The Food & Wine of

A Gastronomic Tour of the Bordeaux Region

September 18th - 26th 2021

Dear Travelers to the Bordeaux area, Bordeaux! The word conjures up the flavor of an excellent glass of wine, preferably red, though not necessarily so. Situated on the river upstream from the estuary, Bordeaux is ’s undisputed wine capital and as such attracts visitors from all over the world. But it is much more than that. On our tour we will first explore the city’s treasures—it boasts no fewer than seven listings on the UNESCO World Heritage sites—and the world’s largest reflecting pool, the miroir d’eau (water mirror), a relatively new site (2006) on the quay of the Garonne in front of the 18th-century Place de la Bourse. A gathering place for city dwellers young and old, especially during the Vineyard in St. Emilion summer months, it is also a refuge for tourists who seek an alternative to the noisy streets of Bordeaux. As we get to know the city, we will learn the region’s history. Bordeaux was not always part of France, for in the 12th century, when Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II of the House of Plantagenet, it became English and remained so until it was re-annexed to France by Louis the XIV in 1653. A more somber chapter in the history of Bordeaux is the important part it played for three centuries in the slave trade. After Bordeaux, we will begin our exploration of the region by driving to the medieval town of Saint-Emilion which presides over one of the principal red wine areas (the others are Médoc, Graves and Pomerol). The country roads we will travel are lined by sun- drenched vineyards and small châteaux whose names are familiar to most of us. On another daylong excursion, we will go to the town of Sauternes whose name is synonymous with the most famous—and expensive—white Bordeaux, Château d’Yquem. At one point in our travels we will drive west to the Atlantic and the town of Arcachon, where we will taste its delicious oysters and admire the largest sand dune in France, the Dune du Pilat.

The Bordeaux region is the birthplace of two famous the cost of this itinerary, per person, literary figures whose châteaux we will visit and whose double occupancy is: works we will sample towards the end of our stay. After our visit of the Abbey of Sauve-Majeure, we will proceed Land only (no airfare included): $4999 to the town of La Brède to see the estate of Montesquieu Single supplement: $1380 (1689-1755), a former judge and philosopher whose writings greatly influenced our Founding Fathers. And Airfares are available from many U.S. cities. Please call for details. on our last day, we will travel east to the birthplace of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), a former mayor of The following services are included: Bordeaux, and visit the remains of his château where he Hotels: 7 nights’ accommodation in a first-class hotel, including all composed his Essays. hotel taxes and service charges Coaching: All ground transportation as detailed in the itinerary As you can see, this tour is designed to offer a variety of Meals: Breakfast daily, 3 lunches, 4 dinners experiences to enrich your knowledge and understanding Host: Accompanied throughout by Prof. Catharine Lafarge of this southwest region of France. Guides: Discover tour guide throughout, local guides for tours of Bordeaux and St. Emilion I look forward to seeing you in Bordeaux in September Expenses: Porterage of one large suitcase per person 2021. Entrances: Entrance fees to all sites included in the itinerary Best, Please note that travel insurance is not included on this tour. Insurance information will be sent to each registrant on receipt of deposit. Catherine Lafarge

Discover Europe Ltd. e - [email protected] 95 Adams Street w - www.discovereuropeltd.com Keene, NH 03431 t - (toll free) 866-563-7077 USA f - (fax) 603-563-7137

Paris Saturday, September 18th - Departure from your chosen US gateway. Overnight: Plane

Sunday, September 19th - Your morning arrival at Bordeaux Airport will be met for the transfer to our city-center hotel. After checking in, there will be time to unpack, relax and begin exploring the neighborhood. Early this evening our tour guide will gather us together in the hotel lounge for welcome reception and orientation meeting, before we head out to a local restaurant for dinner. (D) Overnight: Bordeaux Bordeaux

Monday, September 20th - Today we will explore the beautiful, sophisticated center of Bordeaux, one of the leading wine cities in the world and an important way station on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. We will start our day with a panoramic tour of the city before we meet a local foodie guide of a culinary walking tour of the city center. For lunch, we will sample the wine, oysters, foie gras, cheese, pastries and chocolate that the city is known for! After lunch we will pay a visit to the magnificent Cité du Vin on the outskirts of the city. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free for individual exploration. (B, L) Overnight: Bordeaux

