Patricia Sands

Author

Womens Travel Network

The countdown is on … start packing!

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It’s official! Our 2017 tour, Promenade En Provence, is filled to capacity with sixteen enthusiastic women who will spend twelve glorious days in June, exploring the beauty of the south of France with me and my good friend, fellow author Susan Sommers. 

Click here to visit Susan’s informative new website , Power Source For Women. On our trip, Susan will accompany those interested on morning walks and easy hikes along scenic routes. Her new book, Love Your Body ~ Embrace Your Life offers a wonderful combination of fitness, nutrition, spirituality, and health for women of all ages.

I will be waiting in France for you at the hotel. We can begin our time together with a toast on the beach!

Arrivals will be coming from Canada, the U.S.A. and the U.K., and we’ll make our first rendezvous at the elegant Hôtel Beau Rivage (my favourite!) in Nice. With the glistening turquoise Mediterranean across the street and the famous daily market of Cours Saleya in the old town just steps away, there’s not a better place to begin.

Each day will bring a new adventure with guided day trips to stunning nearby destinations, but there will also be plenty of time to rest, shop, or take a dip in the Med.

After six days, we will settle into the ancient walled town of Avignon. With just one hotel change during the entire trip, we can get comfortable once again. Our day trips will take us to picturesque medieval villages in the storied countryside of Provence, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, as well as endless fields of sunflowers and lavender.

 

I promise you an experience also filled with fine food, good company, laughter and lovely new friendships.

It’s such a pleasure to share my love of this exquisite part of the world on these tours. I’m already hearing from many who are eager to walk the same streets and discover the villages and scenery they read about in the Love In Provence series. We will do it all! On y va!

Susan, along with Debbie Ross, owner of the Womens Travel Network, will be hosting a Meet and Greet in May for anyone joining us from the Toronto area. Thanks to Debbie’s expertise for organizing all of the many details that make a trip like this possible!

Click here for photos of previous tours … and start planning your packing! I will be posting some packing tips later and also will send a list of great books you may want to read in advance. 

Are you excited? Susan and I can’t wait!

 

Our June trip to Provence ~ are you coming?

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Now that 2017 is underway, our women’s trip to Provence feels like it is just around the corner. As always when we do one of these fabulous trips, I’m already excited about it! I’ve received emails from several of the women who are coming with us and they can’t wait too. The countdown is on!

Our hotel in Nice is in the photo above on the Promenade des Anglais and just down the street from the daily market. There’ll be time to shop and go to the beach.

We spend a day in Antibes and visit the market where Kat met Philippe! ===>

At the moment, there are just four spots left out of the 16 offered. I’m posting info here about the trip in case you haven’t read about it. Please feel free to share it too.

Here’s the link to the women’s tour of the south of France that I will accompany from June 6 to 18. My friend and fellow author, Susan Sommers, goes with me. She writes non-fiction books about fitness for women over 50 and organizes some pleasant walks during the trip (purely optional in case you would rather shop!).
The cost of the tour (including daily breakfast and 11 dinners) CA $4995 and at the moment that cost is roughly US$3700. Plus airfare. It’s extremely well-priced for all that is offered AND it’s very personal, relaxed and a lot of fun.
You can find photos of the two previous tours on my website by clicking here.
 
I’m happy to answer any questions. We’ve had wonderful mother/daughter, sisters, and best friends combinations join us. Women who  have come on their own have all enjoyed the trip and made great friendships. It truly is a very special experience.
Many of the women who join us have read the Love in Provence series and are thrilled to explore the same places as Katherine does in the story.
I’ve put together a reading list to share and will post it here soon, as well as sending it to all on the tour.
Thanks for spreading the word … and, even better, for coming along with us on this great escape!

Like something out of a novel …

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That’s how the fabulous Julie Mautner of The Provence Post heads up an ad for the last three spots on our women’s tour of the south of France. Find it on the travel page of her website.

Have you thought about joining us for twelve magical days in the footsteps of Kat Price, the main character in The Promise of Provence? The two previous tours have been a great success and a lot of fun.

In case you’ve missed it before, here’s the scoop:

Like Something Out of A Novel…

June 2017

Fall in love with Provence…just like the main character in author Patricia Sands’ award-winning “Love in Provence” trilogy!

This trip is planned perfectly to experience the settings in The Promise of Provence. With Patricia and her friend, author Susan Sommers, as your guides, you’ll explore the exquisite Côte d’Azur, as well as the brilliant Provençal landscape with its mosaic of fields of sunflowers and lavender. It will not take long to feel as captivated and inspired as have writers, artists and travellers for centuries. Each day trip while in Nice for 6 days, offers diverse experiences that share one certainty… charm and stunning views! Step out of our hotel into the heart of the old town in one direction and bask in the turquoise glow of the Mediterranean in the other. A stop in Aix-en-Provence marks the transition from the coast to the interior. Then, settle into enchanting Avignon for the next six days of the trip. From here you’ll discover the magic of the Provençal countryside as we visit Arles, Roussillon, Les Baux, St. Remy-de-Provence, having special experiences along the way.

Dates: June 6 to 18, 2017.  Only 3 places left.

Tour Cost (per person):  CA $4995* ($3725 US).  Taxes and Gratuities (per person):  CA $325* ($243 US). Tour Cost for Guaranteed Single Accommodation: CA $6690* ($4990 US) *approximate.

Air fare not included but can be arranged.

Click right here to join us!

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 MEET YOU THERE! Allons-y!

July 1st ~ Happy Canada Day

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How are you celebrating Canada Day? It’s a bit chilly in Toronto today. A sweater is probably a good idea if you’re going to have a barbecue and watch fireworks this evening. I know, eh? Where’s summer?

I’ve just returned from three weeks in the beautiful south of France and I have to say the weather there was perfect. Apparently, I just missed the heat wave that appears to be setting in this week throughout that country. I’ll write more about that trip in my Friday post.

But today it’s all about Canada. In spite of my obvious love affair with France, I want to be clear that it does not preclude my pride in  being Canadian. As I’ve done in the past, I want to share a link to one of the best videos about our country that I’ve seen … and the credit for it belongs to our neighbours to the south.

Please click right here, sit back and enjoy as Tom Brokaw explains Canada to Americans.

This time last year, I celebrated Canada Day at a cooking class in Avignon with the great group of ladies on our south of France tour with the Womens Travel Network. What a good time that was! We may do it again, so be sure to contact Debbie Ross if you think you would like to join us!

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