Monet in Paris

If you needed an excuse to go to Paris this winter - the biggest Monet exhibit in 30 years continues at the Grand Palais until January 24, 2011. The exhibit's website is here -

At the same time you can also take in a second Monet exhibit at the intimate Musée Marmottan, running until Februaery 20, 2011.

And if you want to see the huge waterlilies, you will also have to make a stop at the Orangerie.

With both hotel and air prices at their lowest in winter, it's a great time for art lovers.

No visits to Giverny until April, though!

If you plan to be in Provence at the end of September and you're fascinated by things medieval, you're in luck. At Les Baux de Provence, the perched fortress not far from Avignon, this year's medieval re-enactment includes 1000 actors who will re-create the sights and sounds of life in the middle ages, complete with falconry and catapult-launching. The highlight of the show is the full-scale assault on the castle.
Dates are September 24-26, 2010 and tickets are available online at www.culturespaces-minisite.com/baux/

Even if you can't make those dates, you can still visit and see the catapults catapulting every day until the end of September.




While you're in Les Baux, it's really worth a stop at the Cathédrale d'Images, a multi-image sound and light show in the old quarries at the foot of the village. Never mind that it sounds like one of those tourist things you wouldn't do - the brochures don't do it justice. The current show is a voyage to Australia, the next show, coming in winter 2011, showcases the art of Leonardo da Vinci.



Finally, for lovers of fine cuisine, there's Oustau de Baumanière, a Michelin-starred restaurant with wonderful food and an elegant setting. I was able to participate in a cooking class here not long ago - a mouth-watering behind the scenes experience. Not only did we get to see the skill and work that go into the preparation of the dishes, but we got a chance to see all the goings-on of a restaurant kitchen getting ready for serving a great meal. Cooking classes can be arranged for small groups at Oustau de Baumanière, depending on the time of year.

Oh the weather in France is frightful...

Normally I tell people that winter travel to France is a great idea; fewer crowds, no lines at museums, the restauranteurs have returned, and the weather's generally milder than the northern US. But at the moment Europe's suffering the aftermath of a big snow and freeze, with delayed and cancelled flights and lots of fun snafus. If you've already booked your flight, take a tip from the Parisiennes and carry a wardrobe of scarves along with you.

You can look for those scarves and a lot more at the annual winter sales (les soldes), which opened in Paris on January 6 and continue on until February 9 - that's 6 six weeks of deep discounting at major department stores and small boutiques throughout Paris, and in many other cities as well. Parisians rush to be first to these sales, which are limited by law to twice a year. If you're an avid shopper, fashionista, or frugalista, this is your moment. Plenty of hotel bargains in January and February, airfares are as low as they'll get, and the big cafés have glassed in the sidewalk tables. Combine your savings with the detaxe, the 12 percent rebate on the French VAT available to non-residents and it might make up for the dollar's still dismal exchange rate.

The detaxe has conditions. You must purchase at least 175 Euros worth of merchandise in the same store on the same day, keep your receipts and do some paperwork. However, some of the major department stores and some specialty stores will do this for you and offer on the spot processing.

And if you're not ready to leave just yet, the second round of annual sales takes place from June 30 till August 3, 2010.