This past Easter break, three schools of Canadian students took off to discover France and Italy. Voyages Millefleurs, with all of our guides in tow spent ten days in Europe with students, chaperones and teachers. Each year at this time we attempt to make independent travellers out of Saskatchewan students and teach them how things work in Europe... we learned the metro in Paris, the high speed train across France and the canals and winding streets in Venice!
Leah Fornwald, our most highly organized guide and a high school teacher herself toured northern France and Paris with her group from Outlook High School. Their goal was to learn about Canadian history with a close-up look at the Beaches of Normandy and the old residence of the explorer, Jaques Cartier.
Ryan Radchenko, my brother, tears himself away from skiing to help out with the family business as he has been the guide for Melfort High School for the last three tours. His humour and laissez-faire attitude makes it seem easy to take as many trains, planes, buses and metros as these students were touring both France and Italy. Ryan is a good role model for students learning to travel on their own as he has had many experiences in the Baltic states and in Eastern and Western Europe.
Of course our fearless leader, Corinne Thomson was there to aid in our adventures and co-ordinate everything with the student´s best interests at heart. One year of planning came into fruition and all three tours went off without a hitch. Corinne is currently still in Europe conducting a wine tour in the Alsace and Burgundy and later an Impressionist Art tour through Provence.
I had the pleasure of guiding for the students from Warman High School, with their teachers & chaperones Deanna, Laird and Matthew. We were all proud of the students for practicing their french, becoming independent in the metro in Paris and trying a taste of everything on the menu... I am sure that a few of the brave ones ate duck not once, but twice!
We started our holiday in Nice on the Cote d´Azur where we had great weather - alas we spent some time on the beach and in the markets before climbing up to the Chateau de la Colline for an amazing picnic. In the afternoon we took in the riches of Monte Carlo and their fancy cars!
Nearby trips included visits to Grasse, where flowers abound and perfume is made, with a stop at the hilltop artist town of St. Paul de Vence - a favourite among many students. A must was to see the hand prints of the European and Hollywood stars in Cannes, the site of the famous film festival and known for it´s sandy beaches.
Next we were off to Provence with a side trip to Arles where the spring Feria was in full swing! We got a taste of the Spanish influence as the students tried Paella, a favourite of teacher Deanna from her past travels in the region. We studied some impressionist art and saw the many Roman ruins before heading off to our next stop, Avignon. In this papal town we climbed the fortified walls up to the garden of the Pope´s Palace. Illuminated at night, this town is fantastic and we managed to factor in some free time for exploring and a nice meal at the restaurant of their choice. Closeby Avignon we visited the market at St. Remy de Provence and the town perched on the bauxite cliffs called Les Baux de Provence. We had a chance to take in the grandeur of another well known Roman ruin in the region, the Pont du Gard. Some scrambled up the side embankments just to see how in ancient times, water was channeled across this specially designed bridge.
Our next leg took us on the TGV, dashing across the French landscape at 250kms/hr! We arrived in Paris in three hours flat and without hesitation jumped on the metro to get to the hotel. I am so proud of these travellers...everyone looked out for each other, helped with (broken!) luggage and braved the many stair-laden metro tunnels! Bravo! (... and thanks for the help with [my] broken luggage, Laird!)
In Paris we took advantage of the city of lights by taking a boat ride on the Seine River and we scaled the Eiffel Tower up to the third floor. The evenings were well spent sightseeing just as the days were filled with activity - more stairs up the Arc de Triomphe and some shopping on the Champs Elysées... from the Louvre to Père Lachaise Cemetery, the Latin Quarter near Notre Dame Cathedral and the Basilica at Sacre Coeur de Montmartre. We even got a glimpse of the Moulin Rouge situated in the red-light district! Hey, an independent traveller is not always going to end up in the most delightful of areas, now are they?
I have to say that every student was a pleasure to get to know. I am sure I can say the same for all of our guides and our ¨Chief¨ Corinne. Thanks to chaperones & teachers for your organization during the year and your vigilance while on tour. For us guides it is a fun time of year and it is very rewarding to see the faces brighten on these young people when they discover something that is truly unique and European.
I hope you keep following our adventure stories with the newly created VM Elite Viajes (Santiago de Chile) and Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. ¨Your Window on the World of Wine... and the Student´s First Step towards Independent Travel.¨
www.customwinetours.com
www.vmelite.com
Natascha Radchenko
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wine and Waterfalls Womens Tour of South America
Imagine six ladies setting out on a whirlwind adventure of Brazil, Argentina and Chile on the Wine and Waterfalls tour with Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. What an adventure! As I remember this trip I am again fascinated with the diverse itinerary... we included the sub tropical rainforest, some 3000 horses in a small town at one time... and some great wine tasting, of course!
