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Day 1: The wait is nearly over... In just a few short months, the lavender will be prepping its bloom, the cicadas will be tuning their instruments, and we will finally be together for our Beautiful Villages of Provence Expedition! As we approach Saturday, June 20th, we know the excitement will be reaching a fever pitch... Whether you are spending a few pre-tour days navigating the chic boulevards of Paris before catching the TGV to Avignon, soaking up the glamour of the French Riviera, or exploring the vibrant docks of Marseille, all roads lead to our home-base at Chateau du Soleil just outside the stunning village of Venasque in The Luberon...
A Note from Your Hosts
Tommy and Terese will be heading over early on June 11th for a couple of fun days on the Riviera coast & in the mountains between Marseille and Nice, for a bit of vacation before our work begins... On the 15th, we'll move up to Venasque to begin final preparations for the Tour! We've got lots of work ahead of us to prepare for your arrival! We always get so excited and we'll be counting down the minutes until we can welcome you to this little slice of heaven!
The "Golden Hour" of Arrival
We know you’ll all be eager to drop your bags and start the fun, but please note that the Villa is a hive of activity on Saturday! To ensure the Estate is sparkling and every room is pristine, the property is closed to guests until 4:00 PM. While it might sound tempting to arrive early to "just walk the grounds," we ask you not to... Our crew needs every moment to work their magic. We appreciate your patience in helping us keep the arrival experience seamless!
The Plan for Saturday, June 20th:
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: The Grand Welcome. We’ll be waiting with open arms! As you arrive, we’ll have the Champagne flowing, ice-cold beer, and sodas ready to cut the summer heat.
Check-in & Chill-out: Once you’re settled into your room, feel free to take a nap & freshen up, or perhaps a refreshing dip in the pool or simply grab a drink & lounge under the Provencal Sun!
6:00 PM: Orientation Walk & Talk: Join us for a casual Happy Hour... Grab a glass of Champagne as we stroll through the Estate, share some stories, and get you acquainted with your home for the week.
A Feast for the Senses
During our stroll, we'll walk around The Estate, and take you through the entire Villa... and touch on all the amenities of the property... you’ll meet our private French chefs, Fabien and Coralie. They’ll already be hard at work in the kitchen, filling the air with the scents of fresh herbs and roasting specialties.
Usually at around 7:15 PM, appetizers will be served on the Terrace outside the Solarium, followed by a magnificent dinner party under the loggia. Every evening meal begins with a crisp tossed salad, fresh baguettes, and French butter—if you haven't experienced it yet, prepare to have your life changed! French Butter is just amazing! And of course we'll have plenty of wonderful French Reds, Whites & Rosés on the table!
After the main course and a decadent French dessert, the evening truly begins:
The Wine: A curated selection of local Reds, Whites, and Rosés will grace the table every night.
The Sunset: This will be The Summer Solstice period & the days are long! The sun won't set until 9:30 PM, allowing us to sip after-dinner cordials while watching the sky turn those famous, fiery shades of Provençal oranges & reds...
The Party: With great music playing and the bar open until 10:00 PM, every night is a celebration! (And don't worry ~ if the conversation is still flowing when we're tearing down the bar, we always leave a few bottles out for the night owls... and you're of course welcome to stay up as long as you want, we just observe "quiet hours" after 11:30pm. We just remind everyone that we're up & out early the next morning).
This is just Day One... This whole Tour is going to be a Mediterranean dream filled with swim parties, gourmet flavors, great views, adventures, fun experiences and the best company imaginable... Few things will make mark a on your life the way Provence will! We can’t wait to see you in Venasque!
A Bientôt!
"Turn up the volume and let the journey begin!"
