Love Wine, Will Travel

The Imperial Cities of Morocco

2011-10-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

What an amazing 10 days we had in Morocco! We managed to make it to several cities that we hadn't seen before - and discovered that they all have their own charm, excitement and tradition. The people were helpful, delightful and cheerful. The sounds of prayer call, the smells of the dye vats and leather and the sights of roman ruins and majestic gates all added to the intrigue of berber life contrasted with imperial rule. Morocco has it all, coastline, desert, ruins, mountains, oases, and each corner offers up something unique.

As part of Oussaden Tours (NY) Familiarization trip, Corinne and Natascha set out to travel Morocco with 7 other travel agents and our tour director, Lahsen from New York City. Jamal from Marrakech was our patient and thorough guide, reciting Morocco's history, way of life and beliefs with much clarity. In 6 days we visited 5 imperial cities to learn about their importance in Morocco's history.

Casablanca's immense iconic mosque of Mohammed V sits on the edge of the Atlantic, a serene and shady spot for a pilgrimage or a picnic. We found our way through the Kasbahs (fortified cities) in Rabat, the cool blue reflecting the tranquility of ancient times in this bustling capital of the country. The Hassan Tower and tomb of Mohammed V were testimony to the importance of Morocco's past rulers in modern day life. The Gate of Meknes is said to be the loveliest in the country and this happens to be the wine growing region of Morocco - some nice crisp whites and rosés to add to the experience! Nearby were the Roman Ruins at Volubulis, the tomb of Moulay Idriss, the founder of Islam, and the modern installment of the ski town of Ifrane.

We both loved the first Imperial city of Fez as it offers a calmer, less touristy option to Marrakech. We walked from one end to the other through the city divided in two, hence the name FES or 'axe'. Twisting and winding our way through the unending 9000 alleyways of the souks, where people sold there wares, from cow tongue to turkeys, wedding decorations to jalabayas. We even tried our hand at carpet weaving! Children were everywhere... Corinne was delighted to chat and laugh with them in French.

Next we had an unforgettable drive over the Atlas Mountains to end the Bin-Ouidane Reservoir. This dammed river was our breathtaking view while we stayed at the Widiane Spas and Suites. This accommodation spans the reservoir and offers pontoon tours to view the stars, all the while getting a massage!

Back out of the mountain range towards Marrakech we stayed for a few nights experiencing the Jmaa al Fnaa or busy... busy square. Everywhere you look there are snake charmers, monkey handlers, henna tattoo artists and makeshift dentists willing to pull out a tooth for 50 dirhams, about 5 euros! After an evening dip in the hotel's lovely pool, we said goodbye to our US travelling companions to start a new adventure, a private tour into the Sahara Desert.

Leaving Marrakech we took off over the southern chain of the Atlas mountains to Ouarzazate, a place where several movies have been made. There are two major film studios, both having taken part in movies such as The Gladiator, the Mummy and Lawrence of Arabia. One could get lost in the Taourirt Kasbah. This was the most interesting of the ancient fortifications, belonging to a Paschaa or government official. We made a new friend, Karib who showed us around the complex chambers, kitchens and hammams or baths.

Our next adventure required alternative transport as we arrived in Zagora for our dromadery trek. We were to trek to a bivouac, a group of tents near M'Hamid on the Algerian border. Our camel driver slept on the sand with the beasts, our dromaderys showing brotherly love as one bit the other in the behind.... twice!

Around the campfire we drank tea and heard the sounds of Berber song from our guides under the moonlight.

Back to Ourarzazate and an early flight to Casablanca had us re-encounter civilization in a hurry....though we were still dreaming about the magic of the desert and Berber way of life...

VM Travel plans to revisit these Imperial cities with all types of curious travellers. Come join us! Life is too short not to have this much fun!

Natascha

Cousins Cooking and Wine in the South of France

2011-09-15T00:38:00.000-07:00

Who would have imagined so much fun! This September seven family friends met in Paris then took the fast train to a little oasis called the Mas St. Antoine just south of Avignon. Theme? Cooking and Wine!!! The 300 year old country home gave us a base for our cooking sessions and a cool respite from the agreeably hot weather in the south of France. Pierre, a long time friend of Corinne's was our chef de resistance as he guided us through the Mediterranean and Provencale recipes! Our first "training session" on fish was held in his lovely apartment kitchen in downtown Marseilles - very a propos dishes for this port city. We sauntered through the markets and culinary emporiums before heading off to learn how to make the famous french macaron! 2 1/2 hours to make those little darlings - now we know why they sell for over a euro each in the patisserie!
The next cooking session was held right in our kitchen at the Mas! Everyone was put to task, whether it was smashing the potatoes, braising the magret de canard to medium rare or adding grandmariner to the cake once or twice for good measure. The patio table decked with candles and lights allowed our enjoyment of our creations to go long into the night.
The final night we cooked everything upside down as it was Tintin night! Everything from an olive and tomato amuse bouche to apple tarte was baked and then flipped. Somehow we fed the mulitudes with these pies as other guests joined us around the dinner table.
Our theme of cooking and wine had us visit a Salin de Midi near Aigues-Mortes. Here we took a visit of this salt farm that stretched out into the Mediterranean Sea and of course filled our bags with the famous Fleur de Sel. Wine too was the theme the day we visited Chateauneuf-du-Pape to tour and taste the Pere Ansleme from the crooked, dusty bottle and also enjoy a picnic lunch in the vineyards at Domaine de la Marotte. So nice of them to accommodate us during their busy harvest time.