We ladies joined in a small travel group through a cooperation of Women With Wings with Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. We were a diverse group but we all meshed well and brought new perspectives to our travel experiences. We had some times where the laughter never ceased and other times when we were quiet in awe of the amazing sights we saw before us.
After we finally obtained the correct visas and paperwork in our passports for we Canadians to enter Brazil, we were off to Sao Paulo. We chose a couple of days in this huge city and practiced our Portuguese and ate real Brazilian churrasceria BBQ. The food was amazing and the people friendly; the best was when we were handed off from one person to the next in their attempt to help us get to the downtown area! Thanks to all of you, whomever you were! I can´t forget the local bus driver either, somehow we got our point across with the help of a few locals shouting directions!
Next we were off to Iguazu Falls, the UNESCO World Heritage site on the border of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. As we had our Brazil Visas we were able to see the other half of the falls which we had not experienced before. We had a perfect day of sun after it had been raining, which brought out all sorts of monitor lizards and iguanas, catching some rays just as we tourists had intended! The toucans and the raccoon like coatis´ came out to say hello as well. That evening was spent around the pool with some Brazilian caipiriñas to cool off our sunburns!
The next day we spent on the Argentine side of the falls on the Gran Aventura circuit. This tour includes a jeep safari and a walk above and below the falls. The best part was the speed boat ride under, yes under the careening water! This was a highlight as we felt so alive by being in the thundering, cascading mist on the border of three countries. This really is a magical place but soon we were off for more adventures in Argentina.
We had a few days to explore the capital, Buenos Aires. We saw live tango in the streets in La Boca and met watched some dancers that we knew while having beer and empanadas... later they took us upstairs of the restaurant for a private tango lesson with our beautiful friend Trinidad and five ¨tango taxis¨, unforgettable! We topped off this tango themed day with a dinner and show at the ritzy upbeat Piazzola Tango Show downtown. Other highlights of Buenos Aires included shoe shopping on Avenida Santa Fe, getting massages and pedicures to go with our new shoes and visiting Eva Peron Duarte´s family plot in beautiful Recoleta Cemetery.
One hour north of Buenos Aires is a town called San Antonio de Areco, and here is where the national annual Tradition Day activities are held. Almost every Gaucho (Argentine cowboy) meets here once a year for the parades and horse drills that are everything ¨criollo¨or traditional. The town filled with some 3000 horses on the Saturday afternoon as the gauchos were showing off their different breeds or ¨strings of horses¨. We ate like queens at the asados or BBQs in the park and learned to dance the traditional way with the gauchos in full olden day suits and spurrs! For the rancher women in our group, these three days of Argentine history reminded us of the wide open spaces of the plains of Canada.
Although the wine flowed freely up to this moment in the trip, the next leg took us to Mendoza, Argentina for three days of wine touring in Malbec country. We stayed at a tranquil Parador del Angel while branching out to tour wineries just south of the city. We took a carriage ride in the vineyard at Bodega Tapiz and learned about traditional irrigation in the region, we learned how to make the staple food, empanadas, from fresh ingredients and we tasted some liquors at Tapaus, a new distillery with a modern concept. On a wim, we met some new friends at Mairena winery and discovered one of the best Bonardas in Mendoza! As our visit to Argentina came to a close we did some shopping for leather and souveneirs... next stop is Santiago, Chile!
One of the most memorable parts of this tour is the day trip across the second highest mountain range in the world, the Andes. We boarded our seats in the top front of the double decker bus for the approx. 360km, 7 hour trip up and over Los Libertadores pass. The views were breathtaking as we climbed up the valley flanked by purple mountains to catch a glimpse of Aconcagua, the highest summit in this range. After crossing the border into Chile we strapped in for the ¨caracoles¨ or the 30 some switchbacks winding down the mountain, sitting in the top front really made us weak in the knees!!
Near Santiago we continued our wine tourism in the Maipo Valley at Concha y Toro winery, the third largest wine exporter in the world! I also had the pleasure of having worked for this company so it was nostalgic to go back and see old friends and the devil himself in his cellar, the Casillero del Diablo. After a long gourmet lunch at Septimo Cielo in Pirque we made our way back to centro Santiago to the Teatro Municipal where we caught the ballet, La Bella Durmiante or Sleeping Beauty, wonderful!
