Day 01
|
CANADA
- BARCELONA
Departure from Canada for Europe |
Day 02
|
ARRIVE - BARCELONA
After arrival in Barcelona we transfer to our hotel
- at leisure before dinner |
Day 03
|
BARCELONA
Half day City Tour including the famous sites like
the Cathedral La Sagrada Familia by Gaudi and the busy
Las Ramblas area - the afternoon is at leisure for a stroll
through the historic Gothic Quarter or to get started with
some sketching |
Day 04
|
BARCELONA
In the morning we pay tribute to Gaudi as we have another
half day visit focusing on the works of the celebrated
artist - in the afternoon we take a leisurely drive along
the scenic Costa Brava where we also have some time for
sketching in one of the villages - we return in time for
dinner |
Day 05
|
BARCELONA - ANDORRA - ALBI
We stop just outside Barcelona at Montserrat, famous
pilgrimage site with the monastery Santa Maria - then we
head towards the Mountains and visit the tiny country Andorra
- later in the afternoon after a scenic drive we arrive
in Albi |
Day 06
|
ALBI
Today we start with a visit to Albi, an art town and
birth place of Toulouse Lautrec and we will visit Musee
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - then we take a short drive
in the afternoon to see Cordes, a typical Bastide town
- these towns were built in the 13th century by the British
and the French to encourage settlement of empty areas prior
to the Hundred Years War - they were planned with their
grid of streets and fortified perimeters |
Day 07
|
ALBI
We drive to Toulouse and visit the town located on
the Garonne River with its 2 striking Cathedrals and the
rose-brick Old Town which is 'Pink at dawn, red at noon
and mauve at dusk" - the afternoon will leave time
to paint or to visit one of the museums - as Toulouse is
also the site where the Airbus us being built - one might
take advantage of visiting the Cite de l'Espace ( from
rockets to airplanes…. ) |
Day 08
|
ALBI
We travel to Carcasonne the best fortified city in
all of France and perfectly restored medieval town - a
guided tour will give us an introduction to the town with
its Citadel, ramparts and towers - there will be time for
painting of course before returning to Albi |
Day 09
|
ALBI - SETE - ARLES
We relocate to the Mediterranean toad as we stop in
Sete, a charming fishing harbor - afterwards we continue
on to the historic town of Arles, our home base for the
next 3 nights |
Day 10
|
ARLES
Few other towns in the Provence combine all the region's
charms as well as Arles - from Roman origins with its well
preserved Amphitheatre for 21,000 spectators to the fact
that artists like Van Gogh spent time here - makes this
a special place - after a city tour there will be time
to explore and paint of course |
Day 11
|
ARLES
One has to stop and see the 2000 year old aqueduct
of Pont du Gard which even the Romans themselves considered
one of the testimonies to their engineering greatness -
then we travel to Avignon, the city of Popes - a tour of
the Palais des Papes is a must and many of the others sights
will also document the Papal Power that brought wealth
to this city - enjoy the provincial atmosphere of the town,
or get some sketching done before we return to Arles |
Day 12
|
ARLES
After traveling across the salt marshes of the Petite
Camargue we arrive in Aigues Morte, a fortified town -
afterwards we head to Nimes and you will have time on your
own to enjoy the town with its charming old streets full
of restored houses from the times when textile manufacturing
made the town rich ( denim !) - we return to Arles later
on |
Day 13
|
ARLES - LES BAUX - MARSEILLE
- GRASSE,PROVENCE
We stop to see the deserted citadel of Les Baux, a
unique site - we then drive to Marseille where you can
enjoy lunch while strolling around the harbor area and
check out the fish market - we then settle into our home
base for the next nights in Grasse, in the heart of the
perfume production area |
Day 14
|
GRASSE, PROVENCE
We follow the footpath of so many painters who came
to the Provence to find inspiration - painters or on painters
- we will all enjoy the charms of the villages like Vence
and St.Paul de Vence, perched atop the French Riviera Coast
line - being in the heart of the perfume country we most
likely will have to drop in and visit one of the factories…
and there will be time to paint of course and we might
just stop by in Nice for a quick look around |
Day 15
|
GRASSE, PROVENCE
Today we might check out St.Tropez, famous from the
times when Brigitte Bardot filmed 'And God created Women
' in 1956 in the then sleepy little town - and we drive
along the coast past Cannes and Antibes or have some more
time for painting |
Day 16
|
GRASSE, PROVENCE - NICE
- CANADA
Transfer to airport and flight home |
