Video of Provence, Mediterranean, Paris

Watch our Video:

Our October trip to Paris, Provence and the Mediterranean.

Just as the song in the video says: you can do anything. Why not follow your Bliss?

You only live once!

PLAY 

October, 2011 Video 

Anthony Bianciella (our traveling photographer) produced this video of our most recent trip. It includes shots from all over the Luberon,  the Mediterranean,  and Chateaufneuf du Pape.

Yours Truly, on a Bliss-ful trip

A Bientot,Wendy

Ideas for What to See Over the Holidays in Paris

Holidays in Paris!

Holiday shopping and Christmas markets...

Paris by night over the holidays is even more lit up!The view is spectacular no matter what direction...Want to see more, watch our Paris Holiday video!This was us last year!

Photography in France...Tips, Tricks & Techniques for our Trips

I just have to start by saying, our photographer, Anthony Bianciella is amazing! Everybody says so. It's not just that he captures the scene, or provides good advice, or even that he's generous with his time in a very relaxed and low key way.  It's that he knows how to mix photography and fun. Some people come on our photo trips with no intention of doing any of the "photography" sessions or photo related options. And yet,  they end up doing everything! They follow Anthony around, asking for advice and chatting about how to really capture the beauty that surrounds them.  So, here he is! Our traveling photographer, in mid self portrait!Of course we photographed monuments. But, Anthony also shows people how to make the typical original. See what you think!And he always seems to be in the right place at the right time!But, we don't just photograph monuments. It's also about local "color" and, sometimes, the best of local color is all about the light,and sometimes it's best captured in Black and White! We capture all of what we do as well --the markets...The hikes and the sights....The wines and dining! My job is to pick superlative menus. But Anthony's job is harder --get the shot (or help someone else get the shot) before the food is eaten!Most importantly to me though, he captures the fun! Don't believe me? Just check out our client testimonials!If you want to learn more, contact Anthony or Wendy

5 Tips on How to Have it All: The Best of Being Home for the Holidays & Getting Away!

The big debate is whether to stay home for the holidays or whether to get away. You might want a homey "white Christmas" with your special dinner, relaxation, and family, friends and gifts. You may also want to get away and just take a break from it all --you know, a vacation! So, how can you have it all?1. Go Away just before the holidays, and return home a couple days before your "family" celebration! Why not? You can get away, relax, shop in a new and exciting environment (buying truly unique gifts for your loved ones.) You can pamper yourself a bit before the (joyful) work of hosting your family, cooking the meals and cleaning up the holiday messes.2. Bring your favorite aspects of your "at home" celebration with you when you go abroad for the holidays. That's right. Bring some of your gifts or that homemade special treat. Or plan that favorite meal. Why not bring your empty stockings and have them filled while you're away on your relaxing vacation! In other words, bring a little bit of "home" with you --just don't bring the oven or the dishes!3. Seek out some of your holiday favorites in your new destination. Do you love love love Chestnuts at Christmas time? Fine. Enjoy them locally prepared while you're away. Do you always have hot chocolate on Christmas morning, or roast goose or 7 fishes or a special dessert on your holiday? Great! See how the locals prepare it. (I can only speak to France, but the French do all of these things extremely well. So no worries for us!)4. Enrich your memories and experiences. Do you always take a walk? Sleep in? Go to mass? Do it somewhere else. You'll forever say "remember that year we went to Christmas mass or took our walk...in that special vacation destination. Trust me. In the years to come, you won't be saying --"gosh, I wish we hadn't taken that Christmas morning walk along the Seine in 2011. Our neighborhood is so nice." Nor will you say, "I'm so sorry we missed our local mass. Notre Dame wasn't really all it's cracked up to be." You'll be reminiscing about how lovely it was back then, and those memories will bring a smile to your face!5. Develop new traditions while you're abroad that you can incorporate into your future holiday celebrations. We all love our favorites. Grandma's cookies. The roast beef or turkey dinner. But, sometimes it puts a little zing in the holidays to add something new to the mix. Maybe, while you're away, you'll find something new you love to do, eat, drink, see....(I sure hope so). Then, next year, you can engage in that activity at home. I have a friend who brought me some very special tea and cakes from Europe  one year. Now, we make or buy those same items each year around the holidays. Not only is it a good memory, it's a new and special treat. 6. Enjoy the company of others. Go with a group and/or bring a loved one, or a friend, or two. It doesn't have to be as expensive as you think. You can get cozy and share a room (since you probably won't spend much time in it anyway, or you can live it up and do something super luxe.) You can enjoy your time with the people you travel with (even kids, who everyone worries won't travel well, do, in fact, enjoy new locations. They're interested and entertained and just as happy as you are. I know. Really. We do it all the time.) You can even travel alone and make new friends. Our experience from our small group trips is that people truly enjoy each other's company and often remain friends and keep in touch.

