Small Group Trips
It’s great that so many people are interested in discovering the French countryside, because I love showing people around my little piece of France. I’m going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions, and some of the funny questions I get asked.
How do I get the train/airport to the chateau? I always pick visitors up, and return them. It’s the country; cabs , Uber and Lyft aren’t there yet.
What do I wear? On your feet, shoes that will see you over cobblestone streets, muddy fields, and everything in between. One absolutely brilliant visitor brought older clothes that she jettisoned along the way. More room to bring home treasures! Compression stockings for the plane are a huge help preventing swollen ankles. Layers! It always seems to rain at some point, and they saw the difference between good weather a bad weather is how you are dressed.
France is considered a fashion capital, and that extends to the countryside as well. Lovely scarves and and shoes are available. Do you know your European shoe size? Can you say it in French?
Hairdryers, WiFi, Phones, Lap tops, Ipads. No, yes,yes, yes and yes. Don’t bother with an American hairdryer. Hairdryers You will just start a fire. Everything else can be charged with an inexpensive charger. I buy them by the dozen on Amazon.
Check with your cellphone carrier, before you leave home. T-Mobile doesn’t charge for data, texts and roaming. Verizon seems to always have problems. What’s App works great.
Food! Wine! Cheese!
Its all good, lots of choices, things are enjoyed during their peak season. Spring is a time for strawberries, young garlic, apricots, and white asparagus. In the fall there are chestnuts, cepes (porcini mushrooms) borreau, which is the new wine, pumpkins…and then there is the duck, oysters, foie gras, frites, ice cream…cheese, and all the wine that Bordeaux is famous for.
Basic food rules: chef can be offended when you don’t finish, so don’t over order. Cheese is after your main course, no matter that my husband wants it as a starter.
Entree, is the starter, or otherwise known as the entrance to your meal. You won’t be rushed, and the waiter will not bring the bill until asked. Tip is included, you can always leave something, but not necessary.
Petit dejeuner otherwise known as breakfast. Its coffee, tea, hot chocolate, croissants, bread, butter, jam, yogurt, juice. Maybe some muesli. The French are embracing brunch, but the countryside is still traditional. Not to worry, a big lunch is heading your way.
This is a great time to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.
Markets & Shopping!
Do people ever fight over the same item? No. And I’ve never had anyone come home empty handed. I find Show and Tell at the end of the day really fun, and we all admires each other’s finds, people like different things. So no, I’ve never had anyone fight over something in the market.
Money$$$
Travelers checks are virtually uncashable. I have had some people surprised that vendors won’t take US dollars. ATM’s are the best way to get money, so up your limit and make sure your pin is numeric. PS I love my peeps!