The key to the grand success of this tour was Pierre our chef- laid back and charming with a great sense of humour who shared his profound knowledge of French Cooking learned over his 15 years in Provence. Merci beaucoup. Also Keryn and Kerrin our hosts at the Mas just made everything so enjoyable and easy for us! Lovely swimming pool and garden, a welcome provencale reception, gourmet pizza night and a full French breakfast of croissants, hams and cheeses the morning of our departure.

As we took the train back up to Paris we marvelled at how we all got along and had so much fun together. We do a cousins trip every year, but this was the BEST ONE YET!

Paris boys come to Fernie!

2011-08-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

I first met Alexandre in 2002 on a Transatlantic flight to Paris. Alex is an artist www.alexathane.com

and he has been pretty much confined to his small Paris apartment for the last 9 years. My constant invitations for him to see the wild west of Canada finally lured him and his friend Stephane to visit us in Fernie this summer. The weather could not have been more perfect and if any of you have spent time in Canada this year, warm days were few and far between.
The "Paris boys" only had 5 days in the Rockies but they were action packed. Of course we had to drive them through Banff National Park and after many hours on " Bear Watch" we came up with a few sheep and deer - oh well something to look forward to on their next visit. On our descent through the Columbia Valley to Fernie we stopped at one of our favourite spots Lussier Hot springs, a series of hot to warm to cold pools aside a briskly flowing stream high up in the mountains on the road to Top of the World Provincial Park. Now this was quite an introduction to the wild west!
With our base on the ski hill in Fernie Alpine Resort we put Alex's hiking boots to the test - and his new boarder style swim suit! I think speedos are still the rage in Paris! Off we were hiking in the Old Growth Forest with 800 year old cedars that survived the forest fires in the early 1900s. Destination, Island Lake Lodge for a picnic and some fishing. Fishing fanatic Stephane had brought his bayonnet "canne a peche" all the way from France so he had to test it out. Unfortunately the lake around the island has not been stocked with trout since 2002 so it was an excercise in futility particularly when we were sharing most of the air space with a multitude of fish flies. No harm done, just alot of time spent shooing them away. Did you know that they do not move as fast as mosquitoes?

We spent some time on the water the next day as we were invited by our friends Isabelle and Jim to sail on the Koocanusa reservoir. No wind meant a little motor sail boat ride while their son Paul explained the rigging, then back to human powered manoeuvring of the lake kayaks. Since it was such a beautiful day we decided to give them the thrill of their life at Silver Springs near Elko. A 15 min. hike up through a throng of mosquitoes found us at a crystal clear lake just waiting for us to break its image with a plunge from a 10 foot , then a 30 foot precipice. You can see the hesitation on Stephane's face as he advanced towards the edge with his feet and yet his upper was saying "NON!" A late night fresh BC salmon on the BBQ finish the day. Stephan helped me whisk up the most delicous hollandaise sauce to top it off.

Boohoo, our last day together in the mountains. Being the weekend we were able to take the Timber High speed quad chair to the top of the ski hill, then we navigated our rocky climb to the very top of Elephant head - those boots were made for hiking and thats just what they'll do! At an alititude of almost 7000 feet Stephane found a cute little araignee or spider which he gleefully showed to Alexandre and myself but when I informed him that it was actually a tick ready to bleed him dry he commenced to throw it off the cliff. Goodbye little one!
After a little ride him my 1973 porsche and a visit to the Lizard Creek hot tub the Paris boys in Fernie visit came to an end. No bears or moose this time, but we have to leave something for their next visit. With all the travelling that we do as a family through our business VM travel adventures showing the Paris Boys around British Columbia reminded us of the great country we inhabit! Always great to escape to foreign lands, but Canada always welcomes us back with open arms. We are VERY proud to be Canadian!

Home Office in Fernie, B.C.

2011-08-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Travelling friends,

We, Corinne and Natascha are both are very pleased to announce that we're happily working away in the office in Fernie this summer! Besides planning your tours we have taken advantage of the recent lovely weather to get out into the Rocky Mountains!

Saturday of the long weekend was spent hiking up in the mountains in the Elk Valley, specifically up the wet and wild path of the Coal Creek Drainage. 12 of us outdoor enthusiasts left Fernie Alpine Resort to join our fearless leaders Sachia and Linda - the unofficial back country guides - on a hike to "The Ammonite".

An ammonite is an extinct type of cephalopod, related to cuttlefish and octopus. The spiral and ridged shape of the ancient sea creature was named after the horns of the Egyptian God Ammon, who legend states, had horns.

Our Coal Creek Ammonite is one of several smaller fossils found in the Fernie area. The size? This specimen measures about 1.5 metres across and was 35 centimeters thick, the body spiraling out from the center of the shell. The imprinted fossil in the rock is complimented by the lower half of the body which remains embedded, as the shell had once filled with sand. This big guy used to swim around in the Jurassic Sea some time ago, between 200 and 145 million years back, then with the formation of the mountains, was lifted up high, waiting to be discovered for as many years!

It was wonderful to hike with old and new friends, although this year's rainfall made the trek much more treacherous! Hikers, make sure you all have good footwear, and don't be afraid to get a bit muddy!

Happy trails... come out and join us next time! Life is too short not to have this much fun!

