What We Plan To Visit In France

TH OCT 18 Day One : BORDEAUX.  Recover from jetlag, visit Bordeaux (Corinne will meet us at the airport)
FR OCT 19 Day Two : SAINT-EMILION. 
SA OCT 20 Day Three : PAYS BASQUE. 

SU OCT 21 Day Four : TGV to PARIS. Staying at : Quai Saint-Michel 11, 75005 Paris
MON OCT 22 Day Five : PARIS.  Reversing the morning and afternoon activities on this day also works well, because the Champs-Elysées Walk leaves you near the Louvre (above center) — but most people have more energy for museums in the morning. Morning: Tour the Louvre (arrive 8h40 which is 20 minutes before opening) the museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Late night openings on Wednesdays and Fridays until 9:45 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Take the Guided Tour “Louvre's Masterpieces” which starts at 11am. Tickets en vente exclusivement sur place le jour de la visite, Le départ des activités s'effectue à l'Accueil des groupes, dans le hall Napoléon (sous la pyramide)  Have lunch or coffee at Café le Nemours (across the street, on Place Colette). Afternoon: Follow the book's Champs-Elysées Walk from the Arc de Triomphe downhill along the incomparable avenue de Champs-Elysées to the Tuileries Garden and possibly the Orangeries Museum. Evening: Enjoy dinner on Ile St. Louis, then a floodlit walk by Notre-Dame (above right).

TUES OCT 23 Day Six : PARIS.  Morning: Tour the d’Orsay Museum (above left) (arrive 15 minutes before opening) open from 9.30am to 6pm daily, except Mondays. late night on Thursdays until 9.45pm. Midday: Take the book's Montmartre Walk (above center), featuring the Sacré-Cœur basilica Afternoon: Visit Pere Lachaise Cemetery (above right), relax at Café du Marché near Rue Cler near hotel.

WED OCT 24 Day Seven : PARIS, CHARTRES.  Day trip to Chartres (above left). ??? Getting there : Early train to Chartres.  Not sure yet.  If so, Lunch at Bistrot de la Cathédrale, Le Serpent, Café des Arts, Le Cloître Gourmand, or Le Pichet.  Early afternoon: Return to Paris. In the afternoon, follow Historic Paris Walk from Rick's Paris guidebook, featuring Ile de la Cité, Notre-Dame, Latin Quarter (above, second from left), and Sainte-Chapelle (above, second from right). If we enjoy medieval art, we visit the Cluny Museum (above right).

THURS OCT 25 Day Eight : Normandy’s Capital of ROUEN.  Check into hotel and spend at least two hours exploring city’s ancient core.

FRI OCT 26 Day Nine : CAEN, BAYEUX.  Drive toward Bayeux, stopping en route to visit Abbey de Jumieges, one of the most evocative ruins in France. Also stop to visit Abbeye aux Hommes, founded by William the conqueror. You will get to Caen (above left) by lunchtime. Afternoon: Continue west towards Bayeux (above right) visit le Musee des Tapestries de Bayeux (above middle).  Eat at Le Pommier, one of the most appealing restaurants in Bayeux. Reasonably priced.

SAT OCT 27 Day Ten : D-DAY BEACHES.  This day is reserved for exploring the D-day beaches (above left). From Bayeux, head east to explore the coastline. Start at the seaside resort of Arromanches les Bains (above middle), where you can visit the Musee du Debarquement, Omaha Beach, and the Normandy American Cemetery. You can have lunch in the town of Grandcamp Maisy at Hotel Duguesclin (4 quai crampon 02 31 22 64 22), later checking out Utah Beach. That evening, drive to Pontorson, near Mont St-Michel (DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME : ROLL BACK YOUR CLOCKS)

SUN OCT 28 Day Eleven : MONT SAINT-MICHEL.  Mt St Michel (above left). The great Benedictine monastery founded in 966 is best enjoyed by taking an English language tour that covers the highlights. After viewing the abbey, drop in at La Mere Poulard for a legendary omelet. In the afternoon, head to St Malo, Dinan (above middle), Sleep in Quimper (above right) (3 hrs away). 

MON OCT 29 Day Twelve : COTE BRETONNE.  Visit Quimper, Carnac (above left) and head to Angers. Chateau d’Angers (above middle) dating from the 9th century was the home of the comtes d’anjou. Visit the castle to see the Apocalypse Tapestries (above right), stretching 328 ft. Stay in Hotel d’Anjou.

TUES OCT 30 Day Thirteen : CHENONCEAUX. Leave Angers (above left) and head for a visit at Chenonceau (above middle).  Late afternoon, head out to Limoges (above right).

WED OCT 31 Day Fourteen : SARLAT & DORDOGNE (Sleep in Allas Les Mines)  (Limoges-Sarlat-AllasLesMines is a 3-hr drive)   Morning: Drive to Sarlat and meet Guy and Coco for lunch.  Afternoon: Go directly to le village de Allas-Les-Mines (chez Coco).

THURS NOV 1 Day Fifteen : DORDOGNE.  Morning Beynac-et-Cazenac (above left), Sarlat (above middle), Afternoon La Roque-Gageac (above right).

FRI NOV 2 Day Sixteen : Dordogne Visit Domme (above left), Lascaux (above middle) or St-Cirq-Lapopie (above right).  In the late afternoon, drive back to Bernos (Allas Les Mines to Bernos is a 3-hr drive).

SAT NOV 3 Day Seventeen :    DEP 13h20 Bordeaux Terminal B AR 14h40 Paris (CDG)   DEP 16h35 Paris (CDG) Terminal 2E AR 19h55 New York (JFK).

Can't wait to get started...