée National du Moyen Age
Guided walking tours
Fashion show
Dinner in the home of French people
Sainte Chapelle concerts
Discover legendary French singer Edith Piaf with a visit to the Musée Edith Piaf, located in a private Parisian home. The museum is designed to make her life come alive and introduce you to her music. To acquaint yourself with "the little sparrow" ahead of time, see the recent release documenting her life, named after her most famous song, La Vie en Rose.
There is no admission fee; however, donations are appreciated. By reservation only.
Enjoy a Medieval concert at a Gallo-Roman mansion. Surrounded by imaginatively recreated medieval gardens, the Musée National du Moyen Age is a unique combination of Gallo-Roman ruins, incorporated into a medieval mansion, and one of the world's finest collections of medieval art and crafts. Previously known as the Musée Cluny, its original owner was Pierre de Chalus, Abbot of Cluny, who bought the ruins in 1330. The present building dates from 1495-98. Friday, 12:30pm the museum invites the public to L'heure Musicale: An hour long Medieval Concert and Commentary (in French). Discover the richness and diversity from all parts of Medieval Europe through song and voice. A star exhibit is the Lady with the Unicorn Tapestries: These six outstanding tapestries are fine examples of the millefleurs style. Developed in the 15th & 16th centuries, the style is noted for its graceful depiction of animals and people and its fresh and harmonious colors. Concert is included in museum admission price (free with Museum Pass.)
Marvel at the wonders of Paris during a guided walking tour of your choice. Paris Walks offers more than a dozen different tours and times every day of the week by a select team of guides. They are mostly native English speakers, but have lived in France for years, speak excellent French and know French culture well. The tours are very informative, interesting, and enjoyable. Prices for regularly scheduled tours range from 10-12€.
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Attend a Fashion Show at Galeries Lafayette presented by a team of 6 professional models who show off the latest trends by the most famous designer and couturier collections. This 30-minute presentation includes a commentary done in English. The show is free, but advance reservation required.
Dine in the home of French people through a company called “Meeting the French.” There are Parisians as interested in meeting you, as you are in meeting them. You will be welcomed to their home to dine in traditional French way. Hosts can be selected by age and interest, or simply by neighborhood. Prices range from 45-150€ per person, depending on how many people in your group, the number of hosts (single person or couple), and which menu is selected.
Classical concerts in La Sainte Chapelle. The Orchestre Les Archets Baroques provides enchanting classical concerts at the magnigicent stained glass church built by King Louis IX (St. Louis). Witness and enjoy the music of Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, Telemann in an ethereal and magical setting. Concerts are at 7:00pm and 8:30pm.
Tickets cost 25€.
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