Artz Tour de France 3 Trip Description June 2 – 15, 2019
Some background information: In 2010, 10 artists traveled to France to paint for 15 amazing days. (This is recorded in a blog: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/sugarbaker/1/tpod.html.) After the trip, it was suggested we go back and take spouses. The year 2015 was the 2nd “Artz Tour de France” and it accommodated some spouses as well as singles, http://artztourdefrance2.blogspot.com/. This third trip is open to both non artists and artists. You will be in the hands of Steve and Jerie Artz, who are both bilingual. Steve and Jerie lived in France for 14 years and are experienced in being tour guides in Paris.
The artists will have the opportunity to paint in travel journals or full paintings, any media, in some of the most beautiful gardens in Paris, including a trip to Mone'ts Garden in Giverny. The non artists will visit some of the normal Paris sights and some that are less known. Everyone will take the day trip together to Giverny to visit Monet's garden. Everyone will also take the boat trip on the Seine River on a “bateau mouche.” This is not an art workshop trip per see with instruction, although there will be opportunities to show and share and encourage each other with helpful critiques.
I'm sure artists are asking – can we opt out of painting in a garden on occasion and join the non artists – of course – this is your choice. Many of the gardens are near the sites to visit. We will coordinate the outings the same days.
Tour Highlights Paris Sites to see: We will travel on the bus/metro/train to see many of these sites (schedule TBD) Eiffel Tower http://www.toureiffel.paris/ Bateaux Mouches – boat ride on the Siene http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en Muse d’Orsay – Impressionists http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html Louvre http://www.louvre.fr/en L’Orangerie – maybe (Monet’s eliptical water lilies)http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/or Musée Marmottan Monet - Paris - France Mont Martre – artist square, Church of the Madelaine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre Notre Dame http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/-English- Day trip to Giverny – Monet’s home http://www.fondation-monet.com/fr/ Musee Rodin http://www.musee-rodin.fr/fr/le-musee/le-musee-rodin-paris Musee d'Art Moderne http://www.mam.paris.fr/en
Gardens to Paint TBD – these are options, there may be others
Jardin de Luxembourg - http://www.senat.fr/visite/jardin/index.html (this is right near Maison Redemptorist where we will be staying, so we will start there our first day out)
Jardin des Tuilleries - https://www.parisinfo.com/musee-monument-paris/71304/Jardin-des-Tuileries (this garden is next to the Louvre and l'Orangerie, so we'll schedule this paint out the same day that the non artists visit the Louvre)
Jardin des Plantes - http://www.jardindesplantes.net/
Jardins du Trocadero - https://www.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71144/Jardins-du-Trocadero (garden in front of the Eiffel Tower, we'll plan to paint here the day the others visit the Eiffel Tower)
Square Jean XXIII - http://equipement.paris.fr/square-jean-xxiii-35, (garden is near Notre Dame, so we will plant to paint here the same day the others visit Notre Dame)
Jardin des Champs Elysees - http://equipement.paris.fr/jardins-des-champs-elysees-2471
Monet's Garden – Giverny - http://www.fondation-monet.com/fr/ The artists will also enjoy a trip to the famous art store "Sennelier" – there is a branch of the store near our hotel, but the main store is on the Seine, across from the Louvre. It is an amazing little shop. This is where I purchase my little red travel journal. Sennelier's water colors are wonderful – they use honey for the binder. They have all art media, including wonderful pastels. Prices are great. Interesting NPR story about the shop: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5581725
Travel Dates and Price
The travel dates will be June 2 - 15 . May and June are my favorite times to visit Monet's garden with either the tulips and irises or roses in bloom along with so many more flowers. Museums in Paris are closed on Tuesdays and some on Mondays. Flying on Sunday and arriving on Monday, we’ll be ready to hit the museums on Wednesday. A schedule will be prepared with trips to the museums and gardens planned.
Price – After meeting with the travel agent and calculating the current costs, the total will be $4000. This includes, air fare from Indianapolis to Paris, hotel lodging in Paris, Eiffel Tower, Paris Museum Pass, day trip to Giverny – Monet's Garden, Bateau Mouche Seine river tour, metro tickets, personal bi lingual tour guides and more!