Tuesday, September 21st - After breakfast today we will explore the nearby town of Saint- Emilion. We will visit the Maison du Vin, and the iconic tower of the Chateau du Roy, before we head underground to explore the galleries, church, catacombs and other mysteries that lie beneath the city streets. After lunch (included), there will be time to explore on your own before we head back to the city. This medieval village offers more than just spectacular bottles Bordeaux Vineyard of wine, beautifully narrow side streets to explore, and ancient churches hewn into the rocks; there is much to explore beneath the surface as well. The evening is free in Bordeaux. (B, L) Overnight: Bordeaux

Wednesday, September 22nd - Heading towards the ocean today, we go west from the city to the coastal town of Arcachon, famed for its spectacular oysters. On the way, we’ll stop for a tasting and tour of one of the famous vineyards which have made the region synonymous with good wine. On arrival in Arcachon, we’ll visit the Maison des Huitres (the House of Oysters), which is a museum dedicated to everything oysters! After our visit, there will be time for lunch and then we’ll take a walk to visit the town’s four distinct districts, known by the seasons; summer (Ville d’Ete), autumn (Ville de’Automne), winter (Ville d’Hiver) and spring (Ville de Printemps). We will also see the Dune De Pilat, the largest sand dune in France, before we enjoy a lovely seafood dinner, accompanied by some local wine, and then head back to our hotel. (B, D) Overnight: Bordeaux

Thursday, September 23rd - Life requires balance, so to balance out all those deep reds and savory foods, today we turn our attention to the sweeter varieties. To do so, we will head southeast, following the course of the River Garonne, to the town of Sauternes. This renowned dessert wine is made from the Semillon, Muscadelle and Savignon Blanc grapes which are then conditioned by the “Noble Rot” (Botrytis cinerea). We will visit a local vineyard to try a variety of whites and have lunch among the freshly harvested grapes. This afternoon we visit the magnificent medieval castle of Roquetaillade – inhabited by the same family for over 700 years! We return to Bordeaux for a free evening. (B, L) Overnight: Bordeaux

Friday, September 24th - An excursion to the south today takes us to visit the romantic ruins of the Abbey of Sauve-Majeure. Originally founded in 1079, this Benedictine monastery became an important stopping point on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, mainly because of the wonderful examples of Romanesque architecture that still survive here. We’ll stop in the nearby town of Créon, where yu will be free to find lunch around thecharming main square. This afternoon we cross the river to the town of La Brède, where we will visit the domaine de Montesquieu, former home of the judge and philosopher Baron de Montesqieu - the man who came up with the theory of the separation of powers in government. On our return to Bordeaux, we will have time to freshen up before we gather again for dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B, D) Overnight: Bordeaux

Saturday, September 25th - The history of wine-making in this region of France goes back to at least Roman times and this morning’s visit will illustrate this. Heading east along the Dore Valley into the heart of the , we will visit the town Montcaret and the remains of a Roman Villa, excavated here in the 1920’s. The mosaic floors are among the best preserved in France. Following the river east we next visit the charming medieval “bastide” (a fortified town at a crossroads) of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande. We’ll stop here for lunch and have free time to explore the town (and perhaps do a little shopping). This afternoon, on our way back to Bordeaux, we’ll stop and visit the Chateau de Michel de Montaigne, the renowned 16th century French philosopher. On arrival at our hotel, we will have time to relax and freshen up before we gather for a farewell dinner and one last toast to one of the world’s best wine regions, Bordeaux. (B, D) Overnight: Bordeaux

Sunday, September 26th - Transfers this morning back to Bordeaux Airport for returning flights to the US.(B) Overnight: Home Key to included meals: B - breakfast, L - lunch, D - dinner Your Host: Catherine Lafarge Leading your trip will be Catherine Lafarge, Professor Emeritus of French at Bryn Mawr College. A native of France, Lafarge came to the United States in 1957 as a Fulbright scholar at Mt. Holyoke Col- lege, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She began teaching at Bryn Mawr in 1966, immediately upon earning her doctorate from Yale University. She chaired the French Department on several oc- casions and for a decade was dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In October, 2004 Professor Lafarge was awarded France’s Ordre des Palmes Académiques. The order, instituted in 1808 by Napoleon I, honors those who have made significant contributions to the understanding of French culture throughout the world. In her retirement years, she developed an interest in birding and traveled extensively in search of exotic birds. She also led tours to Paris and provincial France: Alsace, Burgundy, the Dordogne, the Loire & Rhône Valleys, Languedoc & Provence, and Normandy. Registration Form