Natascha

Live the Tango in Buenos Aires

2011-07-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, it does take TWO TO TANGO as we discovered on a recent couples 10 day tango tour in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Four experienced dance couples from Saskatoon met their match with this precise, intimate, dramatic dance! Baleos, ganchas, flicks and figure eights were the challenge over the 10 days of instruction with Argentine tangueras and tangueros. Repeat, repeat, repeat and finally that euphoric moment of " I think I've got it!" The Argentine Tango is probably one of the most difficult dances to lead with precision and grace. The female partner? All she has to do is be on her toes and patient, waiting for the subtlest indication from her male counterpart as to where to flick and turn. Sound easy?
This fun group from Saskatoon rose to the challenge and by the end of the tour were naturally taking up the tango position in the streets of La Boca and San Telmo! Besides particpating in late night tangos in some of the most famous milonga halls in the world such as El Beso and Salon Canning, this group discovered the European flavour of Buenos Aires through its culture and food! La Boca, San Telmo market, Recoleta, all interesting barrios to visit!

Leaving the tango they flew to spectacular Iguazu Falls and to colourful Salta for a wine tour. With Natascha at the wheel they navigated the bumpy, gravel roads to the highest vineyard in the world, Bodega Colome! A one night stay was not nearly enough at this exquisite resort but somehow they fit in a visit to the James Tyrrell light gallery and a horseback ride through the "colorado" river bed, not to mention the gourmet meals, lovely wines and 5 star accommodation. Really worth the ride!
One thing is for certain, Argentina is worth several visits if not only to master the tango, but to discover its beautiful and diverse landscape! European culture - great buy for Canadians and a great escape to summer in our cold months. Bienvenidos!

Sketchbook Tour of Greece

2011-07-22T12:51:00.002-07:00

Dear Traveling Friends,

We are pleased to announce that we have had a busy spring! This year our fellow travelers had us visiting Argentina, Italy, France and Greece! The Sketchbook Artist Tour of Greece was a highlight, as our weather was perfect in each exquisite destination!

Our two week tour of Athens and the Cyclades Islands started in the Capital city of Greece, surrounded by ruins and antiquities in the Plaka district. Cecelia Jurgens got her group of sketchbook artists together for yet another amazing art experience in her traveling classroom! It was so nice to re-acquaint with our group of artists, photographers and adventure seekers at the Athens airport, and what a wonderful time we had!

We wasted no time getting acquainted with Greek culture and food! We toured the Plaka district on foot, then were greeted at one of the best restaurants in the heart of the ruins for a welcome meal. Those Greek salads with the authentic feta cheese became an irresistible part of every meal!

The next few days were spent studying the ancient sculptures and temples, all within walking distance from our centrally located hotel. The Temple of Zeus, the Botanical Gardens and the Stoa of Ancient Agora were preferred places for painting, some sketchers concentrating on columns and statues, others being inspired by Mediterranean flowers and foliage! The view from the top of Lycabettus hill was worthwhile after quite a workout and the changing of the guards is always a special experience as one views the unique attire and deliberate manner of the uniformed soldiers. We were fortunate to have Sofia, our very informed guide of the Acropolis and New Acropolis Museum sites. She was so thorough in her explanations of the Parthenon, the temples and the other ruins that we all finished the day having become experts in the history of Ancient Greece!

Next thing we knew, we were boarding a flight to the island of Mykonos. Our lodging on top of the hill gave us some spectacular sunset views from the pools and patios! We enjoyed every minute of the time we had sketching the windmills, shopping in Little Venice and following the island's mascot, a pink pelican with a peculiar personality! As enhancement to the sketching experience we did an excursion by boat to the island of Delos, the ancient free port of Greece next to Mykonos. Others got around to see the island on scooter and some got lost in the winding streets on foot! Remembering this island experience will surely bring some to recall the tantalizing breakfast laid out by the Semeli Hotel - everything from sweet to savoury - salads to cereals!

After a week of sketching, Cecelia gave an encouraging critique of the sketcher's work. We were all proud to see the new artists expressing themselves so freely and the experienced artists fascinate us with their splashes of colour!

Our next adventure had us boarding the hydrofoil rapid ferry past islands and outcroppings too small to be inhabited, venturing deeper into the Aegean Sea. Our next port of call was the island of Thira, or Santorini. We were awed at the steep winding roads to bring us up to the hotel in Firostefani from the port! Our view from the Villas of the Caldera and the Volcanic Nea and Palau Kameni Islands was spectacular, the sunsets even more memorable. We had a sketching session on the black Kamari Beach followed by a nice lunch. We stopped to see the impressive Red Beach, taking the rocky path to see where the crystal waters met the rocky red soil. This particular day ended with a visit to Ia, which was made special as our terraced restaurant was home to the best sunset view on the island. We dined and drank in the magical fading light, perched on the cliff, surrounded by beautiful flowers, culture, antiquity and the tranquil Aegean sea.

We shopped, sketched, ate, drank and were merry during this whole trip to Greece, it was an unforgettable time with special traveling friends, and thanks to Cecelia, we will be able to do it again in the future to other specially chosen destinations.

"Efharisto" for reading our blog! We love hearing your comments, and if you would like to receive regular blog updates by email, please enter your email address in the box at the top of the page!

See you again soon!! Life is too short not to have this much fun!

Natascha

¡¡Earthquake!!

2010-07-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

Earthquake!!!!

I first heard a siren scraming though the business district of Santiago - ¨Sanhattan¨ as some call it, with the echo of impending disaster. This woke me up, barely taking note of the late hour, then the trembling started. Living in Chile makes one accustomed to the earth moving under your feet from time to time. We have had some bad tremors but nothing that continued as long as this one did. Curious that this tremor was actually a quake, and a long awaited one at that. Here is the story of how it happened for us at the office of VM Elite Viajes, 8º floor home office in downtown Santiago on February 27th, 2010.

