Monday, October 29, 2007

CHRISTMAS IN PARIS

CHRISTMAS IN PARIS Celebrate the holidays in style. The Hotel le Bristol Paris is offering special meals and celebrations Dec. 21 through Jan. 2. Guests can choose from several packages, including a Christmas Eve dinner or lunch on Christmas, ringing in New Year's with a romantic night of dinner and dancing, dinner and performances or a deejay dance party. All New Year's festivities are followed by a fireworks display. The hotel has an indoor heated pool, wine cellar, two restaurants and huge gardens. Prices vary. Rooms start at around $936 a night. www.lebristolparis.com.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Travel Diary: Loving the Loire Valley

A quick test and I am happy to discover that I am indeed still quite adept at riding a bicycle that is not stationary. In fact, I am an old pro on this mode of transport – a veritable Lance Armstrong, if you will (alright I’m not in competition shape, but I can sit on a bike just as well as any Tour de France champion). In any case, I take to the biking trails (Loire à Vélo) along the Loire with fervor. I soon discover that this is a fab way of experiencing the majesty of the Loire as well as taking in a bit of the green beyond green French countryside. Running some 400 kilometers, the Loire à Vélo (www.loireavelo.fr) is part of a network of trails designed by the EU that will eventually run from the Atlantic Ocean in France to Budapest. For cycling enthusiasts, this is an itinerary must-do.

Friday, October 19, 2007

17th century opera re-enacted and set to travel

CAEN, France (AFP) — A stage lit by candlelight, men singing both the female and male roles, and historic costumes and acting: a troupe this week is re-enacting in the original baroque style a 17th century Roman opera -- "Il Sant'Alessio" by Stefano Landi.

The original production was staged in Rome in 1632 at the palace of the powerful Barberini family, one of whom had become Pope Urbain VIII nine years earlier.

It was based on a libretto by Giulio Rospigliosi, the future Pope Clement IX and used spectacular sets and stage machinery, including flames to envelope the devil.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

'Chaos' at French Consulate

Johannesburg - For many South Africans wanting to travel to France to support the Springboks in the semi-finals and hopefully, the finals, their last-minute arrangements have become a nightmare.

The reason?

The French Consulate in Johannesburg announced on Wednesday that owing to a flood of applications for visas, everyone would have to hand in their applications and come to collect them in person.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Holidays in France

France is one of Europe's most popular destinations for a wide range of holidays.
There are absolutely thousands of camping sites all over France, where you can pitch your own tent, go touring with a caravan or motor home, but for more convenience you could even hire a chalet already on site. You can normally find campsites with excellent facilities that include swimming pools, shops, clubs, bars, entertainment, playgrounds, etc and are ideal for a family holiday. Some even offer other activities such as tennis, fishing, French boules, cycles for hire, and even games rooms with pool, snooker, etc, which can make for an ideal self-catering holiday at very little expense. However, for those that are into adventure, you will not be disappointed with the range of activities on offer in France, such as canoeing, paragliding, abseiling, kayaking and rafting, horse riding, hiking, etc.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

exclusive holiday to Italy and France with Trafalgar & The Australian Women’s Weekly

After three successful seasons, Trafalgar Tours and The Australian Women’s Weekly have again teamed up to offer your clients an exclusive European holiday opportunity, this time exploring Italy and France’s highlight destinations, exquisite towns and magnificent countryside. Departing from Rome, this superb 19-day first-class escorted holiday, The Wonders of Italy & France Tour 2008 includes two-night stays in most destinations to enable clients to soak up the distinctive cultural identity of each region included on the tour’s itinerary. Paul Wiseman, managing director of Trafalgar Tours said, “This is a great holiday option for clients looking for something a little different – perhaps for those looking for a few special experiences such as the chance to stay in a French château, and the chance to dine in specialty restaurants in some of Europe’s most interesting destinations.
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