Cassis and the Calanques

 Cassis and the Calanques

Bonjour tout le monde!

One of the most impressive sights on the Riviera, Provence and Paris tour is seeing the Calanques of Cassis.  These wonderful and unique geological formations are made of limestone or granite.  They create deep, narrow gorges that go down into the sea, which reminds many of Norwegian fjords. 

The only way to see the calanques is to hike in or take a boat. Where the land meets the water there is often a small beach; people hike in with picnic baskets or they come in on small boats to spend a lovely afternoon in good weather. Boat cruises to see these calanques are made out of Cassis, a small fishing village just east of Marseilles (and which has nothing to do with the lovely liqueur, cassis). These short cruises show you a few of these gorgeous calanques between Cassis and Marseilles. 

 

 

I have been lucky enough to make one of these short boat trips and see the gorgeous calanques.  If you want to see theses marvels of limestone and granite, sign up for the Riviera, Provence and Paris trip in September 2022.  Find out more about this trip at the informational Zoom meeting Monday, September 22 at 5 pm PDT.  Fill out the contact form here to get the information for Monday’s meeting, and to have me contact you.  Spread the word!  The more the merrier on this great trip.

 

Jacki Williams-Jones
jacki.williamsjones@gmail.com
323-896-2470

 

Nice, France

 Bonjour tout le monde
Where are we going in 2022?

I'm back! And going to France in 2022!

 Bonjout tout le monde!

I realize that it has been "a minute" since I have written a blog post.  There isn't any excuse; I was trying something new, got into travel, and then...2020 happened.  It was very hard to stay inside, and not travel, even within my own city! So, I ordered groceries and food, binge watched television and learned all about Zoom.
Now things are looking up!  Restrictions are being lifted, people are getting vaccinated and we can even eat inside of restaurants!  It's time to think about travel, and there isn't a moment to lose.  I am organizing a tour of the French Riviera and Paris, with the possibility of also touring Normandy.  

If you are interested, there is an informational Zoom coming up on Monday, March 24 at 5 pm 

PDT.  RSVP to get Zoom info at email address .  Can't make the meeting but still have questions?  contact me at jacki.williamsjones@gmail.com or fill out the information form here:

I will always have Paris!

Everyone who knows me knows that I know and love Paris almost like a native.  Whenever a friend goes to the City of Lights, they will contact me for help with things to do.  I love to help out, so I have thought about it, and have come up with a few of my favorite places and things for me, and also for first timers.  As Audrey Hepburn once said, “Paris is always a good idea.”

Quelque chose à manger? Something to eat?

My favorite restaurant is a restaurant traditionnel – Bouillon Chartier.  It’s located in the 9^th arrondissement (neighborhood). The restaurant itself is a throwback to the 19^th century with beautiful ceilings, mirrors, lamps and luggage racks for all those purchases you have made.  The menu is vast with traditional dishes at great prices.  The waiters are dressed in their usual outfits and are willing to help out those who might have trouble deciding what to order.

Bouillon-Chartier, 7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre | 75009 Paris

https://www.bouillon-chartier.com/en/

If it is your first time to Paris, I recommend that you stop at any café and sit on the terrace (if the weather is good) to do what the French love to do – people watch. Just be aware that smoking is still permitted at outside tables.  There is usually a limited menu with croque monsieurs (grilled ham and cheese sandwich), roasted chicken or steak with fries, and some salads. Lots of wine and beer though!

So many museums, so little time !

There are 130 museums within Parisian city limits. If this is your first time to Paris, you must visit the Louvre. Once a royal residence and now the world’s largest museum, this gorgeous place is so large that you need to commit to at least several hours and to also wander through lesser known galleries.  These days, the Louvre is so popular that you really should purchase your tickets online before showing up at the Pyramid.

Highlights include the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and the Egyptian collection from Napoléon Bonaparte’s campaign. Wear comfy shoes and leave big purses behind!  

www.louvre.fr

My favorite museum is the Musée de l’Armée – the Army museum – which is located in the Hôtel des Invalides.  This complex also houses Napoléon’s tomb.  Antique artifacts and information cover the history of France’s warfare from Saint Louis to the war in Indochina.  This museum is a must-see for any history buff!

https://www.musee-armee.fr/en/english-version.html

Take a walk!

So many places to see, so little time!  Where to go?

Tulieries Garden to the Arc de Triomphe

            Leave the Louvre, cross the street then stroll through the Tuileries Garden to the Place de la Concorde.  Stop for ice cream in warmer weather, or hot chocolate when the weather is crisp.  The Place de la Concorde was once where folks were guillotined during the Revolution; it is now the home to the Obelisk, a gift from Egypt.  Keep going onto the Champs-Elysées, have a crepe while you appreciate the gardens before continuing to the shops that line the busy part of the boulevard.  To reach the Arc de Triomphe, take the tunnel, don’t try to cross the roundabout that is fed by 12 streets!

Like the High Line in New York?  