As dawn broke the evidence of disaster started piling up. The pedestrian walkways over the highways were twisted and mangled, the buckled highways had thrown cars into chasms and several church steeples suffered the brunt of the trembling, fell down completely or tipped to the side, the skewed cross indicating the damage. Despite this damage, the twisted highways, along with a couple of tilted buildings was the worst of it here in the Capital. Initially we thought that all of Chile had been narowly missed, as there were few reported deaths, and no sign of a tsunami.

We had fallen asleep watching the end of a movie when I heard the siren coming towards our building. With the screaming siren came the shaking that lasted for two minutes. Attempting to run the length of the swaying hallway with the closet doors swinging and banging we reached the entrance to the main hall staircase, only to find we were want of clothing. We just stood there listening to everything crash around us as the first tremor ended and we ran to put on warm clothes and boots, grabbed flashlights and all of our keys, a blanket and we were out the door to the 8º floor dark stairwell, and out into the darkest night. Near our apartment chimneys were collapsed, the bell tower fell off the cathedral and everyone was out in the street huddled around a radio. The nightclubs had been in full swing, two guys crashed on a scooter right in front of us, but fled (drunk) as the police approached.

After a couple of hours we went back upstairs and tried to sleep. The 6.9 aftershock that came a few hours later was the worst... you get used to the lighter tremors after a while (we have had more than 50) but the repeated, non-stop shaking with the lights on just after 6am had us thinking that we were about to do it all over again. The lights came on at just after 6:00am and the phones were working at 9:30. There was no sleep for us as the phone calls started coming in even though we were told to keep the lines clear for emergency purposes. We were glued to the local news - CNN has its own network in Chile, so the news you folks were getting in North America was mostly accurate - I just wish they had reported more of Australasia as I was concerned for friends in Aus and NZ. In the end it turns out that the tsunami wave didn´t cross the Pacific at all, it turned back on the southern tip of Chile, wiping out beach towns for several hundered kilometres.

Everything is okay in our apartment, which is our home office. The dividing walls are cracked with plaster missing, some wine glasses were broken and everything fell off the walls. Luckily no wine bottles were broken in our mini cellar of a wine collection! We have had quite the time cleaning up but we feel very lucky that, despite the fright, we have come out perfectly unscathed. We were lucky to have had power and light just a few hours after the event. Other ¨barrios¨ were not so lucky and had to wait weeks before their power was restored.

Most of the towns in the south were, and still are, in terrible condition. Terrible condition means that most of the houses were without a roof for the main supporting walls having fallen down. Some tsunami affected towns were washed away, leaving cars, boats and the remains of people´s lives high up in the hills, as much as 1 to 2 kms inland. What makes all of this worse, is that the affected folks of the poor neighbourhoods were looting the supermarkets for plasma screens and dishwashers...surely you need one of those after your house has just fallen down. By all means, they took with them supplies they needed amongst the rest of whatever they could grab. The looting didn´t stop in the stores after a few days of mayhem. Without the army having been called in to reduce the number of crowds who were looting supermarkets and shops, and then burning a department store, once empty the chaos was turned to target private houses. I remember hearing that people were guarding their property behind the gate with sticks or any weapon they could get, from the mob that came to rob them. They felt helpless after having survived first the quake, then a tsunami...the last thing they needed was to have their own countrymen attack and injure them. I must remind you that these events happened only for a few days, and in the specific zone of Concepcion. This is where the folks were desperate and some groups had indeed been allowed by the Carabineros (police) to take supplies that were badly needed.

Many people were stuck outside of Santiago at the coast. Many holiday makers take off to the towns at the beach, however most had no power or water for two days. What made matters worse is that they couldn´t go home as the emergency workers re-opened the twisted, collapsed highways. My close friends and canadian compariots live in the Mountains at the base of the Andes. They were shaken up but without power, water or internet for at least one week. Arturo Merino Benitez, the country’s international, newly reconstructed Airport had the ceiling fall in and on to fleeing passengers. They say it was to open 72 hours after the earthquake, but having flown recently two months after the fact, there are still tents and makeshift waiting areas set up for travelers.

Everyone dealt with the difficulties differently. Travelers had to either bus over the Andes to or from Mendoza, Argentina, or stay in hotels that were already busy due to the Festival de Viña del Mar Beach concert that was already in full swing at the time of the quake. Our office is straight across from the Intercontinental Hotel. We could see the same faces in the windows for days, families and teams alike, longing to go home.

For our part we felt very lucky. The quake was said to have been long overdue due to geothermal buildup on the plate´s fault line near Concepcion. They researchers say that this event will quiet the rumbling for some time, up to 200 years from now. So many of my Canadian friends and family want to know if this is scary enough to make me move home. In response I will reply that no, I don´t want to leave here yet. I feel that this experience was, in a way, heartening as it brought together a country of tough hearty folks. Although scary, I was well looked after by my lovely man and business partner Tomás. As we move on from this frightening time, Chile is still collecting clothing, raising money and building homes. I am sad for the families of the 1500 persons whom lost their lives, but encouraged to find a newly reconstructed and improved Chile in the outcome of this disaster.

February is Summer in Chile - On Tour with the Tutty´s

2010-06-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Summertime wine touring in Chile…

February is a wonderful month here in South America, as it is summer! The city of Santiago is empty of traffic as everyone is on holiday at the beach. This was the perfect time and place to start the ¨South American experience¨ for Lynda and Lester Tutty. My fellow Canadians landed at Arturo Merino Benitez Airport on February 1, 2010 to spend the beginning of their two month travels with me, Natascha and VM Elite Viajes. Our ten day visit of the wine regions of Chile and Argentina were focused on the Maipo Valley, near Santiago, the Colchagua Valley approximately two hours to the south and the Province of Mendoza, Argentina to end the tour.

