Paris in the Spring!

Film makers love Paris, and so do we! For our first trip to Paris of 2012, from March 23rd to 25th, we thought it would be fun to help you discover some of Paris' most famous cafés.  

You will not only have time to take in the sights and ambience, you'll also be sitting 'on location' of where some of the most iconic scenes in cinema have been shot. Join us for Paris autrement: Cafés et cinéma from March 23rd to the 25th for a dose of culture, history and cuisine. We'll even help you brush up your French! 

Some of the cafés that have appeared in movies include Le Train Bleu near the Gare de Lyon, which along with Le Procope, inspired the backgrounds in "Ratatouille", and was also where "Mr Bean's Holidays" was shot. The Café de la Mairie in the 6th was a set for "La Discrète" just across the road from where the "Da Vinci Code" church scene was shot!

The Café des deux Moulins served as location for "Amélie Poulain" and Woody Allen's latest film "Midnight in Paris" was shot at the "Polidor". And finally to illustrate the point, who wasn't impressed by the scene in "Inception" where Leonardo DiCaprio's protégée first learns how to "map" a city sat at the café Café Debussy in the 15th?

Is it too obvious to say that the French capital, is one of the most filmed cities in the world! Join our tour of Paris' famous cafés for just £125 per person for a weekend that includes language tuition as well as a full schedule of activities organised and chaperoned by our team (details below). As always we will give you all plenty of opportunity to explore on your own. We let you book your own travel and accommodation so you decide where you stay, for how long and how you prefer to get there. Early birds will get the best prices, so book your place now and start to dream of your trip to Paris in the Spring!

DETAILS

Price for the workshop is £125 and includes: 

• 15 hours French conversation
• Programme of activities
• Useful addresses & documents
• Guidance and coaching

A deposit of £60 is required to secure your place. Detailed programme available upon reception. Full amount payable a minimum 2 weeks prior to departure.

ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL
We also recommend you BOOK now to save money on your travel arrangements and hotel booking. To give you some options, we recommend booking at least 30 days prior to travel on Eurostar to ensure return rates as low as £69 per adult, pending availability. Note we cannot offer travel arrangements as we are not an agent, yet we know from experience of regular trips to Paris, that deals are to be had the earlier you book. We can however, help you with booking your accommodation, for a small additional fee, if you are not confident using your French. Below are some suggestions of local hotels:

• Hôtel St Pierre 4 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, 75006 Paris. Tel : +33 (0)1 46 34 78 80 
• Hôtel St André des Arts 66 rue Saint André des Arts, 75006 Paris
• Grand Hôtel des Balcons 33 rue Casimir Delavigne, 75006 Paris : +33 (0)1 46 34 78 50
• Odéon Hôtel 3 rue de l'Odéon, 75006 Paris : +33 (0)1 43 25 90 67

We look forward to exploring several cafés while following the footsteps of celebrities, stopping to sit and eat in the very places where past and present actors, writers, artists and historic figures have frequented!  

"Paris is magical at all times and who could ask for more than you as a companion!" Clare P, Cambridge

Thursday March 8th find out about “La belle Normandie” so close and yet so different…

Just a short way across the Channel, by ferry, train or plane, is the Normandy region which bears an uncanny likeness to the Southwest of England: it’s so green, so lush, so peaceful and the food is so good! Yet it is definitely a different world altogether, this region of France is not only famous for its local dishes of course, its verdant landscapes, its spectacular coast, and its architecture but also for its historical past. What makes it interesting particularly to English visitors is the connexion they can witness and feel with their own history. Further to being annexed by the Romans first then by the Vikings, it was disputed for centuries by English and French kings and it is where D-Day armies landed. 

Through the past centuries Normandy has been the home of numerous French celebrities, there’s even a tour called “La route des écrivains” that will lead you from the home of one author to another. On this "roadtrip", you will discover the lives of Flaubert, Maupassant, Claude Monet, Eugène Boudin and Victor Hugo, while setting your eyes on beauty spots along the River Seine, the coast between Honfleur and Deauville or further west the Mont Saint Michel (a larger version of Mount St Michael near Penzance).

As usual we will be carefully study the workshopt's recipes and you will get a chance to help cook some of the regional specialties for your dinner complete with the famous “trou Normand”! After the sacrosanct Aperitif we will learn to bake a Camembert as a starter, and prepare a traditional Poulet à la crème, Normand Chicken of course, served with a Salade campagnarde and the dessert will have to be a Tarte au pommes au Calvados. There will be a choice of cider and wines from the Pays de Loire. 

A few spaces are still available on Thursday 8th of March, for our next "French on your plate" workshop, so don’t miss this opportunity to practise your French! It's only £60 and includes the meal above, plus 4 hours of French conversation and tuition. Here's what previous participants walk away saying "Great food, great recipes and learning French at the same time"

And later in March we will be embarking on a trip to “Another Paris”. Contact us if you wish to join us and don’t forget to keep an eye on the next entry of this blog for more details.