We continued to tour around the city of nearly six million before we had to take off to the airport. The city is steeped in history and filled with beautiful architecture although it is the fastest developing city in South America. We had a wonderful lunch on historic Calle Londres to reminisce about our adventures and to say goodbye before heading back to our own corners of Canada. Thanks for a grand experience, gals! I won´t forget this one in a long time.
Natascha Radchenko
Spanish and French Guide
Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. ¨Your Window on the World of Wine
(& Waterfalls, & Tradition, & Tango and... Adventure!)¨
We ladies joined in a small travel group through a cooperation of Women With Wings with Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. We were a diverse group but we all meshed well and brought new perspectives to our travel experiences. We had some times where the laughter never ceased and other times when we were quiet in awe of the amazing sights we saw before us.
After we finally obtained the correct visas and paperwork in our passports for we Canadians to enter Brazil, we were off to Sao Paulo. We chose a couple of days in this huge city and practiced our Portuguese and ate real Brazilian churrasceria BBQ. The food was amazing and the people friendly; the best was when we were handed off from one person to the next in their attempt to help us get to the downtown area! Thanks to all of you, whomever you were! I can´t forget the local bus driver either, somehow we got our point across with the help of a few locals shouting directions!
Next we were off to Iguazu Falls, the UNESCO World Heritage site on the border of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. As we had our Brazil Visas we were able to see the other half of the falls which we had not experienced before. We had a perfect day of sun after it had been raining, which brought out all sorts of monitor lizards and iguanas, catching some rays just as we tourists had intended! The toucans and the raccoon like coatis´ came out to say hello as well. That evening was spent around the pool with some Brazilian caipiriñas to cool off our sunburns!
The next day we spent on the Argentine side of the falls on the Gran Aventura circuit. This tour includes a jeep safari and a walk above and below the falls. The best part was the speed boat ride under, yes under the careening water! This was a highlight as we felt so alive by being in the thundering, cascading mist on the border of three countries. This really is a magical place but soon we were off for more adventures in Argentina.
We had a few days to explore the capital, Buenos Aires. We saw live tango in the streets in La Boca and met watched some dancers that we knew while having beer and empanadas... later they took us upstairs of the restaurant for a private tango lesson with our beautiful friend Trinidad and five ¨tango taxis¨, unforgettable! We topped off this tango themed day with a dinner and show at the ritzy upbeat Piazzola Tango Show downtown. Other highlights of Buenos Aires included shoe shopping on Avenida Santa Fe, getting massages and pedicures to go with our new shoes and visiting Eva Peron Duarte´s family plot in beautiful Recoleta Cemetery.
One hour north of Buenos Aires is a town called San Antonio de Areco, and here is where the national annual Tradition Day activities are held. Almost every Gaucho (Argentine cowboy) meets here once a year for the parades and horse drills that are everything ¨criollo¨or traditional. The town filled with some 3000 horses on the Saturday afternoon as the gauchos were showing off their different breeds or ¨strings of horses¨. We ate like queens at the asados or BBQs in the park and learned to dance the traditional way with the gauchos in full olden day suits and spurrs! For the rancher women in our group, these three days of Argentine history reminded us of the wide open spaces of the plains of Canada.
Although the wine flowed freely up to this moment in the trip, the next leg took us to Mendoza, Argentina for three days of wine touring in Malbec country. We stayed at a tranquil Parador del Angel while branching out to tour wineries just south of the city. We took a carriage ride in the vineyard at Bodega Tapiz and learned about traditional irrigation in the region, we learned how to make the staple food, empanadas, from fresh ingredients and we tasted some liquors at Tapaus, a new distillery with a modern concept. On a wim, we met some new friends at Mairena winery and discovered one of the best Bonardas in Mendoza! As our visit to Argentina came to a close we did some shopping for leather and souveneirs... next stop is Santiago, Chile!
One of the most memorable parts of this tour is the day trip across the second highest mountain range in the world, the Andes. We boarded our seats in the top front of the double decker bus for the approx. 360km, 7 hour trip up and over Los Libertadores pass. The views were breathtaking as we climbed up the valley flanked by purple mountains to catch a glimpse of Aconcagua, the highest summit in this range. After crossing the border into Chile we strapped in for the ¨caracoles¨ or the 30 some switchbacks winding down the mountain, sitting in the top front really made us weak in the knees!!