Our first days were spent in Santiago, getting over jet lag and visiting the local sights. We had some chances to dine in some more modern restaurants while we enjoyed Chilean cuisine. Our travels south took us to Pirque, in the Valle de Maipo and Concha Y Toro vineyard. After our tour to visit the Devil himself in the cellar, we had a nice lunch on the patio before heading south on Ruta 5 Sur. Upon arriving in Santa Cruz, we checked into the Posada Colchagua in nearby Isla de Yáquil. We were hosted by the lovely Leonor who has constructed the ten room guesthouse by herself from scratch. The grounds are lovely with a pool and terrace, we stayed home one night just to have a picnic and enjoy the tranquility of the location. In the Colchagua Valley we also visited the Bisquertt Winery with their collection of all things Huaso or ¨from the country¨. The collection of Carriages, the wine taste with the rustic high backed chairs and the exquisite meal at Q Clay Restaurant with wine pairing made the visit special.

In the morning we visited the Clos Apalta Vineyard buried 35 metres in the granite hillside. We had our tasting deep in the heart of the barrel shaped building in the bodega, what a neat spot! On the same day´s afternoon, after visiting Santa Cruz town we were off to the newly planted Lolol Valley we toured the Bodega Hacienda Araucano. Gabrielle hosted us for a lovely tasting of their range of wines. The view from the Hacienda of the Lolol Valley is really special, in winter mornings there is a white fog or cloud that settles in the valley from the Pacific, so they have named their premium range of wines Humo Blanco as an expression of their unique vista.

Our next few days were spent at the beach in Viña del Mar. After a visit to the Pablo Neruda House in Isla Negra, we checked in to the Cap Ducal Hotel, the ship on the water. This hotel is an icon of Viña and has been around since the 1930´s. Viña del Mar and Valparaiso are where we encountered the people on their summer holidays taking advantage of the beach culture. Lester and Lynda were fortunate to meet up with some fellow Canadians for a visit at the beach, a pleasant surprise! In Valparaiso we climbed the hills with the help of the Funicular as it is easier than getting lost in the steep and narrow streets on the hillside! We visited the port and went for a boat ride around the harbour – we even saw a big sea lion bathing in the sun in the middle of the Cargo & Armada ships and the visiting French Fleet!

From the Pacific Coast we drove straight east through the Casablanca Valley, the most well known white wine growing region of Chile. Unfortunately there was no stopping as we were headed for Argentina - straight across Chile! This crossing of the nation took only three hours… and finally we reached the Argentine border at Los Libertadores Pass to cross over into Mendoza province. This drive is lovely – and exciting! There are 30 switchbacks up to the pass summit and if you look closely you can see the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Andes. On the Argentine descent the mountains change colour to a beautiful purple and the highway takes you past the oasis of Uspallata and the Mendoza reservoir, a crystal clear blue colour.

Our lodging was in Chacras de Coria at the Parador del Angel. Here we took full advantage of the tranquil treed suburb, the pool and a nice massage! The location is perfect for tranquility but also there are hip little cafes and restaurants where locals and tourists alike spend the long evenings relaxing. One evening we had the pleasure of bumping into the winemaker from Hacienda Araucano, a winery that we had visited in Chile! Luca had crossed the border to help with the earlier harvest of their sister Lurton Winery in the Valle de Uco. We were lucky to sit and have a meal with the inventor of some nice wines that we had had the pleasure of tasting a few days before, what’s more, in another country!

The towns south of Mendoza are in the heart of the wine growing region, we visited the nearby Weinert Winery with winemaker Hubert Weber. Hubert gave us such a good tour that we were convinced to visit his other project, Tapaus Distillery. This modern yet naturally designed ¨spirit¨ bodega makes everything from sweet liquors to firewater made from the skins and seeds of grapes, a kind of Mendocino grappa! After a full day of tasting and visiting we were ready for some rest and shade in the comfort of the Posada. The next day we continued our wine touring at a smaller winery called Mairena. We were met by the lovely wife and daughter of the winemaker. This winery received the Wine Spectator’s Prize for the best straight Bonarda Varietal wine in 2003. What a treat! With the Tutty´s we experienced a few exciting varietals native to Argentina, Bonardas and Te from Mendoza and Torrontés from Cafayate in the north. Our visit to Argentina terminated with a visit to Mendoza city and a dinner at the Bodega Francis Mallmann, one of the oldest bodegas in the Mendoza region. This location is very hard to find but once arrived it was a lovely way to spend a hot summer night on the terrace with great food and exquisite wines. I am very contented to reflect on my summer tour with the Les and Lynda Tutty. Upon our return to Chile and their continuation of their trek across South America, I felt a loneliness that one can only feel when they are missing a family member. Thanks Lynda and Les for ten days of laughter, pic-nics and vino!

Next blog post: Earthquake!!!

Saludos,

Natascha

VM Elite Viajes Ltda - Life is too short not to have this much fun!

Summertime in South America with VM Elite Viajes

2010-03-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hello friends of VM Elite Viajes and Voyages Millefleurs Travel Adventures!

It has been a fair while sinceI have been able to add an entry from Chile, the South American VM HQ. It has been a wonderful year of learning about Chilean tax laws, visas, work contracts and just general business setup. After feeling a bit ¨sola¨ in the office in preparing this tour operating agency, I am pleased to announce that the VM Elite Viajes office here in Santiago has had a bumper summer season, thanks to some adventurous travellers from Canada.