General Instructions: Emergency Contact 1) Please type or print. This information is essential. 2) Make checks payable to Discover Europe, Ltd. 3) Be sure to read the Terms & Conditions and the Refund Policy Independent Flight Arrangements contained on the reverse before signing. If you are arranging your own flights, please provide your complete 4) Complete both sides of this form. flight information, giving the following: dates of travel, airline(s), 5) Detach the bottom section and mail it to Discover Europe with your flight numbers, departure and arrival airports and departure and deposit of $500 per person. Keep the top section for your records. arrival times for all flight segments that you have booked. (Please note that extra charges for transportation to and from the destination Detailed Instructions: airport may be incurred). If you need help arranging connecting Name(s). Please make sure that your name appears on this form exactly flights from your local airport to an international departure city, we as it does on your passport. Include your “Known As” or preferred will be happy to arrange those for you. There is a nominal charge name, if applicable. of $40 per ticket for this service. Passport Details. Having your passport details ahead of time enables Discover Europe to speed up the check-in process at hotels and helps Rooming Requirements in the event of lost or stolen documents. Please tick the appropriate boxes. We will book non-smoking rooms Address. If you have a different address, please provide us with the (where available) unless otherwise requested. details, including dates that you are there, on a separate sheet. i). If you are sharing a room, please let us know with whom. If you Special Dietary Requirements. Please let us know if you have any would like to share a room but do not have a roommate, we will be special dietary requirements. happy to try and match you up but unfortunately cannot guarantee Health Information. A certain amount of walking is involved in this that this will be possible. If no match is available, the single trip. Check the itinerary with your physician to ensure a safe and supplement will apply. comfortable journey. Travelers requiring special assistance must ii). A twin room has two separate single beds in it. A double room has be accompanied by a companion. one large bed. Please let us know your preference.  Passenger Details for Adventures In Alsace (0918/DMB) Passport Name: Special Dietary Requirements: 1. Title First Middle Last Health Information: 2. Title First Middle Last Other Comments or Notes: Known As: 1. 2. I am a member of Main Line School Night  Yes  No Passport 1#: Exp.Date: DOB: Passport 2#: Exp.Date: DOB: Trip Details Address: Departure Date: Return Date: City: State: Zip: Departure Airport or City: E-mail: I would like to extend my trip to: Preferred Telephone: ( ) work/cell/home circle one Secondary Telephone : ( ) work/cell/home Please return this form to: circle one Discover Europe, Ltd. 95 Adams Street, Keene, NH 03431 Terms & Conditions