Near Santiago we continued our wine tourism in the Maipo Valley at Concha y Toro winery, the third largest wine exporter in the world! I also had the pleasure of having worked for this company so it was nostalgic to go back and see old friends and the devil himself in his cellar, the Casillero del Diablo. After a long gourmet lunch at Septimo Cielo in Pirque we made our way back to centro Santiago to the Teatro Municipal where we caught the ballet, La Bella Durmiante or Sleeping Beauty, wonderful!
We continued to tour around the city of nearly six million before we had to take off to the airport. The city is steeped in history and filled with beautiful architecture although it is the fastest developing city in South America. We had a wonderful lunch on historic Calle Londres to reminisce about our adventures and to say goodbye before heading back to our own corners of Canada. Thanks for a grand experience, gals! I won´t forget this one in a long time.
Natascha Radchenko
Spanish and French Guide
Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. ¨Your Window on the World of Wine
(& Waterfalls, & Tradition, & Tango and... Adventure!)¨
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Italia and Valpolicella, a "valley full of cellars".
Italy. What time of the year to go to Italy? Anytime or on the shoulder seasons.... our Canadian autumn is a great time to explore the rest of the world that may have a different temperature and growing season than our agricultural ways. The end of September was perfects as it was harvest time and thus we started off on our Harvest Wine Tour of Italy, 2008. Tuscany and Valpolicella in the fall? Our timing could not have been better.
Our tour started in busy Florence and our adventuresome travellers were there a few days early to drink in the culture and get over their jet lag. We delighted in some of the art and history of the capital of Toscana for a few days previous to the tour and as a bonus we got to take in the Florence Wine Festival!! Who knew that it was perfect timing as the vendemmia was in full swing and wine was on the mind...
We carried on south to San Gimignano for some extra special gelato after tasting some Vernaccia in the region. Our mini Maroni bus got us through the hills and valleys with no trouble... a great way to travel indeed, who says that driving in Italy isn´t fun, you just have to keep up!!!
We spent three nights at the apartments of good friends at Il Poderuccio, overlooking the Tuscan hills and the Banfi Estate where we enjoyed the six course luncheon with wine. There was no need for dinner after that special treat! The next days were spent in the small towns, tasting and shopping, of course there was time for a dip in the Thermal Baths of Bagni Vignoni.
Stopping for a gelato and a glance of the Red Beret trickster in the Piazza del Campo of Siena, we carried on through the countryside to Lucca, the walled city. What an excellent place to shop!
The night was spent in the hills of Camaiore with a dear friend who welcomed us with a glass of wine and a luxurious bed. The view of the Versilia coast was spectacular and we were lucky to be able so spend three nights in the region of Viareggio exploring the art of Pietrasanta and the coastline of the Unesco World Heritage Site, Cinque Terre. I was proud of our group as they took advantage of the walk through the ¨five towns¨ and did it all by foot! We coudn´t have asked for better weather and more adventuresome clients.
On the speedy autostrada to Valpolicella we encountered some fast cars. Lambhorghinis and Ferrarris made their presence known so we decided to make a stop at the Ferrarri Museum near Modena to make us feel part of the Italian racing culture! Of course our nine passenger van didn´t go nearly as quickly but we sure gave it our all as we precipitated up through Verona to dine at the Trattoria di Bepi . The Amarones and Ripassos made by our good friend Giuseppe Lonardi were on par with the wonderful varietals of the region ¨full of cellars¨.
During our stay at La Foresteria, we were graced with the presence of the Count of Serego Alighieri. We our wine taste and stay on the Estate was a real highlight as we relaxed in the vineyard housing and learned the in depth secrets of Serego Alighieri´s tradition in winemaking. In the region we toured Verona at a leisurely pace to take in the art, music and fashion. Also a day was spent ferrying around the beautiful Lago di Garda as we explored Sirmione, Lazise and Garda. Exquiste.
Our last leg of the Harvest Wine tour had us visit one of the most popular cities in Italy, yes, Venice. The city built on water is not only unique in the world but filled with history and amazing architecture. We met some kind locals who told us the history of Venice and we met some jovial waiters at one of the best seafood restaurants in town, Ristorante Riviera. Our farewell meal was just what we needed to top off an excellent tour.
With our small group of six we had an wonderful time getting to know one another and we were even able to share lots of inside jokes! The cohesiveness of our travel companions made it a wonderful guiding experience for me, all the while touring a country steeped in history and gastronomical delights, not to mention really, really good wine.