Paris: Top 6 Culinary Treats During the Holidays

One of the great things about French food is that it's so seasonal....Unlike our large supermarkets where you can find "n'importe quoi, n'importe quand" (anything, anytime), that's not the case in France. April/May are for strawberries and asparagus. July and August for peaches and melons, and so on. Well, the December holidays, though not during a "growing" season, have some of the most special culinary treats of any time of year. This is the time of year for....1. Foie Gras. Too hot to keep well (and too rich) for summer. This is prime time for foie gras. Best served with dried fruits, fruit breads, chutney...Don't miss out on this. There are even "stands" at some of the Christmas markets that serve this as street food. And also, there are fabulous specialty places that make or bring in the best of the best. We have a restaurant we frequent who does this beautifully.

foie gras by the "master" (photo by Anthony Bianciella)

2. Oysters and Champagne. Yes, you can have this along the streets or by the river bank during the holidays only. The vendors are set up, and a heater or fire is not too far away. Contemplate the lit up night sky while having these treats. Best of the best, at the best time of year. Walk to find the best market streets or by the river bank, where the views are "manifique".

3. Chestnuts. In many forms. Roasted, and sold on the streets, or pureed and served with lamb or venison. Or candied and soaked in cognac (and sold by the best gourmet shops. Try Fauchon for this special treat. They do it particularly well.) A nutty but sweet flavor, that can be an accompaniment to both savories and desserts (think, Mont Blanc)!

photo by Sarah Miller Photography

4. Anything...in a Truffle Sauce. (Still remembering that dish as it simmered for Christmas Eve dinner in a little --very little-- bistrot we frequent, on the Left Bank). I met the chef that morning as I was out shopping and he was taking a cigarette break. When i commented on the heavenly smell coming from his kitchen, he invited me in. He showed me the boudin blanc and the truffle sauce he was making. Also cooking a stuffed game hen for the night, he gave me a personal recommendation --Get the hen, and then ask for the truffle sauce on the hen. Sublime!

 (And just as an aside, I have to tell you the most amazing story. I was in Provence, finishing a very small group trip, when a 2 star Michelin chef asked to speak with me to thank me for bringing my clients to his establishment. He asked what he could do for me, and I jokingly said, "you can give me a truffle" and pointed to the huge (and I mean huge) box of truffles sitting a few feet away....He laughed. And a few minutes later started barking orders to people in the kitchen. Within 30 seconds a bag was handed to me with 3 giant black truffles, and a warm thank you. I was in shock --and very, very grateful. I shared my good fortune with the people who had helped make the trip a success, and we used the truffles to make eggs, truffle butter, top pasta, and marvelous sandwiches with cheese. Yum.)

