Bons Amis in Southern France
September 15-24th, 2016
Sept. 15 (D)
Arrive in Marseille, France by 3pm. We will facilitate a group pick up at a local hotel or at the airport. We will meet and then check into the Hotel du Cloitre.
After time for rest we will enjoy our first GirlFriendCircles Meet and Greet with a Welcome Cocktail of Champagne or regional appertif Pastis
Welcome Dinner.
Sept 16 (B, L)
After breakfast at our hotel, we take a morning walking tour of Ancient Arles to orient us to our surroundings. Highlights include: the Colosseum, Theatre
Antique, Place du Forum, and have an early lunch at the site of one of Van
Gogh’s paintings, the café terrace. After lunch we take a ride to the cradle of
Mediterranean civilization, Marseille and spend the afternoon taking a boat
tour to see the city from the water and visit 3 exquisite inlets surrounded by steep cliffs known as “les Calanques”. We will explore the old port and an Arab neighborhood called Les Paniers with a guide who worked in this quartier.
Dinner is on our own near the port that features some of the local seafood.
Return to Arles.
Sept. 17 (B,L)
Enjoy free time to wander the largest market in the south of France, the
Saturday Morning Market Day in Arles. You can explore wonderful stands antiques, organic foods, cheeses, breads, olives galore, produce and original clothing designs. We will reconnect to tour the catacombs beneath the city, a fascinating experience led by local historian. In the afternoon we will engage an
NGO working with the Roma people in Arles. This would be an opportunity to ask questions about the current situation of the Roma in France. Then we will walk to les Alychamps to stroll amidst the Roman tombs outside. There is a small chapel where we have permission to experience a spontaneous singing
circle led by your Altruvistas program director, Tonia and a local Arlesian

angelic singer Michel, who did circle singing with Bobby McFerrin in the
80’s. Later in the afternoon, we have the option of renting bicycles to ride through an interesting district of local residents living aboard barges. We will stop at Le Pescalune and have a conversation with a local couple living and running a B & B on their peniche. We will talk with them in the afternoon light on the canal over an apperatif, about the process of converting barges to living spaces and starting a small business. Peniches were used originally to transport goods along waterways throughout Europe. Time permitting, our bicycle ride will continue to Pont de Van Gogh, the site depicted in his famous painting of the bridge. We end our day with a visit to a local Arab traditional spa called a
Hammam where you can purchase a spa treatment if you’d like or relax, then we will enjoy dinner outside next to the Rhone.
Sept 18 (B, L)
Today we check out of our hotel to enjoy a scenic drive (1 hour 10min) to St.
Remy de Provence. We will hike to Sainte Baum (approx 45 minutes up the mountain) to a church built into the side of the mountain in the grotto where
Mary Magdalene spent her last years in hiding and in deep meditation. The grotto has amazing acoustics and energy and the landscape is exquisite. We will have a French style picnic and enjoy a facilitated GirlFriendCircle.
Later we explore 1 st century Roman ruins and temple of Diana/Artemis
at Glanum- known for it’s healing waters. We will have a local expert guide talk with us about this area and the esoteric signification of the sacred carvings.
We then enjoy a stop at the Cathedral des Images for a light and sound expo on Marc Chagall in an old rock quarry in the Beaux de Provence. Our return drive towards Camargue winds through the lush countryside near Saintes Maries de la Mer where we check in to Mas de la Fouque, the place where we will stay for 3 days in a beautiful spa surrounded by peaceful sounds and beautiful views.
Sept 19 (B, L)
This morning is leisurely. After breakfast we will walk to the sea and around Les
Saintes Maries de la Mer. When we return you can enjoy the spa or rent a bike to ride around the town. Around noon we will meet to journey to the
pilgrimage site and local church of St. Sarah who is the patron saint of the
Rom (gypsy) people of Europe. Each year people come en masse to honor the saint some say is the daughter of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. She is possibly linked with the Indian Goddess, Kali, and as the Rom people are thought to have come from India this link would make sense. We’ll take in a late lunch at the
sculpture garden of Mas St. Bertrand, where hidden in the Camargue jungle is a unique ranch where artist and long time resident, Nicole Girard lives. We will visit her and see her whimsical metal art. A guide will join us and talk about the history of this small village built around the salt mines.
Later that evening we go to Arles for dinner and experience the festivities of the
Rice Festival . This includes a colorful parade of horses and traditional costumes depicting the culture of Provence!

Sept 20 (B,L)
After a hearty breakfast, we meet with a local horsewoman who will share with us the importance of the white Camarguese horses that are unique to this region. We will be introduced to the “cowboy” culture of this area. For those that wish, you can enjoy free time at the spa to rest and restore. For others, you have the option of renting a horse for a half- day ride where we’ll have the opportunity to experience the wildlife of this national nature preserve. Flat savannahs, salt deposits and marshlands are homes to many species of migrating birds. This is one of the few places in the world where you can observe the exquisitely beautiful pink flamingos. We reconvene at the hotel for dinner to enjoy the sunset with a facilitated GirlFriendCircle.
Sept 21 (B, L)
We check out of the hotel today to enjoy a full day field trip north (one hour and a half) to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. The gorges of the Hérault river, between the plateaux of the Cévennes and Larzac and the rich vineyard plains of the
Languedoc, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is counted among the most beautiful villages of France. Historically, it is an important stop along the ancient pilgrims route to Santiago de Compostela. We will stop at a local Vineyard where we
will enjoy a sample wine tasting (and more if you’d like on your own), then we will visit a local mineral shop in the plaza that has extraordinary specimens of amythst and citrine which is mined in the area. We will then take a tour of
Clamouse Cave known as the Cathedral of Time for a tour within the earth. France is famous for its rich geologic formations. Then we will meet with a local healer who works with stones and teaches a technique using specific stones to balance energy. Later we check in to Hostellerie de Rennes and dinner is on our own.
Sept. 22 (B, D)
We will visit Rennes les Baines and check in at Les Bains. We will learn of the history of the Cathar people who suffered for their religious beliefs. We will explore the Cathar castle ruins at Peyrepeteuse and Queribus and have time to shop local bookstores before we visit a local sheep cheese farm where we will learn of the craft of cheese making from an English woman who has lived in
France for 30 years practicing her craft. For dinner we will enjoy a hands on
cooking class to make a local dish or two!
Sept 23 ( B, D)
After breakfast we will check out and then visit the medieval village of
Mirepoix, having lunch on the town square. We’ll visit a local coutier
designer whose shop has unusual hand made felted vests, coats and jackets.
Her shop showcases local women designer crafts and includes wildly unexpected hats. We will have time to wander and shop. During the afternoon we return to our hotel to share a GFC Wrap up Circle and then enjoy our Farewell
Dinner.

Sept 24 ( B )
We will check out of the hotel and drive to Toulouse. En route to the airport, we will pass by the Carcassone Fort. We will be dropped off at the airport is at 12 noon for afternoon departures. Tour ends in Toulouse, France.
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