The Cabaret Intourlude Itinerary

of May 12 to 21, 2009 as an example.

This itinerary has lots of flexibility built into it -- we're open to suggestions and magic.
    Claudia Hommel
  • An evening departure from Chicago.
  • DAY 1—An orientation tour of Paris by chartered bus. We stash away our large luggage, have a light lunch at the Gare d'Austerlitz, and take the train to Brive-La Gaillard (sleep off some of the jet lag). We lodge and dine at an idyllic country manor near Sarlat in Dordogne. This is the region of gastronomic delights.
  • DAY 2—Meandering through riverside towns, the ancient cliff-dwellers village of La Roque St. Christophe, lunching in Sarlat, strolling through Josephine Baker's chateau and falconry exhibit. Exquisite dinner at our manor house.
  • DAY 3—After a leisurely morning in the countryside and lunch in Brive, return to Paris to dine in the neighborhood around our Latin Quarter hotel, the 3-star Elysa-Luxembourg. Finish the night at the oldest intimate cabaret room, the Lapin Agile in Montmartre.
  • DAYS 4-7 were open to variation with plenty of opportunity to explore on one's own, map and Metro tickets in hand: shopping, strolling, museums by the half-dozen, sitting in parks, catching a free concert at the Cluny, walking up to see the stained glass windows of the Sainte-Chapelle, visiting artist studios and galleries during the "open doors" in Belleville. A stop in Claudia's neighborhood near Canal St. Martin, a stroll by the waterfalls at La Butte Chaumont. Visits to the Eiffel Tower by day and by night.
  • DAY 5—We skipped the outdoor sing-along at Place Monge because of weather. Some went to the Quai Branly exhibit of "Century of Jazz".
    —We meet up for buffet and company at Patricia LaPlante's expat salon
  • DAY 6—Claudia's friend Jean Gilles takes intrepid walkers for a six-hour tour of the 5th and 13th arrondissements, with a fabulous Vietnamese lunch in the middle.
    —The canteen Bouillon Chartiers is closed for renovation so we have dinner at A la biere, a neighborhood bistro in the 20th arrondissement.
  • DAY 7—The Musée d'Orsay in the morning.
    —A visit to Joinville-le-Pont to meet the students of the Ecole du Spectacle, watching excerpts of their latest works.
  • Day 8—The weather is perfect for a day trip to Giverny to stroll through Monet's house gardens, picnic by the Seine in Vernon and visit the newly renamed Musée des impressionnismes (formerly Musée d'art américain of the Terra Foundation).
    —Our van returns us to the Bastille where Eric Vincent's houseboat is moored and our private dinner-concert-cruise on the Seine begins.
  • DAY 9—A late morning return to the States.
    The tour package includes:
  • Round trip airfare from Chicago to Paris
  • Airport transfers and orientation tour
  • Transportation to Dordogne and Giverny
  • 8 nights of fine lodging (double occupancy)
  • 8 breakfast buffets and 8 other meals
  • Entrance to several museums and musical events
  • And Claudia as your bon vivant throughout