Most likely departure date June 30, 2011. Arrive Paris morning of July 1.
Days 2-5 (July 1-4) NORMANDY. Explore the French city of Bayeux, home of the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Visit the Normandy beaches. Sing a concert, hopefully in Normandy.
Days 6-8. CHARTRES-WINE COUNTRY. Visit the French cities of Chartres, Orleans, and Tours with a single hotel in one of the centrally located cities. We would sing somewhere, hopefully Chartres Cathedral, but other possibilities abound.
Days 9-11. PARIS. The usual sights. Sing a concert at a welcoming venue. Betty wants our farewell dinner atop the Eiffel Tower!
EXTENSION POSSIBLE. In Paris or ???? In all a concert in each major section of the tour.
Land tour estimate 2500-3000USD depending on the Euro, which is at the moment is more like it was in Italia than BVP. NOTE: THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE, WHICH AS I WRITE WOULD ADD BETWEEN $800-$1000. Christine can not give us an estimate on airfare at this point because the airlines deal in trips 12 months or less in advance. You will be able to purchase your own airfare or use your own frequent flyer miles as long as you are in Paris at the crack of dawn July 1. It is fun to go with the group.
By the end of April the trip committee would request a $200, non refundable deposit from singers. This would give Christine the financial capability to work on our behalf.
The trip committee consists of Betty Kehoe, Todd Richard, Scott Ferriera, Richard Leigh and myself. WE ARE NOT AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB. If you would like to join the committee please let us know. We will probably meet in mid March to set up a payment plan. Sorta like a root canal. You won't have to fork over the entire amount at once!!!
We can also use this blogspot as a vehicle for sharing books, ideas, etc. For example, the castle in the Danish town where my daughter Kirsten was married has a wonderful copy of the Bayeux tapestry. I have a book about the tapestry I am happy to lend out--after I actually read it!!!
Last, but certainly not least, check your passport. The airlines will not issue you a ticket with a passport that needs renewal in 2011. SO suck it up and get a new a new passport now. OR, as soon as you finish that exciting trip to Istanbul. (No kidding aside the State Department currently has my passport because it expires in August on the day Jims and I are to board a cruise ship to sail along the Norwegian coast.) 'Nuff Said. I will be in VA from Feb 10-Mar 1. But you do know how to reach me. SO....start saving your money and let's sing in Paris!!!!! bk