I must include a note in this blog that the season here started with the visits of my parents, first my mother came to visit us in Santiago to do the not-so-normal tourist visits - we sent her up in a glider plane to have an arial view of Santiago!! One can do this here in Stgo, as we have one of the only aerodromos right in the middle of the city! With Corinne we ate in exquisite restaurants, drank nice chilean wines and even got a bit of work done!!

Two days after Corinne´s visit the other ¨padres¨ arrived all the way from Yellowknife, NWT where they are living for a time. This was a 37º celsius shift for them as we had a hot hot December here in Chile. Of course, any weather that was above -20ºc for them was balmy!! Dad (Myles) and Phyllis we set off on a great adventure at the beaches and the volcanoes. The first day of their arrival we set off straight to the beach, visited the penguins in Cachagua and participated in a real Chilean asado or BBQ. We were soon off for more adventures in the other beach towns of Zapallar, where we saw the NYE fireworks and Maitencillo, the surf beach where Myles discovered a beached giant squid, the perfect find for a biology enthusiast!

We travelled 8 hours to Pucón, the tourist town that is nestled under the looming volcano Villarica. Every day during the Christmas season we participated in a new adventure sport or extreme pastime. The Trancura Alto river had just opened so the four of us set out to conquer the 4º to 5º rapids. The next day we were canopy swinging through the native forest, some of the cables up to 1km long!! The unique canyoning experience was amazing. Due to rain that day in the village we decided to spend 7 hours in the wet anyway, walking downriver through canyons and waterfalls of the Rio Trancura annexing stream. This day we learned how to repell backwards down a waterfall or a mudslide zone, which was sometimes the case!! Hardhats and wetsuits were required for most of our christmas vacation in the south, and that´s just how we liked it.

In the middle of the ¨Padres / Dad´s¨ visit we had some old friends join our family unit. We had rented a cabin on the beach for six of us, as we were being joined by a girlfriend of mine from Nova Scotia, and her boyfriend - none of us had ever met as a group but we were such a compatible group that we had such a blast!

Asheley and Jeremie were up for having a good time and we started the year off right, with their vacation full of sunny days and pisco sours. Jeremie tried every beer that Chile makes and fell in love with ceviche. It was great to spend time with a dear friend, especially in such a relaxed atmosphere. Asheley´s family was to join the pair one week after their arrival. We ventured out to the airport to meet them, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police famliy Sullivan!

What an amazing family to travel with! The extended family was such a cohesive unit - and they were game for anything!! Conner tried wine for the first time at Bisquertt Winery during our wine touring days to the Colchagua Valley. Matty tried some exotic food and all enjoyed the flavours of cilantro and onion that you can find everywhere here in Chile. The seafood was a favourite among us all, and we created a real chilean asado BBQ on the terrace of the beautiful, spacious house that they rented for their two week stay in Tunquén, near Algarrobo.

The house came with a pool and a private beach which were highlights of their vacation, a version of ´paletas´a version of beach tennis was played by all members of the family, using the pool as the court! We explored the bat cave, the private beach, the sauna and the billiard room... and that was only at the beach house. Other persuits included the famous visit to the coffee with legs- the chilean´s clandestine hangout- and being harassed by the clown mimes in the Plaza de Armas in Santiago!

I must say we really had a great time and I would like to thank the Sullivans /Takers for including Tomás and I of VM Elite in your holiday.

What a great summer it has been until now.... more to come as I describe the next wine tour of some more fellow Canadians in the wine regions of Chile and Argentina.

Saludos for now!

Natascha

Tango and Polo in Argentina

2009-12-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

I just couldn't resist escaping dreary November in Canada to the sunny warm climate of Argentina! This year, as every year since 2004 I have extended my summer and shortened my winter by taking advantage of the reverse seasons in South America. This is the first year I have come without clients, not that I didn't try my best to invite wine lovers or tango dancers to join me!

My vacation started in the small town of San Antonio de Areco - gaucho capital of Argentina! Every year around the 10th of November Tradition Days celebrate the life of the gaucho or the Argentina cowboy. Folklore Dances, Rodeo and Strings of horses bring thousands of people to this quaint town dating back to the mid 1700's. The strings of horses is a gaucho tradition where the cowboy taught their replacement horses in the pampas to follow a cow bell on a mare just from the sound. This arose from the need to keep the horses together without a tether. Today 36 strings of horses or Tropillas compete to stay in their formation in a space the size of a football field. 4 of the top strings are selected and the gaucho must demostrate that his horses are tame to the judge. Once a horse is selected by the judge the gaucho has to separate it from the rest of the string and then bridle it. These strings along with other gauchos from around the countryside participate in the town parade. Asados (BBQ) and dancing go on to the wee hours of the morning!

Polo

My love of horses and riding found me on a polo ranch about 7 km from the town. Initially I enjoyed riding these wonderful ponies (a cross between thoroughbred and the Argentina quarterhorse) through the pampas, but soon Pato, the owner of the 56 horse ranch convinced me to try Polo stick and ball. Soon my horse Bonita was fitted with leg guards and 4 reins and I will a helmut and a polo mallet and off we went to the polo field. Now one might think, as I did that hitting a ball the size of a baseball from atop a horse might be close to impossible, but with careful instruction from Pato to stand up in the stirrups and twist my torso with the mallet as an extension of my arm I was able to have contact with ball. Same rule applies in golf or any sport - keep your eye on the ball! Of course a smart horse like Bonita who moved her head to the side everytime she new I had a bad swing or who immediately doubled back when she knew I missed the ball or better yet, kicked it forward so I could make another swing made my experience with polo less frustrating than any experience I had with golf! Soon I was loping the horse and hitting the ball a fair distance. I don't intend on graduating to a level of playing in a polo match or chucker, but it is thrilling to know that I can participate on more than a spectator level in this sport of kings!