Next post is our fall adventure in Brazil, Argentina and Chile; Wine and Waterfalls tour for Women. This one will be a great adventure as we cross three countries and several wine growing regions!
Grazie mille for a great tour travel companions,
Natascha Radchenko
Your window on the world of wine!
Our tour started in busy Florence and our adventuresome travellers were there a few days early to drink in the culture and get over their jet lag. We delighted in some of the art and history of the capital of Toscana for a few days previous to the tour and as a bonus we got to take in the Florence Wine Festival!! Who knew that it was perfect timing as the vendemmia was in full swing and wine was on the mind...
We carried on south to San Gimignano for some extra special gelato after tasting some Vernaccia in the region. Our mini Maroni bus got us through the hills and valleys with no trouble... a great way to travel indeed, who says that driving in Italy isn´t fun, you just have to keep up!!!
We spent three nights at the apartments of good friends at Il Poderuccio, overlooking the Tuscan hills and the Banfi Estate where we enjoyed the six course luncheon with wine. There was no need for dinner after that special treat! The next days were spent in the small towns, tasting and shopping, of course there was time for a dip in the Thermal Baths of Bagni Vignoni.
Stopping for a gelato and a glance of the Red Beret trickster in the Piazza del Campo of Siena, we carried on through the countryside to Lucca, the walled city. What an excellent place to shop!
The night was spent in the hills of Camaiore with a dear friend who welcomed us with a glass of wine and a luxurious bed. The view of the Versilia coast was spectacular and we were lucky to be able so spend three nights in the region of Viareggio exploring the art of Pietrasanta and the coastline of the Unesco World Heritage Site, Cinque Terre. I was proud of our group as they took advantage of the walk through the ¨five towns¨ and did it all by foot! We coudn´t have asked for better weather and more adventuresome clients.
On the speedy autostrada to Valpolicella we encountered some fast cars. Lambhorghinis and Ferrarris made their presence known so we decided to make a stop at the Ferrarri Museum near Modena to make us feel part of the Italian racing culture! Of course our nine passenger van didn´t go nearly as quickly but we sure gave it our all as we precipitated up through Verona to dine at the Trattoria di Bepi . The Amarones and Ripassos made by our good friend Giuseppe Lonardi were on par with the wonderful varietals of the region ¨full of cellars¨.
During our stay at La Foresteria, we were graced with the presence of the Count of Serego Alighieri. We our wine taste and stay on the Estate was a real highlight as we relaxed in the vineyard housing and learned the in depth secrets of Serego Alighieri´s tradition in winemaking. In the region we toured Verona at a leisurely pace to take in the art, music and fashion. Also a day was spent ferrying around the beautiful Lago di Garda as we explored Sirmione, Lazise and Garda. Exquiste.
Our last leg of the Harvest Wine tour had us visit one of the most popular cities in Italy, yes, Venice. The city built on water is not only unique in the world but filled with history and amazing architecture. We met some kind locals who told us the history of Venice and we met some jovial waiters at one of the best seafood restaurants in town, Ristorante Riviera. Our farewell meal was just what we needed to top off an excellent tour.
With our small group of six we had an wonderful time getting to know one another and we were even able to share lots of inside jokes! The cohesiveness of our travel companions made it a wonderful guiding experience for me, all the while touring a country steeped in history and gastronomical delights, not to mention really, really good wine.
Next post is our fall adventure in Brazil, Argentina and Chile; Wine and Waterfalls tour for Women. This one will be a great adventure as we cross three countries and several wine growing regions!
Grazie mille for a great tour travel companions,
Natascha Radchenko
Your window on the world of wine!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Yellowknife, NWT... a great place to paint!
Dear friends of Voyages Millefleurs.... especially those with brush in hand,
Yes, I expressed in my last blog that I wanted to try to find some wine in the NWT. The truth is that I didn't have any time for that because I was inspired everywhere I looked... let me explain.
There is a large population of people who live in houseboats in Yellowknife Bay. They have a tendency to paint them in different colours which makes the bay brightly dotted with the floating homes. This attracts tourists and there is even a tour boat that takes weaves through the watery "yards" of these folks to get a closer look. Of course, I went out in a canoe, visiting some locals that my Father knew. Camera in hand, I snapped away as the light was just right on the bay at sunset. A rainbow even showed both it's ends as a special bonus. Needless to say, I have enough pictures to be able to paint a whole series of houseboats...it will give me good painting practice in the winter as the bright warm colours will help melt the frozen snow in the spirit.