5. Warm Wines. As we stroll the Christmas markets, there are vendors who sell warm mulled wine, both white and red. They add calvados or cognac to them for an added degree of "warmth" and you take your cup and stroll along the miles of markets looking for your favorite artisan products or gifts. Highly recommend this. We visit several of the markets each year. One with art and antiques, one with traditional gifts and crafts...And always some with fabulous gourmet products.6. Chocolates. This is the time of year the really fine, and very perishable chocolates come out of hiding--and in full view. Perhaps you've heard of the wonderful Maison du Chocolat. Truly a great place. But, there are some remarkable, amazing, smaller (lesser known outside of Paris, but feted as masters in Paris) chocolate houses....And dare I say, it's worth going to Brussels to experience some of this magic. We often do day or overnight trips to Brussels for just this purpose (along with some mussels, or amazing savory waffles). One year, I insist, I'm doing this over the Holidays with a group. You don't know what you're missing!

Brussels, at Christmas (photo by Sarah Miller Photography)

Paris Postings...What's Up This Season in the City of Light!

Paris is always beautiful. Paris has an excitement that permeates the air. Whether we're strolling through the Luxembourg Gardens or visiting the Christmas Markets, there's just nothing that's better than a spin through this city.Where else can you find a 1000 year old church (in which an emperor was crowned) built on the site of a 2000 year old church, which was in turn, built on the site of a temple to Jupiter? Oh, and just to make things a bit better, just around the corner is a place that serves the best "n'importe quoi" (anything) for dinner served with a glass of absolutely marvelous wine....Enough said. A picture is worth at least a few words. So, let's post some from Anthony Bianciella, our favorite traveling photographer (and the one who will  be chronicling our holiday trip, making DVD's of the highlights for everyone, and also offering one-on-one photography lessons, tips and help for people taking their own shots.)Maybe just a little stroll before dark? Or if you're too tired, a bike ride!

From whatever angle, the Left Bank is pretty close to perfect.But, what truly sparkles with beauty is Paris over the holidays. Not a lot of tourists. Lots and lots of lights. Christmas tree displays, mile long holiday marekts in every corner of town, decorations and different sorts of tress by every monument...

Even in the Chocolate shops! Look! It's true. This Left Bank shop is a real gem, and quite beautiful over the holidays in particular (when chocolates won't melt).

Next up...Gourmet treats ONLY served during the holidays!

Paris Hotel Rooms and Holiday Travel Planning!

We are planning our Holiday Paris Getaways.

We are always asked about the Paris hotel rooms. It's really hard to tell "what you are getting", especially when you are dealing with different cultures and different cultural expectations. People tell us nightmare stories about the room with the bath down the hall or the beautiful room --that was 40 minutes, and a subway ride-- from anything they wanted to see.So, to help people out, we wanted to post some photos of actual rooms we use, and to describe what people will  see when they turn the key in the door of their room!We use only centrally located lodging --we prefer the Left Bank, in the 6th Arrondissement or the Right Bank in the 1st Arrondissement for people traveling with us. The hotels are always boutique. The hotels are always 3 or more stars.  We describe them on our website at www.blisstravels.com under each trip description. The hotels or Inns are always located in great locations within walking distance to the major sites and great restaurants and cafes. They are always charming and feel Parisian. The "luxury" ones have additional amenities, such as designer products, larger rooms, super luxe baths, and ultra gourmet breakfasts --sometimes even cool jazz bars or other hang out spots!So, that all sounds good, but the real question is "what do we consider charming, boutique lodging in Paris"? Some of the below. These are what we call "standard" rooms in the 3 star hotels we use. So, if you're coming to Paris over the holidays with us on one of our Paris Getaways  (http://www.blisstravels.com/parisgetaways.html#ParisTrip ) this is what you can expect for "standard lodging". thedsOur Inns in Provence are equally charming and even a bit more spacious and luxurious than our standard rooms...If you are booking our "luxury" lodging, then that includes larger rooms, Bose sound systems, robes, large, all marble bath rooms with special showers/tubs (rainforest showers, and the like), along with sitting areas in each room and many other special amenities, including "over the top" quality breakfasts each morning.I hope this helps for those of you who have asked! Write or call if you'd like more info! You can also watch one of our client video slide shows on our homepage www.blisstravels.comwendy@Blisstravels.com or 609 462 6213

Top 4 Ways to Have an Amazing Journey into Provence!