Tango

I love small , quaint, antique towns so it was difficult to board the bus or collectivo for the big city of Buenos Aires - population 16 million! Buenos Aires or Good Winds is home to tango - another one of my passions. I have be learning the tango with my good friend Trinidad since 2004 when we met on the streets of colourful La Boca where she was dancing with her partner. Trini soon taught me the basics and found me a lovely tango taxi (an escort I pay to take me to the tango halls). Every year I book lessons with Trini and dates with Juan Carlos so I can get the most out of my time on the milonga or tango floor. Again, I would never have imagined being able to close my eyes and follow the lead of an Argentine tanguero. I am getting so good at waiting and following (something unnatural for a person of my character) that I am able to have success dancing with the old tangeros who have been dancing all their lives. Some of them rated me a 9 out of 10 - quite a compliment! My favourite is Juan Carlos though, very comfortable to dance the 3 styles - traditional tango, tango waltz and milonga (a 6 step fox trot).

For the first time since I started Voyages Millefleurs Travel in 2000 I have taken the time to live my passions and enjoy my many friends in South America. Right now I am getting to know the family of my daughter's lovely boyfriend (novio) in Santiago, Chile but will soon leave them to their summer weather and asados to return to my good friends in Canada for a real Christmas with white snow!

Happy travels to all and to all a good night! Corinne in Santiago, Chile

2009-09-04T01:49:00.000-07:00

Renoir in Cagnes sur Mer

Yes, I have to pinch myself every morning that I awake to perfect weather in Nice, France. Taking a walk to the local boulangerie for fresh croissants and taking a dip in the pool before enjoying my espresso looking out over the Mediterranean Sea hardly seems like work at all!

Actually I am taking care of this hilltop villa for some friends of mind while they are on a cruise and as long as the dog is alive along with their plants, I will feel like I have earned my keep!

The other day I dared to leave this little piece of paradise http://www.odyssee-nice.com/ to visit Renoir's Museum in Cagnes sur Mer (just down the autoroute a few " sorties"). I had been there in the spring while conducting my annual tour along the Impressionist Path and this museum set amongst ancient olive trees was a recent find - so peaceful and serene that it was well worth another visit. Renoir moved to Les Collettes partly because he was in love with Cagnes sur Mer, the Montmartre of Provence and partly to save this olive grove which was destined to be turned into carnation fields. Thanks to Renoir, these majestic knarled trees overlook the Cotes d' Azur to this day. I roamed around the house that his wife Aline had built to receive there many guests, visited his studio to see his wheelchair and his palette and took another peaceful stroll through the olive groves my camera unable to resist the view.

It takes alot more courage to visit a place on ones own. In the spring I had Jane with me to help with signs,etc. and this time I wanted to see what was so special about Cagnes-sur-Mer from the Medieval village at the very top of the hill. Yes, Medieval village does mean little or no parking and as I had my friends 4 x 4 (not small) I was very deliberate in finding the perfect parking spot - in the shade, lots of space and not on a steep hill! Impossible you say??? With a little patience one opened up for me very close to the Place du Chateau!!! Quelle chance! Thus I was able to enjoy my lovely salad Avocat - Crevettes and a small glass of rose under the platane trees on a terrace overlooking the countryside. Yes, it was just as beautiful as you could imagine!
I spotted a cemetery from there and wondered if this is where Renoir was buried???? So my inquiry with the server had me hopping around the Place du Chateau talking to at least 10 people who thought they knew where he was buried, including the curator of the museum who assured me that he was buried in Essoyes in Champagne! One of the hotel keepers suggested I wait and talk to Renoir's grandson who plays petanque"boules" in the square every evening. The thought almost warranted another few glasses of wine to wait until the heat of the day disappeared and the petanquers came out to play. But alas, the autoroute back to Nice Nord and a cool rooftop swimming pool won out and I returned safely back to the villa - no dints in the 4x4! Whew!
I wonder what will happen tomorrow??? Maggie Muggins!

Along the Impressionist Path

2009-08-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

The Impressionist Art Tour of France is a tour that Voyages Millefleurs offers every spring. The abundance of poppies in Provence just makes it the right time of the year to follow the footsteps of these renegade artists to discover what moved them to paint " en Plein Aire" - (outdoors) when the salons of the 1800's were only accepting works of art the " followed the rules". However, Mte. Ste. Victoire near Aix-en-Provence evoked sensations in Cezanne to paint it over 80 times and the brilliant sunshine in Provence enduced flaming colours in Van Gogh's palette.

We start our tour in Cagnes-sur- Mer just north of Nice. Actually Jane from California arrived a day early and I invited her to research Renoir's studio with me. After many wrong turns (just never sure which way those brown signs are pointing) we found this oasis of olive trees that Renoir spent his last years protecting. Still today one can enjoy the tranquility of this park surrounding his villa and know that his efforts were not in vein. His house and studio stand untouched from modernity - just as if he and his family still inhabited this sacred place. This was a delightful find for Jane and I and we talked about it for days after.

After the other two guests arrived we were off to Mont Ste. Victoire and Cezanne's studio. A very similar experience to see where this famous artist spent his final years painting his mountain over 80 times. Many of the objects he painted were still present in the studio and we had fun finding them in the prints of this paintings on display. His painting smock hung in the corner - imagine having the chance to touch it - not that we did! We drove along the path that he walked every day to the tour where he painted Mont Ste. Victoire. It was a long way and it was hard for us to imagine him making the trek and back every day!