Painter friends of Voyages Millefleurs, I invite you to visit the north. The eclectic nature of the town of Yellowknife is inviting at first and addictive as it seems that many of it's residents make the trek for a short time and end up spending the rest of their lives there. It is a bustling international community up there, AND they have some good wines available to buy... I should thank my "northern" family for sharing their vino with me - it is my job to keep up the tastings, even though the local stuff is made of birch bark, like the canoes!
There is so much to see in Canada and am glad that I have had the chance to travel in my homeland this past summer!
More soon as I report on the upcoming Harvest Wine Tour of Italy!
Sincerely,
Natascha
Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. " Your Window on the World of Wine - and Art"!
I had the pleasure of taking a trip to Yellowknife, NT to visit my family and to visit the Great White North, or Rocky Outcropping North as I like to call it. My brother and I were remided of our childhood as we scrambled around on the unique terrain, just for fun!
The north of Canada is a place that is a bit of a mystery to many folks. I had never been north of 60 before and was not sure what to expect myself. I thought at the end of August there may be some snow and cooler temperatures but was met with a sunny week with beautiful colours on the water, some rainbows and of course the unique houses that inspire anyone to paint!Yes, I expressed in my last blog that I wanted to try to find some wine in the NWT. The truth is that I didn't have any time for that because I was inspired everywhere I looked... let me explain.
There is a large population of people who live in houseboats in Yellowknife Bay. They have a tendency to paint them in different colours which makes the bay brightly dotted with the floating homes. This attracts tourists and there is even a tour boat that takes weaves through the watery "yards" of these folks to get a closer look. Of course, I went out in a canoe, visiting some locals that my Father knew. Camera in hand, I snapped away as the light was just right on the bay at sunset. A rainbow even showed both it's ends as a special bonus. Needless to say, I have enough pictures to be able to paint a whole series of houseboats...it will give me good painting practice in the winter as the bright warm colours will help melt the frozen snow in the spirit.
Painter friends of Voyages Millefleurs, I invite you to visit the north. The eclectic nature of the town of Yellowknife is inviting at first and addictive as it seems that many of it's residents make the trek for a short time and end up spending the rest of their lives there. It is a bustling international community up there, AND they have some good wines available to buy... I should thank my "northern" family for sharing their vino with me - it is my job to keep up the tastings, even though the local stuff is made of birch bark, like the canoes!
There is so much to see in Canada and am glad that I have had the chance to travel in my homeland this past summer!
More soon as I report on the upcoming Harvest Wine Tour of Italy!
Sincerely,
Natascha
Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. " Your Window on the World of Wine - and Art"!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Britsh Columbia is Beautiful!
Friends of Voyages Millefleurs...
Our travels across B.C. this last week have been fruitful as we got much accomplished in the way of marketing in Vancouver. Of course we had to try out some great restaurants and bars, watch some fireworks and hit the coaster at Playland, so it was not all worky worky all the time.
We were tenting (with the exception of our stay with my brother in the lower mainland) so our pace was slowed as we got down to earth, literally. Christina Lake was warm, the Arrow Lakes we did not attempt for a swim (brrrrr... but so nice) and we re-discovered the Kootenays, east and west, as it is near our home here in Fernie.
So many of you have asked why we do not visit the wine growing regions of our country, Canada, on our tours. Despite roaming the globe to find a great grape libation we are fortunate enough to have some great wines on our doorstep in British Columbia.
The pioneers and newcomers of the Okanagan and the Similkameen Valleys make it easy to visit their wineries and welcome experts and newbies alike. The nice thing about these regions is that they are so accessible and filled with warm, welcoming people that our jobs as tour guides is done for us!
Anytime one drives down the highway in these valleys we are directed, quite organizedly, through the dips and valleys with the help of the Wine Route signs. The specific winery signs coax us down the road and assure us that we haven't yet made a wrong turn... it's just a little further...
On our list of events was the 1.6 mile dinner put on by the Strawbale Winery, Orofino. Orofino is located in Cawston (near Keremeos) in the climate for wine and fruit production perfection. We tasted almost everything in the winerie's range (that hadn't yet sold out... hurry folks, try to snag some of their 07 Alsacian style Riesling and keep your eyes out for the - not yet bottled but sooooo tasty - Gamay).
Bogner's of Penticton was responsible for creating a menu that used local products within a 1.6 mile radius. Yes, we are Canadians and count in Kilometres but you get the picture...