Want to have almost as much fun getting to Provence, as you have in Provence? Here are 4 easy ways to do that!1. Pack light. Don't make your travel a wrestling match with your luggage.2. Try to get an upper level seat on the TGV for a great view! 3. Pack a gourmet picnic and a great bottle of wine. Our picnics are highlights of our trips...and we include things like foie gras stuffed ballotin of chicken or homemade zucchini flans with goat cheese and roast tomatoes, walnut cabbage salad, smoked duck, sausages, quiche, fig bread, muscat grapes, tapenades....In other words, "the best items" from our favorite hand selected places.  In our world, there is no such thing as "over doing it".-Pair with a wonderful Chateauneuf du Pape white, or white Croze Hermitage in Spring and Fall, or a great rose in summer!4. Have someone meet you in Avignon, and, literally, "head for the hills" --away from the hustle and bustle of it all. And enjoy being there!

Fall...Along the Mediterranean

Yes, jousting is still possible to watch. Bet you wanted to know how popular this Medeival sport really was. We were pretty surprised to see this. But, it does fit with the mood along the coast, where there are games and performances, no matter what the season.

Wine tasting in our favorite "cave". Trying the local whites.

Dinner in a private room, overlooking the Mediterranean cliffs at sunset.

Some of the dining choices...Mussels along the Med are often paired with wonderful sauces. This had a tomato, onion, and a touch of cream.Rascasse -- a fish found only in the Mediterreanean.A nice walk after a satisfying dinner.

calm and quiet after the summer high season.

cafe lounging before our walk around the cliffs.It was a beautiful, fall day...wind was blowing, but that made the sky very blue and the temperatures cool enough to walk all afternoon.

Food

Bliss and all things culinary....

Fall meals, casual and gastronomic, from our week in France...Anyone want to know what wines we like to pair with these dishes? Which one pairs with a Muscat de Beaume de Venise, and which one a Rose? Which one can stand up to a red?

Moules!Rascasse a la ProvencaleThe cheese and olive bread, meringues, and pastries from the best place in town!

Truly fine dining --wild mushrooms, girolles, riz de veau ....mmmmm!

Foie gras, chutney des fruits sec, figues...There's really nothing more to say, is there!

Provence + Picnics = Paradise!

On the way...Half the fun is getting there!The butcher, cutting our market treats to order!Some very authentic, less touristy markets.Say "Cheese"!Mmmmmmm!Ho Hum! Just a little picnic spot!Amazing what a nice lunch (and a little --or a lot of --rose will do for you!! Stay tuned for more shots from our trip. Next stop, the Mediterranean!

Wine Tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape

Our first day was in Chateauneuf du Pape, where it's all about Grenache! That's the grape that is used the most in wines from Chateauneuf du Pape. (Though it's possible to use up to 13 grapes in the wine.) We tried pure grenache as well as wines with various combinations....And tasted them  it in an ancient cave (with Roman ruins) and a beautiful chateau.  Photography was hard to resist!Now for three days in the Luberon! It's simply the most beautiful place I've ever seen.A private "welcome" dinner prepared just for us. And off to bed for a restful night in a Medieval village.