What I didn't include in this estimate is food in Paris, souvenir money, and air fare from other cities to Indianapolis and travel insurance. There is the option to buy groceries at the local grocery near the hotel that has a dining room they said we can use. There are several sites you can check out for food prices in Paris – here is one: Food Prices in Paris: http://www.globalprice.info/en/?p=france/food-prices-in-france
Hotel – the price of the room will vary depending on what you choose, he $4000 total includes the studio price, and those choosing other rooms, will have a cost adjustment. The prices per night at La Maison Redemptorist are: Studio - 2 people - $140, (bedroom, bath, living/dining and kitchen); Room with bath – 1 person - $94; Room with bath – 2 people, $106, plus $3.00 tax per night for each person. Photos of the one of the studio rooms is attached. We stayed in a studio in June 2017 and had balcony with a lovely view. You will have the chance to choose the room you would like and who you would like to share it with.
This is a pretty active trip and the group covers a lot of ground each day, especially in Paris. Most of the sight seeing requires walking over uneven surfaces. The more physically fit you are, the better off you will be! Remember to have good walking shoes!
What to Pack Many of you are experienced travelers and already know that “less is more!” But here is the information I prepared for the 2010 trip and it's what I recommend. Try packing your suitcase and drag it up and down your driveway and street to see how it feels. You will be transporting your suitcase and carry on bag from the airport to the metro, metro to hotel room. The metro station is at the airport (but there is a slight walk) and the metro stop, Port Royal, is right across the street from the hotel, Maison Redemptorist.
What to bring: (This was written with ladies in mind!) Pack as little as possible, keeping it to one suitcase (not too big!) and one carry on suitcase with wheels, and a satchel or bag . You will have to be able to take care of your own stuff as we change modes of transportation, check into the hotel, ride in a van. Here is a suggested list of what to bring: 1 pair of dark long pants (won’t show the dirt) 1 pair of capris in case it’s warm (no shorts, we won’t be at the beach and French women do not wear shorts) Purse: I would recommend a purse with a strap that you can hang across your shoulder (like a diagonal over your head). This leaves your hands free and you can wear it in front where you can keep track of it. Again, I would say the smaller the better – less weight to carry. Backpacks or day pack: You could use a small day pack, but they are an easy target for pick pockets – a real problem in Paris, so I would not recommend it for valuables. Maybe for your art supplies if you are so inclined. 5 – 6 blouses or t-shirts Sweater or sweatshirt - hood Light rain jacket – Hood Underwear and sleepwear for a week (we can hand wash) 1 dress outfit – pants/skirt (if you want to) Minimum amount of toiletries – medications One good pair of walking shoes Sandals – it may be warm enough 4-5 pair of socks Camera with enough memory if using digital
JUST REMEMBER THAT LESS IS MORE! When I go I usually wear the same two pair of black long pants the whole time.
What Art Supplies to bring: Usually I travel with just my watercolor travel journal (the black Moleskine are good – I have a travel journal I can only find in France) and travel paint set, empty prescription bottle for my water, salt, 4-5 brushes, pencil and eraser. I would suggest an Arches tablet or something similar, one of the smaller sizes ie. 12” x 14”, tubes of paint of colors you enjoy. We have not had problems taking paints with us on the plane. I have a black canvas bag, similar to this one, that is very practical as a carry on. https://www.adorama.com/alvpackc.html? gclid=Cj0KCQjw6NjNBRDKARIsAFn3NMqCoEnmmx8y6QJWj_vQBClpGbZ1odwcByUSmU9E_e-k- Yotf_w5BqUaAoAlEALw_wcB. I would also suggest that you pack your art materials in your carry on. That way, if luggage is lost (heaven forbid!) you would at least have what you need to paint. Who knows, you may want to sketch as we travel! Picture yourself on foot getting to your destination with your art supplies in tow. LESS IS MORE!
Passport: You will need one. I recommend those passport pouches you can wear under your clothes. There are pick pockets in Paris, so I recommend that you leave it at the hotel when visiting the sites. One of our group was pick pocketed at the Musee d'Orsay last time.
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