Travel another way

Swiss fondue as our farewell to Switzerland

jgrandchamps — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:57:52 +0000

This was our last day in Charmey, and we enjoyed every minute of it. Like every day, we had a picnic lunch and used the bags our teacher Sonja Hamilton made for us. She spent time before the trip researching what we were going to see on the trip and painted those scenes on picnic bags [...]

Chocolate and more chocolate in Switzerland

guest — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:21:13 +0000

In the afternoon we went to a chocolate factory. What a great experience in several ways. The place is very well organized for visitors. The tour began with a cinema, or so we thought. It was all computerized. English speakers were grouped together for the intro and history of the development of chocolate. We walked into what turned [...]

Where to taste the double creme with meringue?

guest — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:15:50 +0000

In previous post, Betty, one of my guests on the Switzerland tour, mentioned that she ate meringe with double creme. Well, it is worth to tell you more about this Gruyeres specialty. If the region of Gruyeres is most well known for its Gruyere cheese, a close second is the fresh, local cream, famous for its high [...]

Watercolor paintings from Sonja in Switzerland

guest — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:19:24 +0000

Continuing on with our trip. We do play, laugh,eat but of course it is a painting trip so we paint too! This watercolor workshop, run by French Escapade (me!!) is taught by artist Sonja Hamilton, SWA. Here are a few demos she did during the trip. The demos are for the students to learn a specific topic. [...]

We met Charlie Chaplin by Geneva lake

guest — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:11:33 +0000

We started the day with the usual more than ample breakfast buffet at our hotel. Most of us ignored the blocks of cheese, and sampled everything else. We have cheese from yesterday’s excursion for our lunches. I had my usual (for here) bowl of uncooked oatmeal with applesauce, other fruit, and hot or cold water mixed in. We also [...]

Gruyere or Gruyeres?

guest — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:51:09 +0000

Today we learned that while Gruyere is a cheese, Gruyeres (with a “s”) is a town or village. Gruyere cheese Town of Gruyeres We started the day watching one man make about 65 pounds of cheese in the old traditional way using cauldrons over an open wood fire. Oups, that is not him but Lina. Here he is: He makes about [...]

Plein air painting in Charmey, the heart of Gruyeres

jgrandchamps — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:08:02 +0000

A new tour, a new group, a new country, We are now in Switzerland. The West part of the country, the French speaking part, close to Geneva lake, in the heart of Gruyeres. From Left to Right: Lina, Jim, the watercolorist art teacher on the tour Sonja Hamilton, Linda, Helen and Betty. Here is the post from [...]

On Van Gogh’s footsteps

guest — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:02:41 +0000

What can be more emotional for painters than being where Van Gogh painted his most famous paintings? We went to St Remy de Provence and visited the St Paul Mausole where Vincent was hospitalized the last year of his life. The garden full of red poppies made for a beautiful picture: contrast of blue sky, [...]

Shopping or painting in Gordes, the heart of Luberon

guest — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:46:37 +0000

Due to its privileged position, its exceptional charm and its typical architecture, Gordes has been listed as “one of the most beautiful villages of France”. The houses of white and gray stone rise up in a spiral around the rock where the village is set. At the very top is the church and the castle which [...]

Plein air painting in Roussillon: a treat of colors

guest — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:44:35 +0000

Roussillon is one of the most beautiful villages of France: the houses and the soil are red, yellow, orange and all the colors in between. The reason is the ochre. Roussillon used to be the biggest ochre mine in France. Picture 1: Here is some of our guests looking pretty on the ochre trail in Roussillon: Pic [...]