7 "Musts" for the Ultimate Wine Tasting in Burgundy

Want to have the "ultimate" experience in Burgundy, tasting wines and visiting vineyards? Who doesn't! Here are some tried and true tips for ensuring your trip is over the top fabulous!1. Location, Location, Location! Experience the "terroir". Find someone to take you around and "introduce you" to the various parcels of land. You know that fabulous Chardonnay you love? The one from "Les Charmes" (perhaps). Well, visit that plot. See where it's grown. It's all about real estate. 2. Think Small! Some of the best vineyards, and best wine production in Burgundy is from small parcels of land. Just cause it's tiny and just cause you haven't heard of it means nothing. Good things often come from small packages!3. Timing is everything! Yep, that's right. The year's very important. And not just because it might be a "good" or a "bad" year. It's more complicated than that. A wine from one year might be fabulous and open immediately. A wine from another year might be fabulous (and open) 10 years later. Knowing the year of your wine and when to open that wine, is very important.4. Talk to the winemaker. You must find a wine maker to take you through his or her cellars and discuss their philosophy and methods. Nothing (and I mean nothing) beats that! If you don't have any personal connections (and let's face it, most of us don't) then find someone who does. Do you have a friend in the business? Can you join someone who's already doing this? Whatever it takes, as the saying goes, "just do it"!5. It's all about You! Trust yourself. Often people are bamboozled by the expert or the name. You're the one drinking the wine. So, you are the one who has to like it. Do a blind tasting so that you're not overly influenced by extraneous factors. You'll be surprised by how much you know and how consistent your taste really is.6. Learn to Read a Label. It's more than art. Each word has a reason, and helps you identify the wine. It includes things like vineyard, ranking, year, winemaker etc. Can you imagine how you might choose a wine if there was no label? Well, that's what you're doing when you don't know how to read the label! Information is power!7. Relax. Everyone is just too intense about wine. It's meant to be enjoyed. So, enjoy yourselfWant to learn more about our photos or a  trip to Burgundy visit www.blisstravels.com. Or contact wendy@blisstravels.com.

Our Provence...A Few Market Highlights!

Markets and Picnics! Two of our favorite things!

Bread from the best wood fired oven bread stand.

And a little spice!

Award winning sausages...duck, wild boar, pork, lamb...accented with goodies like walnuts, mushrooms, roquefort, olives or spices.

Seasonal produce like white asparagus.

Olives, Olives...Did we say, "Olives"?

Wine and Cheese...Mais Oui!The final result! Nothing better than a gourmet picnic on the TGV! Nothing!

Cooking Lesson in Provence

How To Make Soupe au Pistou!Soupe au Pistou is a Provencal dish (and a real treat). It's a vegetable soup laced (read: filled) with a garlic and basil pesto. Everyone has different recipes for it. Bliss Travels recipe is below. We taught it to a group last May, and they loved it. Of course, they picked herbs on a farm in Provence, sat outside, using a "summer kitchen" and drank wonderful rose! Dinner was served on a terrace, by candlelight, and everyone thought it a great success. Needless to say, people were happy!My preference is to use a small amount of potato for the starch, rather than the slightly less traditional pasta. I do this because the potato essentially dissolves and the starch thickens the broth. Pasta doesn't do this. And pasta will continually expand and "eat up" all of the liquid in your soup. This soup is better, better, best room temperature after sitting a few days. Yum! Serve it with a roast Camembert (not at all Provencal) or some local sausages and bread (much more "local") and have a wonderful evening in and "from" the garden!

Soupe au Pistou

4 Medium Leeks, white and light green only, thinly sliced12 ounces onion, thinly sliced12 ounces carrots, cut into quarters and thinly slice1 to 1 ½ pounds of potatoes, thinly slicedBay leafThyme, 1 stick celery12 ounces or more of haricots verts and other varieties of green beans2-3 zucchini, sliced thinly2 Tomatoes, finely choppedPistou:

4 cloves of garlic3 plus ounces of Basil leavesSalt/pepper3 ounces of grated parmesan cheeseApproximately one cup of Olive oilLemon, if desiredCook first six ingredients in large stock pot in salted water at slow boil for approximately 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook another 30 minutes. Reserved tomatoes until cooking is finished. This soup is not finished if the potato and zucchini haven't decomposed into the soup.Let soup cool. It is best to let soup rest for several hours if possible. Make pesto. Using a food processor, place garlic and parmesan in processor and pulse. Add Basil, pulse once or twice. Add oil in slow stream and season with salt, pepper and lemon.Add 2/3 of the Pistou into the soup, along with the chopped tomato.  The remainder can be served on the side as a condiment along with shredded parmesan cheese. Taste soup and correct seasoning. The soup can be served hot or room temperature, and is better the next day.Recipe by Wendy Jaeger of Bliss Travels… French culinary travel wendy@blisstravels.com

