Il pleut dans mon coeur (it's raining in my heart)

Comme il pleut dans la ville (as it is raining in the city)
Because it is rainy in Paris right now. No matter what the weather, as Audrey Hepburn said, "Paris is always a good idea."
So, what is good to do in Paris when it rains?  Spend time in a museum.  Don't just choose one of the big ones, try a smaller museum, like the Cluny, which features medieval art housed in a small castle. Also in the Cluny?  Ruins of a Roman bath.
There is shopping in the Galeries Lafayette and spending some time in the cafeteria on the 6th floor of the main building.  Sit right next to the little ladies who have tea aroud 4 pm, and look out over the rainy rooftops from the windows.
Explore one of the many passages that are covered walkways.  There are shops that feature vintage, well, everything, and some cafes where you can still watch the people pass by.
Speaking of cafes - try one of the beautiful cafes that dot the city.  Want to be chic and have a cognac where the intellectuals spent time?  Try Aux Deux Magots in the 5th arrondissement.

Or, you could just put up your umbrella and take a walk in the rain.  Stroll through the Tuilerie Gardens, or maybe even the Luxembourg.  Listen to the drops on your umbrella, or enjoy just getting wet in the Parisian drizzle.
Whatever you choose remember - Paris is always a good idea.

If it's Tuesday...

It Must Be Belgium.  That is the name of a 1969 movie about an American travel group and its British tour director.  They are on a whirlwind tour of 8 countries in 9 days, which means that there isn’t a lot of time to experience a particular country. That tour group is an amalgam of single men, a few single women, a family, plus some couples.  There is, of course, an itinerary that some want to follow to the letter, “Aren’t we doing London by Night?  It’s in the brochure...”

Imagine yourself at the Eiffel Tower!

Although there are still group tours, the kind of people who take them are slightly different and the same all at once.  The first tour I took with adults included several couples celebrating milestone anniversaries; a three generation family with grandparents, parents and two children; a man who enjoys group travel along and relishes the company of his fellow passengers; plus two young cousins who were taking a trip before going back to university and graduate school.

“Imagine, we saw all of England in one day!” Thank goodness, the tour that we are going on next summer, Paris and Barcelona, isn’t that kind of expedition.  We don’t have to get up at 6 am every day, and there is plenty of free time if you wish.  There are a couple of things that we do as an entire group, plus some optional excursions that you can take if you desire.  If you’re like one of my friends, the best part of the tour is doing nothing.  City tours allow him to get up late, then meet us for lunch and the rest of our day.

Why not come along to Paris and Barcelona, June 26 – July 4, 2016.  There are only 15 spots left; in order to reserve your seat on the bus, all that it takes is a $300 deposit.  Then you can make payments up until the final one in April.  We will have a couple of parties before leaving to enjoy Spanish cava (sparkling wine), Iberian ham, French cheese and all sorts of their wine. 

Visit http://jackiwilliams-jones.grouptoursite.com to see the highlights of the tour, and then to put down your deposit!  If you would like, I can help you with the deposit process either in person or on the phone.

See you at the airport!

Commit yourself!

Bonjour tout le monde!
Commit to what?
To fun, family, and the adventure of a lifetime to the cities of Paris and Barcelona next June 26- July 4, 2016.
What you get for the price of $3819.00 (leaving from LAX; if you are flying out from another airport, the price can change):

• Round trip airfare from your airport of choice on a reputable airlines
• Pretty cool hotels in the cities of Paris and Barcelona
• A flight from Paris to Barcelona (no long day trips on the bus!)
• A full time tour director who takes care of our group and has great knowledge of both cities.
• An awesome trip with your friends and family, making tons of memories and stories to recount around the dinner table.

Commit by the end of August and get at least $50 off the price.  If you have traveled with EF or Go Ahead before, you can take off another $50!

Your committment to start this marvelous journey only costs $300/person.  Payments can be made over time, with the final payment due in April.

Please don't wait too long and get shut out.

Commit yourself to having a great vacation and adventure in 2016!

For more information, contact Jacki Williams-Jones  (jacki.williamsjones@gmail.com)

http://jackiwilliams-jones.grouptoursite.com

PS - the first person to commit with $300 deposit will receive a bottle of Spanish Cava.  Anyone who makes a deposit and commits before the end of  August will be treated to a glass of your favorite beverage one evening in Paris.

Find a hidden gem in Paris!

When you're in Paris, here is a "secret" park to visit.  And while you are thinking about it, enroll on my tour to Paris and Barcelona (june 26 - July 4, 2016).  If you reserve your spot with $300, not only will you get a glass of your favorite wine on me,  if you're the first one to enroll, you'll also win a bottle of champagne.  Everyone who enrolls by August 31 will get $50 off the tour price, just enough for one of the excursions! email me (jackiwjones@gmail.com) if you have questions!
https://bonjourparis.com/parks-and-gardens/secret-paris-parks-la-petite-ceinture-in-the-15th-arrondissement/

Paris and Barcelona newsletter #2

What if...?

Bonjour tout le monde!
And a happy Monday to you all.  I am feeling just a bit  philosophical this morning, so bear with me.
Today's question is "What if...?"
What if you could do what you want without fear?  If money were no option?  If you could wave a magic wand and change a thing or two?
Would you travel more?  Spend more time with friends and family?  Do something totally different with your life?  It's an interesting proposition, isn't it?

My what if ?  If I could, I would have something that allowed me to speak French and travel and get paid for it (bien sur!).  I'm a teacher, what if I could do training and teaching wherever I wanted to be.  I would have a beautiful new kitchen, oh, since I'm dreaming, I would have a beautiful new house in the same spot - those Pinterest  photos would finally be of my rooms!

What if I could have a place in Paris?  Just enough space for Michael and me to stay for a couple of weeks whenever we wanted.  Charm, but just modern enough for my husband.
What if Michael had meetings that took us to our favorite spots?  the Pacific Northwest, and also the Atlantic Coast, with stops in Houston, or wherever else  we wanted?
And the big "What if?"  Financial security.




What are your "what if"s?  If you feel brave enough, list just one here in the comments. After all, I hear that if you put it into the Universe, it might just respond, n'est-ce pas?

Travel newsletter #1 - Paris and Barcelona