Latest News and Information May 18, 2008 Bonjour ou a bientot,  The first tour for 2008 is leaving in a little over a week, on 29 May. Many of the group are already in Europe and will meet up in Lyon. The second group are all meeting at Lyon on 20 June, ready for the jazz and pottery tour. Can't wait to see Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock and other fabulous musicians in the Roman ampitheatre of Vienne. I am now taking bookings for 2009. The first tour "In the Footsteps of the Impressionists" is proving very popular. This begins in Avignon on 15 May - 29 May2009. Cherry Manders will be our painting tutor on the tour. We stay in Aix and go to Cassis, along the Cote D'Azur to Nice back via the Gorges du Verdon to the Luberon Valley in Provence where we relax and take in the hill top villages meet local artists. The "footsteps" we are following are those of Cezanne, Matisse, Chagall, Picasso and Van Gogh. STOP PRESS!!! We are having a get together of all those interested in the Impressionist Tour at Cherry Manders house at 33 Tills Drive, Warrandyte on Sunday 25 May at 4pm. Please ring 98442337 if you would like to come. As this tour is filling very quickly we will offer another from June 5 - June 19 2009. While I am away in France I can be contacted at jane@zestefrenchtours.com  Bookings can be made with East Burwood Travel [Cliff or Ashley] on 98081177 June 19, 2008 The first tour for the year has just finished and people have scattered to various parts of France and home again. A fabulous groups of people who all got on well and were full of enthusiasm for all things French. Our 2 weeks were cooler than anticipated, but we avoided rain by finding restaurants and studios to visit. Provencal market shopping became an art and the sun conveniently came out just we wanted to explore, have a picnic or take a boat trip. One highlight superceded another. The roses at the gite at Faramans were breathtaking, a beautiful garden for relaxing and having croissants and coffee. The gite near Dieulefit was restored with loving care by Francine an food prepared by Xavier. Carol and Geoff stayed in the chateau nearby, owned by ceramic artist Tristan whose daughter Rebecca treated us to a piano performance [while pregnant with twins and just before embarking on her national concert tour], while having aperitifs to celebrate her ceramic exhibition. We were entranced and entertained by the poet of Lacoste and his off sider Serge, which was only topped off when his boss Pierre Cardin came to join us for drinks and ended up shouting us all and chatting for an hour or so. I am still pinching myself. Although Margaret spent much of the boat trip to the Calanques at Cassis talking to the head honcho from L'Oreal. She really did enjoy meeting all the gorgeous French potters and made some good friends. We got back from the south of France in time to watch Jean Jacques Dubernard throw chocolate pots for the chocolatier Monsieur Juvenal, at the potters market. Had dinner with all the potters, Lee and I took part in the market at La Cote St Andre on the Sunday. Lots of food and wine, dinners with French potters and some spectacular countryside. June 19, 2008   Au Revoir         Geoff Walker [Clint] To Faramans we came to hang out with sweet Jane. Pottery and glaze and lovely spring haze, nine of us in all we proceeded to have a ball. French chateaux, the countryside, market places that come alive, Drinks with Pierre, French chefs everywhere, friends we have met, as we go to and fro, and one that got lost on the Metro. French cheeses and wine we had a great time, so many great places, no unhappy faces. No time to tarry it’s off to Gay Paris To Jean Marc and Jane fond memories remain. We won’t say hoo roo just Merci Beaucoup!!!!                August 03, 2008 Bonjour from Le Facteur Cheval The postman who worked all his life to create this amazing monument to life, art and the whole catastrophe. We also enjoyed a fabulous jazz performance here by Tania Maria and her Brazilian quartet, one hot summer's night.     Lee Goller in tete a tete with Pierre Cardin over a drink. A chance 'rencontre' at Lacoste with the man himself was an evening none of us will forget. Charming and generous, we also discussed life, art and our most favourite places to live in Europe. This would have to be one of them.       Lunch in Jean Marc's garden. Great food and wine, great company. Very relaxed.   August 03, 2008 Les Calanques, Cassis on the Mediterranean.   La Pyramide. Restaurant at Vienne. Chef: Patrick Henriroux. Lunch here before seeing Herbie Hancock at Jazz at Vienne.   August 03, 2008 THE IMPRESSIONIST TOURS 15-29 May 2009 and 5-19 June 2009 August 03, 2008 Pottery Workshops, Jazz and South of France, 25 June -9 July 2009 August 03, 2008 Pottery and Wine Tour, 11-25 september 2009