The quality of the light... artistic inspiration on the Cote D'Azur!

... our day trip to two spectacular towns on the Cote d'Azur provided many opportunities for the group to photograph, sketch, compose and just be inspired.  The morning in Antibes included a guided tour of the Picasso museum housed in a medieval castle perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea.  It was obvious why Picasso and so many other artists were drawn to the south of France.  The quality of the light and the vibrancy of the colors all around us were truly inspiring.  Following our tour of the museum, we had free time to explore Antibes and have some lunch.  As it was market day in the town, we also had the opportunity to wander through a traditional Provencal farmer's market to admire the fresh produce and locally grown specialties.   Many took the opportunity to buy some fresh cheese, bread and fruit and head to the seaside to enjoy the views of the Mediterranean from the narrow streets of the town.

Our afternoon was spent exploring the Medieval walled hill city of St. Paul de Vence.  This stunning place has long inspired artists and many were simply overwhelmed by the beauty of the vineyards, olive groves and stunning views of the town.  Our pilgrimage through the narrow streets ended with a visit to the site of Marc Chagall's burial in the local cemetery.  After our free time exploring the many galleries in the town, we gathered at a local restaurant to enjoy a before dinner drink and play a game of petanque... the perfect end to a perfect day!

A brush with the world of the fabulously rich... Monaco's wonders!

... our day trip to Monaco was a fascinating adventure.  The trip not only provided an opportunity to experience the local train network (a useful introduction for the days ahead to enable further exploration of some of the smaller beach towns along the Cote D'Azur), but also an opportunity to see the many sites in the Principality.  Our knowledgable guide, Isabella, was a wonderful addition to our group.  We climbed to the old town of Monaco to see the stunning views of the sea and learn a bit of the history of the second smallest country in the world.  We saw the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace and had free time to enjoy a wonderful lunch in the park.  Our afternoon visit to the famous Musee Oceanographique was fascinating.  Later we even managed to take a local tourist train from the Royal Palace to the casino in Monte Carlo.  From above the city, it was amazing to see some of the  incredible yachts docked in the harbor.  We could even get up close and pose with the fabulous cars lined up in front of the casino ...  many of the group took the opportunity to pose with the Bentleys, Maseratis, and Ferraris while others took their chances in the casino... great news... some even won!!!

The sun, the beach, the mountains, the views... all inspiring for artists!

The arrival in the south of France has brought not only, sun, warm temperatures and the stunning blue color of the Mediterranean water, but a dramatic change in pace from the hustle and bustle of Paris.  The guided walking tour of the Promenade des Anglais was a fitting introduction to this beautiful seaside city.  Of course, in addition to the fascinating history and inspiring views of the sea, a fitting rest stop on our walking tour involved our first introduction some of the best glaces in Nice!!  As we continued our tour, we sampled the flavors of each other's ice cream as our guide shared the vibrant history of the lively Medieval old town of Nice...

Different Interests / Different Opportunities: Free days make for much fun in Paris!

... our free time in Paris was put to good use by all.  Members of the group had many opportunities to fill their free time with different activities.  Some of the varied and different special experiences people chose to include are:  a morning trip to visit the artists in Montmartre; others chose a day wandering the antique and market stalls at the Paris flea market; while others chose a visit to the Centres George Pompidou to view the contemporary and modern art; while others chose to visit the Musee Rodin and tour his spectacular sculpture gardens; while others chose, of course, to climb the Eiffel Tower... some went by day and others by night.

On one free day after class, a large number of participants chose a special afternoon at the Musee D'Orsay led by our visual arts instructor.   This was a very memorable day and was much loved by all.

Paris offers an endless banquet of opportunities and all took full advantage of every free moment to experience fully all this amazing city has to offer!

Evenings in Paris are Simply Magical!

... our evenings in Paris were full of wonderful opportunities!  Different groups of people came together to organize some very special evening events to bring the perfect end to a perfect day.  There were opportunities to attend the spectacular show at the Moulin Rouge which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.  Another special opportunity was the chance to attend a performance of La Boheme at the Paris Opera Bastille - the lights of the Paris opera house were glowing and the performance of this quintessential opera set in Paris was incredible.  Another group decided to attend a performance of "La Belle et la Bete" (Beauty and the Beast) on another evening and they loved the show.  The opportunities were simply amazing and made for some memorable experiences for all.

Monet

... some members of the group organized for themselves a trip to Monet's Garden at Giverny.  The trip  was spectacular.  The group loved the leisurely opportunity to explore the beautiful country house and gardens where Monet lived for most of his life.  The opportunity to wander through the gardens and to the water lily pond was so inspiring for all the artists in the group.  We loved this special opportunity to see the place where this great master lived, worked and painted... we toured his studio and spent a leisurely morning wandering among the flowers that were the inspiration for so many of his works of art.  In the afternoon, upon our return to Paris, some of the group ventured in the rain to visit the Musee L'Orangerie in the Tuileries gardens near the Louvre.  This museum holds the permanent exhibition of Monet's water lilies.  This visit was an emotional one for the lovers of Monet's masterworks.  It was the perfect end to a perfect day devoted to Monet!

Bienvenue a Paris!

Bienvenue a Paris!!



Despite the rain, our first day in Paris was simply magical!  Our guide, Corinne, met us at the airport; as we loaded our coach for a guided orientation of the city we got to see the many spectacular sites including the Eiffel Tower, le Louvre, Musee D'Orsay and the many stunning neighborhoods of Paris.  We stopped for a coffee and a stroll on a beautiful pedestrian street in the 7me Arrondissement - Rue Cler where we got the unique opportunity to experience the Paris enjoyed by the local Parisians.  We had a chance to rest and have a delicious coffee, pastry or fresh strawberries!!  What an amazing introduction to this beautiful city!!

Well the day of departure has finally arrived!  With the busy wind-down of another school year, for me at least, it's been so nice to have a few days to re-group and begin to focus fully on the many "treats" that await us in France!   This year's adventure has an added level of excitement and anticipation with the World Cup and France's game today - I hope they continue they're winning ways so we can experience the excitement first-hand.  The excitement and energy in Paris is, I'm sure, simply amazing!!  I can't wait to see everyone later today at the airport as our incredible adventure begins… in the meantime, I'll try to drag myself away from the television!

See you soon!

Bryan

Ready, Set Go!

Get ready to arrive in glorious Paris on Saturday!  There is no better place to study visual art than in Paris and the sunny Côte d'Azur, where generations of artists have found inspiration.  Paris in July is buzzing with activity, so be sure to discover some of the smaller museums and galleries.  Obviously, the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay are top of any "must-see" list, but Paris is littered with fascinating galleries rich in treasures.  One to stop and see is the Jacquemart-André Museum, a breathtaking collection of paintings and sculptures housed in a magnificent 19th century mansion on Blvd. Haussman, steps from the Champs-Elysées.

If you are spending Canada Day engaged in some last minte packing, France will be WARM this summer so make sure you have sunscreen and, last but not least, your up-to-date passport in your carry-on!

Bone Voyage!
Georgia Hardy Tours

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