Chef Darren was modest and very sincere in his quest to find the best products from the valley and was honest when he was challenged on a few aspects that you just can't get in the area... like salt! He made 6 beautiful courses of eclectic dishes - all paired perfectly with the vino - and kudos to him on accomplishing the perfect texture with the beef. Thanks, and keep it comin!
A big thank you to the Webers for putting on such a spectacular evening amongst the vineyard.
Of course, keeping with our tenting theme for accomodation, we took advantage of having our house on our backs and stayed right there in the vineyard. Where else do you see us ending up?
More shortly as I try to find some wine in the Northwest Territories in August!
Natascha
Voyages Millefleurs, your window on the world of wine!
Our travels across B.C. this last week have been fruitful as we got much accomplished in the way of marketing in Vancouver. Of course we had to try out some great restaurants and bars, watch some fireworks and hit the coaster at Playland, so it was not all worky worky all the time.
We were tenting (with the exception of our stay with my brother in the lower mainland) so our pace was slowed as we got down to earth, literally. Christina Lake was warm, the Arrow Lakes we did not attempt for a swim (brrrrr... but so nice) and we re-discovered the Kootenays, east and west, as it is near our home here in Fernie.
So many of you have asked why we do not visit the wine growing regions of our country, Canada, on our tours. Despite roaming the globe to find a great grape libation we are fortunate enough to have some great wines on our doorstep in British Columbia.
The pioneers and newcomers of the Okanagan and the Similkameen Valleys make it easy to visit their wineries and welcome experts and newbies alike. The nice thing about these regions is that they are so accessible and filled with warm, welcoming people that our jobs as tour guides is done for us!
Anytime one drives down the highway in these valleys we are directed, quite organizedly, through the dips and valleys with the help of the Wine Route signs. The specific winery signs coax us down the road and assure us that we haven't yet made a wrong turn... it's just a little further...
On our list of events was the 1.6 mile dinner put on by the Strawbale Winery, Orofino. Orofino is located in Cawston (near Keremeos) in the climate for wine and fruit production perfection. We tasted almost everything in the winerie's range (that hadn't yet sold out... hurry folks, try to snag some of their 07 Alsacian style Riesling and keep your eyes out for the - not yet bottled but sooooo tasty - Gamay).
Bogner's of Penticton was responsible for creating a menu that used local products within a 1.6 mile radius. Yes, we are Canadians and count in Kilometres but you get the picture...
Chef Darren was modest and very sincere in his quest to find the best products from the valley and was honest when he was challenged on a few aspects that you just can't get in the area... like salt! He made 6 beautiful courses of eclectic dishes - all paired perfectly with the vino - and kudos to him on accomplishing the perfect texture with the beef. Thanks, and keep it comin!
A big thank you to the Webers for putting on such a spectacular evening amongst the vineyard.
Of course, keeping with our tenting theme for accomodation, we took advantage of having our house on our backs and stayed right there in the vineyard. Where else do you see us ending up?
More shortly as I try to find some wine in the Northwest Territories in August!
Natascha
Voyages Millefleurs, your window on the world of wine!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
We go West! This time in our own country.......
Hello friends and travelers of Voyages Millefleurs...
This summer we are working hard here at "head office" on the mountain. We are making sure to take the time for biking and hiking (this morning we did a quick 3 hours up the Spineback at Island Lake Lodge). We are also focusing on the planning of tours for next year, as well as some plans to hit Chile with my brother, Ryan to do some filming in the vineyards.
We plan to make a trip within the country for a change, to Vancouver! We are now the newest partner of the UBC Alumni Travel Asssociation, and we are very proud to provide a niche for those folk whom appreciate wine, good food and travel.
For those whom are currently not yet alumni, or perhaps you never attended UBC..., Corinne and I will be exposing our tours for 2009 info at a "Wine Stop and Poster Drop" in the Greater Vancouver area - you may see our new flashy & romantic poster and call us up. I know you will!
We plan on passing through the Okanagan for a special stop in the Similkameen Valley at Orofino Winery. In this special part of the wine growing region we are certain to delight in great food and some familiar company!
More soon with our plans for the Harvest Tour of Italy, 2009...........
Natascha Radchenko
Your window on the world of wine...... is Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc.
This summer we are working hard here at "head office" on the mountain. We are making sure to take the time for biking and hiking (this morning we did a quick 3 hours up the Spineback at Island Lake Lodge). We are also focusing on the planning of tours for next year, as well as some plans to hit Chile with my brother, Ryan to do some filming in the vineyards.
