From the Beginning

Welcome to my world. We will explore the globe "from a woman's point of view." My memories of strolls along the most famous boulevards in cities famous and infamous will inspire your own dreams of wanderlust.  Brew a cup of tea, mix a martini or pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly and join the journey. My inspiration for telling the memoirs of my life as a travel consultant, fairy godmother to my guests and dream merchant are many; however I am hopeful that your interest in opening your mind and life to exploring your own passions will guide you to set sail on this sojourn and plan to join us on one of our programs in the near future.

Let's begin at the beginning; a sunny day in Provence, the South of France. The time May 2000, place, Hotel de Europe in Avignon. Enter the enchanted couurtyard scented with jasmine and enveloped in wisteria blossoms. The hotel opened in 1799, fanfare abounded for the arrival of Napoleon the First. The suite he occupied is available for guests today at the top of the grand staircase trimmed in scarlet and surrounded by Goblein tapestries. Another illustrious guest, Jacquleine Kennedy Onassis resided in a top floor suite with a terrace overlooking the Papal Palace. Generations of women like you have begun their Provencal visit at this grand hostelry surrounded by beautiful linens, porcelain and memorable dinners under the starlight sky in springtime. Conde Nast always lists this hotel on their annual Gold List.

I have begun more mornings than I can count with women anxious to begin their own personal sojourn through the romantic and breathtaking landscape that is Provence from this very hotel just inside the walled city of Avignon. Each day begins with freshly baked croissants, madeleines and bagettes covered in creamery butter and house made preserves. After much cafe au lait or chocolate we set out to explore the Sunday antique market in Isle L'Sorgue or perhaps lavender fields at Abbey de Senaque in the shadow of fabulous Gordes. The wonder of private secret gardens, picnics in twelfth century olive groves or shopping in the Wednesday market in St. Remy are just a sampling of the world  I wish to share with you.

A visit to Provence is not complete without some gastronomic out of this world memory. Typical cooking class is offered at Ousteau de Baumaniere in Les Baux. Jean Andre Charial has two Michelin stars and opens his kitchen for a select few to partake in classes to learn classic techniques for meats, vegetables, fish and the potatoes made famous in Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France". We include this once in a lifetime setting under the trees on a terrace overlooking the pool and garden of this Relais & Chateau hotel.

Just a sampling of the world I want to share with each woman who dares to dream the "impossible dream".