Dear Friends of French Affaires
As you know, I am excited to be able to continue Elizabeth’s fine work at French Affaires. Two successful trips took place in Burgundy and Lyon in September and October 2021, followed by the popular “Paris at the Holidays” offering.
These are being offered again in 2022. You can see the descriptions here.
In addition, we are doing a major private trip in April-May in Paris, followed by the very popular two-week “Live Like a Local” French language immersion trip in lovely Aix-en-Provence. Two weeks in Provence. I am headed there to review the events the first week of March. We have a nice group already signed on, and some space is still available. Lovely time of the year in Provence.
I know many friends of French Affaires have been on the Normandy trip (Rouen, Honfleur, Etretat, Calvados, Bayeux, Mont St-Michel). Covid has been challenging and has caused postponements, cancellations, and reimbursements.
I am very pleased that Burgundy, Paris, Aix are in place and running smoothly in 2022. I have engaged a charming and talented assistant in Mme Maud Hacker. She attended the renowned school at the Louvre (a five-year program in history, art, and cultural affairs) and lives in Paris. You can see her details here. She and Elizabeth have been co-workers in the past.
In addition, I am working with a garden specialist, Mme Mylene Sultane, and a wonderful culinary and wine expert from Burgundy, Mme Adeline Borra. 2021 Burgundy travelers got to know her well in September, and she was instrumental in carrying on with the October trip in the aftermath of Elizabeth’s death. Burgundy was a new offering in 2021 and it was one of Elizabeth’s best, in my view.
I have been on the Southwest France trip several times. Our good friend, photographer Eric Sander, has moved to the area from Paris. Many of you will know him from previous garden and photography trips. I know how hard it was for Elizabeth to have to cancel this trip in 2021. We spent our honeymoon in the Dordogne at Chateau de la Treyne and hotels like our favorite Vieux Logis are full of close friends.
I will work with Maud Hacker to insure these two offerings (Normandy and SW France) are preserved. I know many people were enrolled in 2021.
It would help me if you let me know by email about any possible interest in these two trips and others. Burgundy in October 2020 is also an option for Normandy and SW travelers. It is a very nice time of the year to sample a Pinot Noir, don an apron, enjoy the region’s wine and gastronomic treasures, and see the beautiful countryside and the cities of Beaune, Dijon, and Old Lyon.
Merci bien,
Christopher Seitz