Try the Promenade Plantée, built on an abandoned railway in the 12^th arrondissement.  It is beautiful, and you get a lovely view of the city from the elevated walkway.  You will definitely need comfy walking shoes to go along its 2.95-mile length.  There are plenty of stairs that you can use to get to street level and wander through places that tourists often ignore. 

The Opera District (and shopping!)

Located in the 9^th arrondissement, the Opéra Garnier is the iconic symbol of the area.  Also known as the Palais Garnier, it is a tourist attraction for its architectural and historical importance.  The inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera, the Palais Garnier does indeed have a water source beneath the building, but it is not open to the public.  You can take tours through the Palais Garnier and see the beautiful ceiling created by Marc Chagall.

https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/visits/palais-garnier

Behind the Palais are located the two largest department stores in Paris, le Printemps and les Galeries Lafayette.  My favorite is The Galeries Lafayette, which was was created in the 19^th century and boasts a beautiful stained glass dome above the makeup and perfume department on the ground floor.  There is a terrace too, on the roof that gives everyone a beautiful perspective of Parisian rooftops and the Eiffel Tower, too!  There are plenty of shops in the Opera district, so make sure you have someone to help you carry your purchases!

https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/

Host a student this year, or just for a little while!

Bonjour tout le monde!
Share your home and love with a high school exchange student, either for the year, or just 8-10 weeks! EF High School Exchange Year can help you with the perfect student for you. Here is one of this year's students who are waiting to become a member of your family! Quentin is an athletic 17 year old from France who is interested in experiencing American high school life. He loves video-games, watching TV with his family, and playing soccer. 
If hosting for an entire year is a daunting prospect, try hosting an exchange student for 8-10 weeks while we find him/her a permanent placement!
I have several other students who are in need of a temporary placement, so check with me to choose your perfect student!

Find out more about the program at https://www.efexchangeyear.org/, then contact me to start the process!

Munich

Hallo zusammen! Bonjour tout le monde! Why the greeting in German also? I am in Munich this week with my best friend. I have been to Berlin twice, and have enjoyed some of the countryside, however I hadn't yet been to Munich. It is a very cool city with lots of history for a city that only dates back to the 9th century.

Today was my first full day; we walked to the Marienplatz and saw the glockenspiel do its thing. The clock strikes the hour, then the little figures start moving. There are two levels, one represents a wedding, and the other one has dancers, who twirl about as the mechanism flows in a clockwise direction. The wedding scene then starts; it has figurines that go in two directions (on two tracks). There is a joust involved, and when the knights meet a second time, one wins as the other knight falls back on his horse! He represents Bavaria and always wins. Munich is an interesting city. There are three ways to get around on public transport, and almost everyone else seems to have a bicycle. I have seen most of the main places on a hop on hop off bus tour, then Wednesday we went to the Bavarian Museum. It had an entire floor of nativity scenes with figurines that were carefully created to not only represent the holy family, but also the three Magi (along with their retinues). There were also scenes and figurines from Naples; it was fascinating!

the glockenspiel

pretzels hang at your table!

a Maypole, they are everywhere!

Catalunya

Bonjour tout le monde!
Where in the world is Catalunya?  It is in the northeastern part of Spain, also known as Catalonia.  The capital of the autonomous region is Barcelona. This region used to be a principality with its own laws and parlementary system.  Catalan lost the war of Spanish Succession, and in subsequent years found its culture and languages supressed by the Spanish government.
Currently, the Catalonia region is once again autonomous; the catalan language is everywhere as is Spanish.  Catalan is even taught in the schools, they tell me.  Although the Catalan region has a great deal of independence from the Spanish government, the Catalan are pushing for more independence, and there is even talk of succession from Spain.
In the meantime, let's enjoy the capital of this wonderful region.  Barcelona is a beautiful and vibrant city.  Along with its suburbs, more than four million people live in the area, of which 1.7 million live within Barcelona's city limits.
There is plenty to see, do, and eat in Barcelona.  One of the most famous markets is located on the Rambla, however, it has existed in the city since the early 13th century, when the first settlement was documented.
My favorite thing to do in Barcelona is eat.  There are places to eat tapas everywhere, and of course you have to wash it down with sangria.  The last time I was there, a friend of mine was on a mission to find the best sangria in town.  Have we succeeded?  No...there are always more tapas and sangria to try.
Want culture and history?  Antoni Gaudi was the architect of the Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family) among other buildings in the city.  You can spend an entire day at each of his creations, but the Sagrada Familia is the best and biggest. It is still unfinished - 2026, the 100th year celebration of Gaudi's death,  is now the projected finish date.

I love most visiting Barcelona in the summer, when dinner can be at 11 pm on one of the many Ramblas in the city, and the weather is just right.  You can not only see all the Gaudi buildings, but you can also see many of the sports venues of the 1992 Olympics in the Montjuic area.
So, why Catalunya?  I say why not?  The region is Spanish, but not Spanish; the culture and architecture is amazing, as is the food!  You can stop there on one of the many cruise ships, but be sure to spend a few extra days to in search of the best tapas and sangria. Let me know when you find it!

Lobster by the beach

Parc Guell