Chemins Vignerons : Dancing under the stars

Dancing under the stars

Publié par marco 4 décembre 2008 dans Tango tour

Destination : South of France : one of the most active center for Tango, particularly Nîmes where we’ve been dancing intensely for 10 years. That city became the hub from Marseille to Montpellier. Summer becomes a special season : we can dance late at night under the stars. Summer period see another events to be created : tango concert, festivals, and open air ball.. Departure : july and august 2008. Your tour leader : Marc, your guide. He will be your guardian angel for the whole journey. He is both a professional tour guide, wine expert and tango dancer.. Location : Nîmes’area.
1st day Wednesday In the morning, discovery of the roman city, Marc will give you an historic tour in the roman city : the garden (jardin de la fontaine, the ampitheater, the covered marked les halles) Lunch on your own. Departure to Montpellier at 4 pm, visit of the capital in Languedoc administrative region.	Nîmes’ garden «Jardins de la Fontaine »
Bal in front of Montpellier’s art museum.	To be discovered : the old town center from the 17th and 18th century, a maze of tiny streets. Montpellier is very dynamic, a « young » city which livelihood is based on research (university, medecine, computer…). Members ‘ll have free time for shoping and to walk around in what supposed to be the biggest square in France on « la Place de la Comedie ». Diner on your own. Before dancing.
2d day Thursday Free morning, lunch on your own. At 2 pm, after lunchtime, Marc will lead you to a tour in « les Alpilles » , a small mountain range famous for its old fortified village « les Baux » : free time in this middle ages village. A second stop at Saint Remy de Provence, a gorgeous small town, capital of « les Alpilles ». Stop at Saint Paul de Mausole, an old monastery, transformed in the 19th c in a hospital for insane people, Van Gogh stayed there for a year from may 1889 to may 1890. Marc will tell you the full Van Gogh history, of course	Les Baux de Provence.
bal at place du Chapître Nîmes ‘ summer night	Return to Nîmes to your hotel. Diner on your own. Meeting at 9 pm, at « place du Chapître » in the very old town center by the cathedral St Castor for the open air ball which is lasting up to 1 or 2 in the morning. In summertime, Nîmes Thursday nights’ is becoming a huge maket by night with lot of entertainment and perfomances, that bal is one of it. Progressively, thanks to a dexterous tango Dj’, place du Châpitre‘ball is becoming the major regular event in summer here. The square is originaly decorated, the setting is charming, music is just perfect.
3rd day Friday free morning, lunch on your own. At 2 pm, we’re going to the Luberon valley, now the most famous and outsanding region in Provence. The road is wonderfull going through vineyards and orchards, Marc will tell you the history of all the hill top villages, all most beautifull than the other.	Gordes in the Luberon valley
Bal at place d’Assas – Nîmes	Stop at the Lavender museum, in Gordes, at Senanque for a wonderful foto stop (only in July for the blossoming) anf then in Roussillon. Return to Nîmes to your hotel. Diner on your own. Meeting at 9 pm, at « place du d’Assas » for another open air ball. We can have a diner in one of the many restaurants enclosing that pleasing square decorated by Martial Raïsse, a french modern artist. Excellent music : a mediterranean atmosphe
4th day saturday free morning up to 11 am. Departure to Uzes at 11 am, a picturesque small middle ages city to spend 2 or 3 hours in one of the most beautiful provençal market. Thousands of people are gathering there, shopping time and lunch time before going to « le Pont du Gard » : Marc will explain you everything about the best preserved roman bridge, a part of the Nîmes’s aqueduct in the roman time.
	Return to Nîmes to your hotel. Diner on your own. Meeting at 9h30 pm at the bus to go to the « Milonga del Angel ». The oldest milonga in Nîmes and almost in France, air conditionned, a perfected wooden floor, nice Dj’.
5th day Sunday free morning, lunch on your own. Let’s go for a wine tour at Châteauneuf du Pape, famous fulbodied red wine : you ‘re going to know everything about the grapes, the vinification and of course a wine tasting will finish that afternoon. Return to your hotel in Nîmes at 5 pm.
Bal in an old wine coop	Meeting at 7h30 pm at the bus to go to the Coop Aubeï Mema . This deconsecrated wine coop has been transformed into a restaurant where the Dj’s from « la Place du Chapître » is having its performance. Good food, good wine, good music : everything is gathered to finish this tango tour in the best condition.
6th day monday	Marc and your bus driver will lead you to your station or airport of your choice.