France Rail Pass

[uppityperson]

5 or 6 days, starting from Paris, in the summer.

Where would you go and why?

[CTyankee]

1. I'd like to visit some of the fabulous cathedrals

Here are some to pick from...http://www.francetravelguide.com/cathdedrals-of-france.html

ditto castles...they all have pretty great histories.

[uppityperson]

2. Great site, thank you

Several of those are on my short list, it is a really good collection, thanks.

Cathedral tour!

[CTyankee]

3. Be still, my heart!

Thanks for your post, which helped me remember some research I had done on French cathedrals...I would like to visit a few on that list with a small group of interested people...led by an expert who could illuminate our understanding of the times in which these gorgeous edifices were built...

[uppityperson]

5. What are you doing in August?

DU French cathedral tour? heh Then there are things like Mt St Michel.

[CTyankee]

8. Boy, I wish!

Prolly not in August because lots of stuff is closed that month "pour les vacances," but September or October would be a blast...I'm a serious art and art history nut so I would go in a heartbeat...I'm also a serious foodie so France is my kind of place!

I travel to Europe at least once a year...I got this bucket list thing...did a great trip to remote towns in Tuscany in March on the Piero della Francesca Trail...quite a step back in time...did a virtual blog on that trip here on DU last month...and I'm "curating" a trip to Spain next year with my dtr and granddaughter...

[uppityperson]

16. The country is on Holiday so one must be careful about scheduling tours of places?

I think that is what you mean.

[CTyankee]

22. some restaurants and other businesses close for vacation...I don't know about public

museums and I would guess that cathedrals would remain open but their schedules might change...

[uppityperson]

23. Got it, thank you.

[Hestia]

4. Go underneath the cathedrals and see the Black Isis/Madonnas that are still there

[uppityperson]

6. Under which cathedrals? I like to see the catacombs and whatever saint bit of bone they have, not

sure what you mean here. Thanks.

[elleng]

7. Marseille

Have been interested in the multi-cultural aspects of the city, including the food influences. Have been to a number of French cities (not including Lyon,) and have driven around the country, but Marseille tops my bucket list now.

[CTyankee]

9. This is a Road Scholar trip I am contemplating taking...

http://www.roadscholar.org/n/program/summary.aspx?id=1-6G1LXP

I figure I could go a couple of days earlier and fly to Marseille so I could go to L'Estaque, where Cezanne and Braque painted (they even have a 2 hour walking tour on artists who painted there)...this one goes to provence and the cote d'azur...lots of art history...

[elleng]

13. yank, given my family situation

(daughter Julie expecting in July,) and my great place on the river near Julie's house, I haven't been thinking of traveling outside of U.S. (JUST did MD to Dayton for a funeral,) but will SURELY consider a RS trip with you! (but not soon!) Been to a bit of Provence and the cote, but DON'T object to repeating!

:hi;

[CTyankee]

15. You've got a lot of wonderful things in your life now...it's a special time for you...

I'm just thrilled for you, cuz I know how over the moon I was when my grandkids started coming!

[elleng]

17. Yes I have, yank.

Thanks.

Baby shower next Saturday (at baby-dad's mother's house, also near here.) I have avocados ripening for guacamole as requested by Julie!

[uppityperson]

19. Congratulations!

[elleng]

20. Thanks!

[uppityperson]

18. That is another interesting site for educational stuff

thanks for all the input.

[CTyankee]

24. Road Scholar ought to pay me for all the free advertising I give them...

Last edited Sun Jun 1, 2014, 04:52 PM - Edit history (1)

I've been on 5 of their trips...everything else is priced out of my market...

I curated a trip to Brussels in 2012 on my own...based in Brussels, trained to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Saw all the fabulous art, Michelangelo's Bruges Madonna, Van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece and Rubens Elevation of the Cross and companion Descent from the Cross... and visited the art nouveau sections of town...great French restaurants in Brussels. Nice people...everyone spoke English and ate waffles in paper sacks on the streets...

[uppityperson]

10. How about Nice?

Looking at both of those with desire and limitations of time and money.

Food, yum. How was driving there?

[elleng]

11. Been to Nice, on a day-trip from Italy,

at the end of a trip that began with a wedding in Poland. Nice is nice, didn't see everything, obviously, but I FEEL Marseille has a lot more of interest.

[uppityperson]

12. Thanks, I would love to get to the Mediterranean and thinking of both

Marseille interests me a lot, had friends recently stop in Nice, said it was, well, nice. Looking for thoughts and opinions here since I am clueless about them. Thanks for the reply, will need to research M more.

[elleng]

14. Good,

and keep in mind whatever CTyankee says!

[uppityperson]

30. Have you been to Strasbourg? I am considering that also, it looks interesting and family came from

near that area, some ancestors that is.

[elleng]

31. Yes, interesting town,

interesting history. Just stopped there during 1 day, as I recall.

[CTyankee]

21. well, I did a littlle research on Marseille and it seems like a real up and coming place to visit...

some places are making comebacks...Valencia, Spain is one I want to visit...but it's been overshadowed by Barcelona with travelers...nothing against Barcelona, it's fabulous, but sometimes I like to go out of the way places that has interesting art, food, culture and history...Valencia interests me because of the City of Arts and Sciences there, created by architect Santiago Calatrava...

[greatauntoftriplets]

25. Luxembourg to visit my relatives there.

Seriously, probably Brittany or Provence.

[uppityperson]

26. Visiting relatives in other countries is good. They can help you get over jet lag, feed you, show yo

you around, translate, etc. I am trying to fan out from visiting family to being a tourist on my own. What would you like to see in Brittany or Provence?

[greatauntoftriplets]

27. Actually, everyone in Luxembourg speaks English except for the very old.

It's taught in schools now. But the getting over the jet lag and feeding me part is great. And they're fun people.

In terms of Brittany, I love maritime areas and the scenery is supposed to be gorgeous. Provence -- Avignon, Aix en Provence, the landscapes I've seen in so many paintings, lavender fields (tried to grow it but it did not like the Chicago climate).

Forgot that I'd love to see Mt. St. Michel, though that's in Normandy. I've been to St. Michael's Mount in England and this would tie up a loose end.

[uppityperson]

28. Mt St Michel is pretty neat, they ar e removing the big road to it so the tides can swirl around it

again. I would love to spend a whole day there, taking time to do the monstery and church and the gardens, walk on the flats, etc. It sounds like you would just like to see everything, sounds good.

You should come visit me sometime. I wish we had warm ocean water rather than cold, but the maritime and lavender are great here, there is a local lavender festival mid-July. I wish I had my transporter plate working well. Did you see this article>

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/scientific-breakthrough-may-laid-groundwork-human-teleportation/613912/?utm_source=FBTraffic&utm_medium=fijifrost&utm_campaign=CMfacebook&twitter=yes

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. So far, transporting myself that way might get me to the door of this room.

But I hadn't seen it, so thanks.

I spent a week in Seattle about 10 years ago and loved how beautifully things grow in the PNW. The Norfolk Island pines there are even bigger than the one in my dining room (and that's about to go through the ceiling!) and had never seen a monkey puzzle tree in the flesh before. I bet that your lavender fest smells lovely.

Also, if I knew where in France that side of the family originated, I'd like to go there. Unfortunately, I have no idea and there's no one left who might.