Country Roads of France ~ June July 2004 ~ SKI

Thursday 24th June

5.55am 

Arrive Paris � Phoned Blue Shuttle at airport before picking up luggage. Took them about 1 hour to pick us up. Took 1.5 hours to reach hotel due to traffic and picking up other passengers who were going to the airport. These people were picked up about half an hour late from their arranged time. We still had to be dropped off at our hotel before they could be taken to airport. Looked at the time spent as free sightseeing tour but felt sorry for the people who where going to arrive late to the airport.

Stored luggage at hotel and went for walk.

Walked to Louve. Surprised at how close we were to sights and how small inner Paris is.

Hotel: Hotel Le Clement � small very clean, neat and tidy � staff helpful and friendly.

Weather: Warm � about 24�C.

Friday 25th June

Morning: Walked to Eiffel Tower and then really realised how close we were to everything. Took about an hour. Did not go up tower as were to do it later with tour. Walked on to Arc de Triomphe, about a further half hour. Walked to top to get view and watch traffic chaos below. After walking to top found there was a lift available, good training for the tour to come.

Walked back to hotel via des Champs-Elysees. A long walk and very warm. Saw Olympic torch being carried just at the end of the Champs. A few beggars around but they are not pushy, just sit there looking unhappy. Arrived back hotel late afternoon.

Hotel: Hotel Le Clement

Weather: Cloudy in morning � very warm in afternoon � about mid 20�s.

INSITE I723 TOUR � INFORMATION � GENERAL

Tour Director: Martin Graham � historian extraordinaire and man of many talents.

Driver: Rudi � safe, careful, confident and very friendly.

Hotels: All of good standard � more details on day comments below.

Meals: All of good standard.

Tour group: 31 in total aged from 10 to early 70�s. Make up: South Africans, Canadians, Americans, Australians and Kiwis.

Weather: Hotter than we anticipated even after checking with weather.com which stated that the average high from this time of year was 23�C. Days usually started warm and went on to the 25+ region. Sightseeing is a hot business. Suggest you travel and the time of year that best suits your level of comfort. Only one thunderstorm during day that hampered our sightseeing for 20 minutes and a very wet walk back to the bus, guess where the umbrellas where?

Footwear: A few wore walking/running trainers. Most of the ladies wore sandals/jandals. Obviously they were comfortable for them as we had no one complaining about sore feet.

Men mostly wore shoes/trainers and a couple wore sandals. My husband although accustomed to wearing safety boots all day at work took 2 x pair very comfortable walking shoes. He found they were far too hot and we purchased a pair of sandals, he was much happier after that. It is your comfort level that must decide what you need.

Clothing: Lots of variety. Some more casual than others. Shorts, trousers, shirts, and polo shirts for the men. Capri�s, shorts, trousers, skirts and short sleeve blouses for the ladies. Light cardi�s, jersey�s required at times. There again it is your comfort level that must decide what is suitable.

Optionals offered: 

Beaune and Hospices De Beaune �25*

Vineyard visit and Chateau dinner �63

Riviera Cruise and Provencale dinner �63*

Olive Mill and Les Baux de Provence �25*

Visit Aigues Mortes and Gipsy dinner �63

Dinner, cabaret at Moulin Rouge �143

Monets House and Garden at Giverny �45*

Farewell Parisian Dinner �54*

Those marked * are ones that we went on see separate days for more detail.

Day 1 � Saturday 26th June

Morning: Transfer by taxi to Insite Hotel. Gay parade setting up outside hotel. Roads closed.

6.00pm: Meeting with tour group etc.

Hotel: Sofitel Paris Forum Rive Gauche � Modern hotel, soundproofing not great.

Weather: Overcast but warm � early 20�s

Day 2 � Sunday 27th June

6.30am: Dining room open

7.00am: Bags out

8.00am: On bus

9.30am: 10.00am � comfort stop at service station.

10.40am: 12.15pm � Spent time in Troyes. Saw free open air concert during our walk about. 

1.35pm � 2.30pm: Spent time in Chablis.

3.15pm � 4.30pm: Spent time in Vezelay. This was a change in itinerary, in order to allow us time in Dijon on Monday when museums etc would be open.

6.15pm: Arrive in Dijon

Hotel: Sofitel Dijon La Cloche � Average hotel with good bathroom.

Weather: Very warm � late 20�s.

Travel: 431km

Day 3 � Monday 28th June

Whole day to do just optionals.

Walked around town and visited museum in morning.

12.00pm � 4.00pm: Optional to Beaune �25. This was not on original optional list via Insite but offered by tour director. Hospital opened for poor in 1446. Wonderful architecture and very innovative for time.

Hotel: Sofitel Dijon La Cloche

Weather: Very warm � late 20�s

Travel: 140km

Thats the first three days. I have deliberately written the above in fact form avoiding personal comments where possible as everyone has different ideas about what was �great� and what was �ok�. Also for those new to group touring (which we where) it may be helpful to see how the days are structured.

I will continue if I get positive comments that written this way is helpful to other BB users.

Its all up to you !!!!