PARIS Activity Descriptions
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Contents:
Unlimited city travel
Museum pass
Seine boat cruise
Private chocolate tour & tasting
VIP tour of Versailles & gardens
Parisian restaurant
Outdoor food market
Casual cooking dinner party
VIP visit & tasting at a top Champagne producer
Private French chef
dinner party with Parisians
Travel as a local. You will have unlimited metro and bus travel within the city of Paris, using tickets that are valid for travel on the metro, bus and tram. I will provide a book of 10 tickets in advance to you, to be refilled as needed. 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.
Private Paris Chocolate Tour ~ Find out about the history of chocolate, and how Paris is the capital of dark chocolate during a 2-hour privately guided walking tour. Visit a variety of superb chocolatiers (master chocolate makers) on this enjoyable walk which mixes history, anecdotes, even intriguing architectural aspects, with chocolate tastings. The tour will give you some good ideas, and introduce you to some secret addresses.
Château & gardens of Versailles and Marie Antoinette's hamlet
Delight in a private VIP tour of the Palace of Versailles ~ the royal château which was the center of political power in 1682 under the reign of King Louis XIV. After 7 years of renovation, Versailles can now be seen in full glory. Visit the Private King & Queen Apartments, including the secret hallways joining the apartments ~ areas where the public is not granted access ~ as well as the
Opéra Royal and Marie Antoinette's pastoral escape: her private hamlet. While in the gardens, witness the majestic Les Grandes Eaux Musicales ~ where elaborate fountains dance to music, providing a melodious stroll through the legendary groves and water gardens.
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. We will visit one of the most beautiful markets in Paris in a prestigious neighborhood with a view of the Eiffel Tower. 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. 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.
Participate in a Cooking Dinner Party with your travel companions. 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. This dinner is flexible ~ you may join in the cooking, or you may arrive just in time to start eating, so as to maximize sight-seeing, if you wish.
Champagne in a Day? Take the new high-speed train to the city of Reims ~ capital of the Champagne region, a short 45 minutes away. Pay tribute to the impressive Reims cathedral ~ the gothic splendor where many French kings have been crowned. Visit the oldest champagne house, “grand maison,” for an exclusive VIP tour of the chalk caves and vinification facility, while learning about the fascinating history of champagne-making, followed by a tasting of two different champagnes. Enjoy a light café lunch, then drive into the picturesque countryside amidst the vines to visit a small-size producer and witness the “artisanal”-style of the champagne process. In a tiny quaint village, visit the tomb of legendary Dom Perignon, the Benedictine monk who stumbled upon the method of champagne-making ~ and who, as legend has it, went running through the monastery squealing “I'm drinking the stars.”
Exclusive French chef dinner party with locals. Tonight, enjoy the rare opportunity of a private themed dinner party with an esteemed French Chef in the home of a native Parisian, Véronique, who resides in a fashionable neighborhood of Paris (and whose neighbor is legendary fashion designer, Hubert de Givenchy!) Véronique will give insight into Parisian life and impress us with her refined table decoration. Relish a gourmet meal, starting with hors-d'œuvre and champagne. Wine will be selected to complement a traditional 5-course French meal which could have been enjoyed by Marie Antoinette herself.
Includes: 2 glasses champagne & half bottle wine per person, mineral water, and coffee.
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___________________________ Optional Activities available through Karen
Contents:
Hands-On Culinary Class at Lenôtre
Musée Edith Piaf
Musée National du Moyen Age (Middle Ages Museum)
Guided walking tours
Fashion show
Sainte Chapelle concerts
Deepen your Parisian experience during a 3-hour Hands-On Culinary Class at the exclusive Lenôtre Ecole de Cuisine located on world-famous Avenue des Champs Elysées. Enjoy preparing 2-3 courses alongside Chef Jacky with a generous gourmet meal to take home (perfect for dinner in your apartment!) 150€ per person. Course in French with recipes translated into English by Karen.
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.)
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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€.
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 written commentary in English. The show is free; Friday only. Advance reservation required.
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. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Tickets cost 25€.
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