Author’s note: Newsletters, which subscribers receive, don’t often make an appearance on the blog. They are different. But I’ve posted the current newsletter here because of the sweet special offer described below that runs through July.
Foncez! Hurry!
Bonne Fête nationale! Happy Bastille Day as we say in the English-speaking world! July 14, the national holiday known familiarly in France as le quatorze juillet, commemorates the day in 1789 that citizens tore into the Bastille. Once a medieval fortress built to protect the eastern entrance to Paris, 400 hundred years later the Bastille was the emblem of the monarchy’s abuse of power. In Paris, the revolution that birthed a republic is celebrated during the day by a military parade on the Champs-Elysées with fighter jets flying over the Arc de Triomphe trailing tricolor plumes. After dark, people jam the Seine bridges and the Champ-de-Mars to watch the spectacular fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. My favorite way to celebrate is to dance under the stars at one of the bal des pompiers, the firemen’s ball. The tradition, whose origins date back to the early nineteenth century, is said to have begun in Montmartre when the pompiers—firefighters—in a moment of spontaneity and euphoria opened the fire station doors to the public and continued the festivities with impromptu dancing. Little by little, it grew from there. If that sounds like fun, believe me, it is!
Before I plunge into the news—there’s so much, I’ll be following up this newsletter with a Tips and Tidbits soon—un grand merci to new subscribers. Welcome, I’m delighted in your interest! This is a great time to subscribe. Why? Well…
It has to do with numbers. For the first time in nearly twenty years, the euro and the dollar are trading essentially at parity. Meaning that 1 euro is worth the same as 1 US dollar. So? Our all-inclusive trips are priced in euros. But to pass along this foreign exchange “gift,” and to celebrate la Fête nationale, I am making a special one-time offer good through the end of July. Anyone who signs up for one of our all-inclusive adventures through April 2023 and pre-pays the trip in advance, may do so in dollars. Think about it: this is an opportunity to lock in the price of $5450! Six nights, five days, fabulous!
And why should you come with me and see Paris, off script? The April trip was superb! I could count the ways, but here are snippets of what my clients had to say. You can read more on the Raves page.
“I really appreciated how you incorporated the diverse interests of the people in our group as you planned the details of each day’s experience…and, of course, dining each evening at the superb restaurants you had chosen.”
“I think my favorite part of the experience was spending time with the Parisians.”
“It was such a lovely trip. Don’t know how you found that hotel but it was perfect.”
“You have enormous historical knowledge.”
“I love the community you’ve developed.”
We not only had fun, scooting in under the wire before Paris got really crazy with touristy crowds, but hit the weather jackpot without a single day of rain! Here we are on the left at some of the special events I plan with my Parisian collaborators: a pre-dinner apéro learning « le look français », a chocolate atelier, to name a couple.
The November trip will include the terrific Salon du Chocolat. Chocolate not your thing? In February, bond with adorable lambs and sample the agricultural bounty of France at the Salon de l’Agriculture. And April? Well, April in Paris!
One last thing. I’m hearing horror stories about airline travel right now in the high season with flight disruptions, cancellations, and rude passengers. There’s no guarantee, of course, but one of the advantages of off script times is that you minimize all that can go wrong. Once again, it’s about the numbers. But the absolute best part? The intimacy that you create when there are simply fewer people between you and the sublime city of Paris.
So who is coming? The clock on the special offer is ticking. Venez nombreux!
From Paris Off Script to you,
BON 14 JUILLET!