Tips for Your Best Ever Holidays... in Paris

Paris for the holidays! Wow! What a fabulous experience. Take our advice and follow these easy tips to make the most of your Paris adventure.1. Do pack waterproof boots or shoes --so the slushy streets don't slow you down!2. Do Make Dinner Plans for the Holidays. Even if you're not religious, many restaurants have special menus (or conversely, the "real" chef is away) during the 24th and 25th. So, plan to plan for these days. You will have a great time if you do!3. Do Choose in advance which Christmas Markets to visit. The Christmas markets are amazing! Each one of them is a bit different. Some focus on antiques. Some on food. Some on artisan products and touristy gifts...(Our personal favorite is the foie gras vendor at one of the markets--who is across from  the caviar stand! Where else in the world can you have foie gras and Sauternes or Caviar blinis while standing on a street decorated with lights, and lined with world class monuments?) Decide where you want to go and make sure you give yourself enough time to linger at each stand. Don't forget to have a glass of warm spiced wine to take the chill off!3. Do have "bad weather" plans. Have an idea of a warm cozy day, in case it rains or snows. What's your favorite small museum? What fabulous covered passageways haven't you seen? Which of the large department stores entice you? French theatre or film? Or simply bring your notebook and chill at a warm cafe and watch the world go by as you write your award winning novel.4. Do save room for the best hot chocolate in the world! Paris is full of places where you can get "real" hot chocolate, from the well known Angelina's to some of the lesser known, but top notch quality hot chocolate spots. Explore!5. Don't forget there are exciting day trips outside of Paris! If the weather permits, Champagne is wonderful over the holidays --and so appropriate!6. Do bring an extra bag rolled up in your suitcase, for all the gifts you are going to buy!For more information or to join us on one of our holiday trips, visit us at: http://www.blisstravels.com/parisgetaways.html#ParisTripor write wendy@blisstravels.com

7 Easy Steps to a Bliss-ful Vacation in France!

1. Pack Light! It's hard to be adventurous when you're bogged down. Plus, everything's smaller in France (elevators, car trunks, closets...). And, the walks are longer. You can't catch a train on the fly if you're lugging around everything you own!2.Think local! Sure, you should read some guide books or talk to a travel pro about what to see, but don't miss out on the "real" sites by keeping your head in the book. Look up! Get off the main arteries and find local haunts and authentic experiences.3. Talk it up! Find someone who has actually (and recently) been to France. Ask them where they went and what they liked and why!4. Eat authentically! Before picking a restaurant, walk the area. Don't go before 8pm (the start of the French dinner hour). Look and listen. Read menus. Avoid menus with long lists of dishes and translations into many languages. Those places are for tourists. Look for small menus, specialty places and market fresh blackboard specials. Then listen to the patrons (if there aren't any patrons, keep walking). Are many of the diners speaking French or are they tourists? The best food and the best deals are found in places that specialize in market fresh meals designed for locals.5. Drink local wines! Don't order a bottle just because you recognize the name. Once upon a time, food was local, as was wine. They matched perfectly because of this. Order what's local to match your market fresh meal. That might mean ordering a carafe of local wine or a bottle from a nearby vineyard.6. Travel "off the beaten track"! Find towns and villages that aren't on the major tour routes. Spend some time wandering through their streets, sipping a drink at the local cafe, or watching the locals play "boules". Really soak in the experience of being in France.7.Slow Down! Some Americans arrive wanting to go, go, go! They want to grab a quick sandwich at lunch so they can visit more sites, or they want to start each day at 7am so they can pack it all in. But life in France has a different rhythm. Many businesses don't open until 9-10am (especially in the countryside), and most businesses close for a couple hours during lunch. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy your time in France. Linger over your meals. Take an aimless stroll after lunch. And try to mimic the rhythm of a real French day. After all, you traveled many thousands of miles to be there!For a great selection of French travel off the beaten track trips, visit www.blisstravels.com or send me an email at wendy@blisstravels.com.