E-Vasion by Bike

 

For several years Paris Charms & Secrets  (http://www.parischarmssecrets.com/)  has been running tours of the French capital on electric bicycles.   Their rep once explained to me that it meant that little old ladies could go just as fast as younger people on the tour.  I’m not sure what category he put me in.  

Now there’s an agency in Provence, in the Luberon, offering e-bike rentals and tours, starting from three different villages.   Sun-e-bike has 200 electric bicycles available departing from Bonnieux, Gordes, and Lauris, for 35 Euros a day (insurance is available, as are baby seats, extra batteries, and other items.)   They’re also offering pre-planned itineraries with hotel and transfers.   For Provence lovers, this looks like a great slowed-down way to explore the Luberon, with a little help getting up that hill in Gordes!

Sun-e-bike - http://www.location-velo-provence.com/en/bike-rental/bike-rental_12.2.htm

All That Jazz in Burgundy

 

 The French love jazz and of course, they love wine, so it makes sense to put the two together.   Jazz å Beaune, music and wine festival, takes place on October 18, 19 and 20 this year.  International jazz musicians, young and upcoming talent and oh yes – Burgundy tasting before each performance.   Tickets on sale on the Beaune tourist office site, some free concerts on the first day, jam sessions late into the night on the last.

http://www.beaune-tourism.com/burgundy-news/Jazz-A-Beaune.asp

Fork It Over!

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One of my best discoveries this year was La Fourchette, an online restaurant reservation service in Paris and elsewhere in France.   Available in French (www.lafourchette.com ) or in English (www.thefork.com) , it costs nothing to subscribe and offers a painless way to make sure you’ve got a dinner reservation.

Restaurants are sorted by location, price range, ambiance, and cuisine, so you can pick your neighborhood, your budget or your menu for the evening.   Many of the restaurants offer discounts for booking through the service.   Restaurants are rated, though I take that as I take all ratings, with a healthy bit of skepticism.  You can also preview the menu without doing all that walking.

Paris dominates, but most major cities in France are well-represented, and there’s a good selection in Spain as well.  And no, it’s not every restaurant, but you’ll find plenty of well-known names, along with some more modest ones.

La Fourchette is easy to use – once you subscribe, you can request a reservation for a particular date and time, and receive a comfirmation by e-mail or text.   Only once in a couple of weeks did a restaurant come back unavailable.

Apps available for your iPhone or Android too.   Bon Appetit!

P.S.  No - the fork in the picture's not in France.  Any guesses?