General make adjustments in the following circumstances: 1. Please be sure to complete both sides of this form. 1. Exchange rates. Should the value of the dollar fall against the Euro by 2. Instructions to aid you can be found on overleaf. more than 10% in the 6 months prior to trip departure. 3. Space on this journey is limited and registrations are accepted strictly 2. Group size. This tour has been based on a group size of 15-20 on a first come, first served basis. participants. Should we end up with fewer than 15 people, Discover 4. Registration and payment imply acceptance of the terms and conditions Europe will work with Main Line School Night to determine a course of described herein. This information, as well as your itinerary description action which will involve either paying a surcharge to keep the tour as regarding dates, inclusions and prices, form the basis of your individual is, or making adjustments to the tour in order to keep the cost the same. contract with Discover Europe, Ltd. 3. Airfares. If your tour includes airfare, Discover Europe reserves the right 5. Registration and payment waive and release Discover Europe, Ltd. to pass along increases in costs (taxes, airport fees, fuel surcharges, etc.) Main Line School Night and Engaging Journey’s Inc., their affiliates, that are charged by the airline involved. directors, officers, employees, including any person or entity employed or utilized by them, from all claims arising from any injury, loss, damage, Refund Policy accident, delay or expense resulting from events beyond their control, 1. Participants who withdraw more than 90 days prior to tour departure including, without limitation: natural disasters, war, strikes, incidents will receive a refund of all monies received by Discover Europe, Ltd., of politically-motivated violence, sickness or quarantine, government less a $200 cancellation penalty. restrictions or regulations, and in the absence of its own gross negligence, 2. Participants who withdraw fewer than 90 days prior to tour departure arising from the use of any vehicle or from any act of omission by any will receive a refund of all monies received by Discover Europe, Ltd., bus or car rental agency, airline, taxi or tour service, hotel, restaurant, less the following cancellation penalties: or other firm, agency, company or individual. 90-61 days prior to departure: $1000 per person 6. Discover Europe, Ltd. reserves the right to substitute hotels, airlines, 60 days - trip departure: no refund (unless traveler has insurance) activities or excursions in response to changes in availability, local events 3. Please note that the final payment becomes due upon receipt of the final or weather conditions, provided such substitutions do not adversely invoice and will remain payable, as per the above schedule, if your affect the overall quality of the tour. Such substitutions do not constitute cancellation is received after this. grounds for withdrawal with full refund. 4. These cancellation penalty amounts do not include any airfares purchased 7. Conduct During the Tour: You are responsible for respecting the on your behalf by Discover Europe Ltd. Note that the least expensive authority and following the directions of the tour guide and the laws of airfares are usually non-refundable. Refunds for airline tickets will be the countries in your itinerary. We may exclude you from participating handled separately from the refund of the land tour package. in all or any part of the tour if, at our sole discretion, your condition or 5. Comprehensive travel insurance is not included in your tour package. behavior renders you unfit for the tour or unfit for continuation once Discover Europe, Ltd., strongly advises that you purchase travel the tour has begun. Unfitness may include, without limitation, any insurance for your upcoming trip. Discover Europe, Ltd., strongly behavior that, regardless of its cause, is inappropriate or offensive or advises that you purchase travel insurance for your upcoming trip. interferes with the delivery of tour services, or may constitute a hazard Engaging Journeys Inc. will be providing you with details of a or embarrassment. In such case, our liability shall be strictly limited to recommended insurance company. refund of the recoverable cost of any unused portion of the tour. Should 6. All cancellation requests must be received in writing. you decide not to participate in certain parts of the tour or use certain 7. There is no provision for refund for any activities missed due to the goods included in the tour, no refunds will be made for those unused participant’s absence once the tour has started. parts of the tour or goods. 8. Your place on this tour is not transferrable.

Payment Schedule Inclusions & Exclusions 1. A deposit of $500 must accompany this completed form. 1. All inclusions on The Food & Wine of Bordeaux are listed on the day- 2. The remaining balance will be billed and payable 90 days prior to by-day itinerary and registration form. departure. 2. The following are not included (unless specifically mentioned in the itinerary): travel insurance, transportation to and from the participant’s Tour Cost Adjustments chosen departure airport, passport fees, excess baggage charges, tips to Discover Europe makes every effort to guarantee that the published cost couriers and tour bus drivers and items of a personal nature. of your chosen tour will not change. However we do reserve the right to  Emergency Contact Information Rooming Requirements (Please check one) Name: □ I would like a single room (see itinerary for supplement) Email: □ I will be sharing with: ______Primary Telephone: ( ) We would like a □double □twin-bedded room Permissions

Flight Information Discover Europe may include my e-mail address on the tour (Please check one) passenger list. □Yes □No Do you want Discover Europe to book your flights :□Yes □No Signatures The undersigned has read the tour itinerary and recognizes and accepts any risk inherent Flight details (if self-arranged) to be provided at least 90 days prior therein. The undersigned also understands and hereby agrees for and on behalf of his/ her dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to abide by the conditions to departure: set forth in the terms and conditions listed in this brochure and to release and hold harmless Main Line School Night and any of their officers, trustees, agents, licensees, or representatives, from any and all liability for delays, injuries, or death or for the loss of or damage to his/her property however occurring during any portion of, or in relation to, the tour.

Signature: Date:

Signature: Date: