Love Wine, Will Travel

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.