We plan to make a trip within the country for a change, to Vancouver! We are now the newest partner of the UBC Alumni Travel Asssociation, and we are very proud to provide a niche for those folk whom appreciate wine, good food and travel.
For those whom are currently not yet alumni, or perhaps you never attended UBC..., Corinne and I will be exposing our tours for 2009 info at a "Wine Stop and Poster Drop" in the Greater Vancouver area - you may see our new flashy & romantic poster and call us up. I know you will!
We plan on passing through the Okanagan for a special stop in the Similkameen Valley at Orofino Winery. In this special part of the wine growing region we are certain to delight in great food and some familiar company!
More soon with our plans for the Harvest Tour of Italy, 2009...........
Natascha Radchenko
Your window on the world of wine...... is Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Trolly car driving in Lisbon
So, my friends...
We have just finished a grand trip to Europe with a wonderful trip in Provence with 18 artists and their sketchbooks. They were learning how to paint with watercolour and I even joined in this year... Corinne has been painting for 3 years or so, so she had some pointers for me.... I learned that it is important just to delve in... no fear from this girl, even if you think that all you will produce is chicken scratches.
After the Sketchbook art tour we carried on to do more research for the next art trip. We skipped through Spain to land in Marrakesh, Morocco. How exquisite! The snakes in the Fnaa were there to charm us and we delighted in some tagines and wonderful Moroccan cuisine... we left the goat heads for the locals in the souks. We have decided that Marrakesh is a pretty exciting destination and have added it as an exension to our wine tour of Spain and Portugal.
Where next? Spain and Portugal of course! After the zip to Morocco we continued our research in Spain, starting in Madrid. We stay in the funkiest of hotels and take in the night life near the Plaza del Sol - a flamenco show is a must see! So much power!
We carried on west through Toro to taste wine and to paint some more - all the while knowing that we have two of the best pastimes on the planet. We hit the Douro valley for some boat tours and some grape stomping, not to mention good food! We have a friend who is a Portuguese bullfighter (and winemaker) who participates in the bullfight where the bull is not killed but tackled by seven competitors or matadors I suppose they are called... very interesting and entertaining!
Lisbon was a great surprise for us as we let our natural instinct take us around. We had a blast being tourists (for research purposes only) and taking pictures and painting.... that is how I came to be driving the trolley car in the recent picture. What a great city - beautiful, not hard to manoevre, and safe!
Our travels of Europe this spring were absolutely spectacular. I can't wait to share our experiences our travel friends, those willing to give us a try for the first time and those who know what a blast we have...you know who you are!
Will keep you posted with the next tour - the autumn in Italy - Florence through Tuscany and ending in Venice...
Travel with you soon!
Natascha
We have just finished a grand trip to Europe with a wonderful trip in Provence with 18 artists and their sketchbooks. They were learning how to paint with watercolour and I even joined in this year... Corinne has been painting for 3 years or so, so she had some pointers for me.... I learned that it is important just to delve in... no fear from this girl, even if you think that all you will produce is chicken scratches.
After the Sketchbook art tour we carried on to do more research for the next art trip. We skipped through Spain to land in Marrakesh, Morocco. How exquisite! The snakes in the Fnaa were there to charm us and we delighted in some tagines and wonderful Moroccan cuisine... we left the goat heads for the locals in the souks. We have decided that Marrakesh is a pretty exciting destination and have added it as an exension to our wine tour of Spain and Portugal.
Where next? Spain and Portugal of course! After the zip to Morocco we continued our research in Spain, starting in Madrid. We stay in the funkiest of hotels and take in the night life near the Plaza del Sol - a flamenco show is a must see! So much power!
We carried on west through Toro to taste wine and to paint some more - all the while knowing that we have two of the best pastimes on the planet. We hit the Douro valley for some boat tours and some grape stomping, not to mention good food! We have a friend who is a Portuguese bullfighter (and winemaker) who participates in the bullfight where the bull is not killed but tackled by seven competitors or matadors I suppose they are called... very interesting and entertaining!
Lisbon was a great surprise for us as we let our natural instinct take us around. We had a blast being tourists (for research purposes only) and taking pictures and painting.... that is how I came to be driving the trolley car in the recent picture. What a great city - beautiful, not hard to manoevre, and safe!
Our travels of Europe this spring were absolutely spectacular. I can't wait to share our experiences our travel friends, those willing to give us a try for the first time and those who know what a blast we have...you know who you are!
Will keep you posted with the next tour - the autumn in Italy - Florence through Tuscany and ending in Venice...
Travel with you soon!
Natascha
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