South of Avignon is Van Gogh country. Although he only spend 18 months in Provence he produced over 300 works of art. Some of them were given to farmers in exchange for eggs and they often ended up to be doors on the chicken coops. Imagine - now these same painting sell for millions of dollars. I am always impressed with the Van Gogh Foundation and the education they provide for visitors. Tableaux of his paintings are appropriately placed in the spots where he painted them so you see what he saw and you read what he thought at the time of the painting. I have searched a long time for the actualy billard table used in this tableau " Les billiards" and finally found in upstairs in the Cafe Van Gogh - just where it was when he painted it.
A special place to really feel Van Gogh is St Paul Maussole just outside of St. Remy de Provence. Here he spent some of this most prolific days in an assylum - irises, poppies, olive trees , cypress trees! The Foundation has created a lovely tribute to Van Gogh in this setting which still uses Art Therapy to treat the mentally unstable residents.

After a week of enjoying a Provencale sky and the fields of poppies we took the fast train to Paris. The Musee D' Orsay (arrive early and go to the back of the converted train station and to the third floor to get a close up view of the works of all the impressionist artists) , the Musee Marmottan, a small Parisien manor dedicated to Monet with other impressionist too, the Orangerie - new home to Monet's huge Water Lilies, but a nice surprise to see the works of many well known impressionist artist in the basement - Renoir, Degas,etc.

Of course we had make the 1 hour excursion to Monet's Gardens at Giverny - flowers in abundance. I love taking some time to do some sketching in this tranquil environment. This time a little school boy was convinced that I was Monet's wife - he saw me sketching - and he wanted to buy my sketch for 7 euros (that's all he had)! Now isn't that a laugh! In the countryside too is Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh is buried next to his brother Theo. We paid our respects and stopped at the Blue Cathedral that he painted in one of his final days. It was here that he shot himself and died a couple of days later. The Maison Van Gogh one the main street where he ldied is open to visitors. The Chateau d' Auvers is a restored 19th century castle which presents a Voyage du Temps. As you walk through this presentation you come to understand the lives of the impressionists, what they painted and what inspired them. A trip to the countryside is a must, but take time to enjoy the Butte Montmartre in Paris where they met to inspire each other.

Voyages Millefleurs offers this tour every year. I always learn something new! Hope you will join me sometime. I invite you! Corinne

Travels with Corinne in France

2009-07-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Greetings to Voyages Millefleurs guests!

I hope that all of you are finally enjoying some lovely spring weather in Canada! I was lucky with the weather in Europe this year - very sunny and +30. I am now back in Fernie planning some more wonderful adventures!

http://www.odyssee-nice.com/ I will be managing this lovely property in Nice, France from Aug. 26-Sept. 10, 2009. Check it out - a little bit of PARADISE! Francois & Jerome have two modern apartments in this reconstructed Italian villa on a hilltop in Nice. Easy access to travel in the countryside or Nice itself. 110 Euros per apartment per night OR 730 Euros for the week. Come and join me! 1 877 423 5007

http://www.massaintantoine.com/ Some of might know this property formally run by Pierre and Ian. Two kiwis have taken over the property and have turned the garden and poolside into a lovely respite. I will be staying here in the little Cabanon for two weeks - Sept. 21 - Oct. 2, 2009 and will be offering beginning French classes - 3 hours a day, plus lots of practice as we visit the local markets and villages. Contact Keryn if you are interested in a stay (very reasonable prices) and me if you are interested in some fun French lessons! 1 877 423 5007

I would love to know where you have been travelling lately.

info@customwinetours.com

Remember travel is your most secure investment that will only appreciate in value!

Happy Trails to you! Corinne

Voyages Millefleurs Travel Inc. http://www.customwinetours.com/

Canadian Students in Europe for the First Time, Easter Break 2009

2009-05-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

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

Wine and Waterfalls Womens Tour of South America

2009-03-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

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!)¨

Italia and Valpolicella, a "valley full of cellars".

2008-10-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

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!

Yellowknife, NWT... a great place to paint!

2008-08-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of Voyages Millefleurs.... especially those with brush in hand,

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"!

Britsh Columbia is Beautiful!

2008-07-30T13:40:00.001-07:00

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!

We go West! This time in our own country.......

2008-07-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

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.

Trolly car driving in Lisbon

2008-06-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

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

Corinne & Natascha's Wine Tourism Project in Chile

2008-03-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

In Feb. we spend a week in the Maipo Alto Wine Growing valley of Chile just south of Santiago doing research on potential investment properties for Wine Tourism. Right now there are no places to stay or eat in this Wine Region, but yet there are beautiful wineries that offer up exceptional wines. Jose Manuel Garcia Huidobro of Concha Y Toro opened up many doors for us to talk about a potential Wine Tourism project including a 5 star hotel, spa, restaurant and possible vineyard with the property owners. They seemed very receptive to the idea as they know that this valley would have a certain tourist appeal to the North American traveller. Jose Manuel and his architect brother, Jorge will be our Chilean partners in this project. We are very excited about its potential and will keep you posted as we will be looking for Canadian investors.

Natascha works at Concha y Toro Winery in Chile

2008-02-15T10:36:00.001-08:00

Next week I Natascha starts work as a wine guide at the beautiful, Chilean winery south of Santiago, Chile. Concha y Toro is the largest wine exporter in Chile and Natascha is there to share her knowledge of wine and tourism with the 1000 guests they welcome everyday.

Natascha in Pucon, Chile

2008-02-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

Natascha is enjoying a week with friends from Santiago before starting her wine tour guide position at Concha y Toro Winery in Pirque, Chile on Feb. 25th, 2008.