About Jackie Grandchamps
Jackie Grandchamps obtained her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology in Belgium, and then moved to the U.S. in 1995 to conduct cancer research at Stanford University in California. Her heart has always been in travel however, and she turned her passion into a full time job in 2003 when she launched her travel business, French Escapade offering an authentic travel experience to women.
She says, "I wanted to make my dream come true: sharing my love of traveling and giving people the opportunity to really experience a different culture. Instead of the traditional 'tourist' sightseeing trip to France, I wanted to immerse very small groups of women in the culture, let them meet locals, eat authentic cuisine and 'live' an authentic experience. That's how French Escapade was born.”
Recent Posts by Jackie Grandchamps
My Winter in California
February 3, 2010 by Jackie Grandchamps
I love my job because it offers a great variety of tasks: my favorite one being leading the tours, of course, because I enjoy interacting with my guests, sharing their joy and showing them wonderful new places.
However, most of my tours happening between May and October, many people often wonder what I do then. No, I do not sit and relax for 6 months ! It is in fact when I have to do the toughest part of my job: marketing, selling and organizing.
However, having started my company 6 years ago, it becomes easier and easier: I have solid contacts and partners, and “word-of-mouth” makes wonders ! Right now, my cooking tour is really successful and Belgium is getting more interest than the past years . Belgium 2010 is a cultural tour with an optional writing workshop. My new tour in Tuscany is getting filled. As for Provence and the painting workshops, they remain the greatest hits !
For more information and availabilities about all our tours in 2010, check www.frenchescapade.com
French Tennisplayer Amelie Mauresmo Retires
December 3, 2009 by Jackie Grandchamps
Thirty-year-old Amélie Mauresmo announced this morning she is officially putting an end to her tennis career. Some tears were shed by the most famous French tennis star when she made the announcement at a press conference.
Tennis became her passion while watching French tennis player Yannick Noah when she was only 4. She became a professional player in the mid-90s . Her biggest wins were Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2006. Her only regret : not winning the French open ever!
She will also be remembered as the first French athlete to reveal her homosexuality while still on the courts.
No more business for Lacroix
December 1, 2009 by Jackie Grandchamps
Designer Christian Lacroix was born in 1951 in Arles, Provence, and his fashion shows and collections were often inspired by Camargue colors, gypsies and corridas.
He opened his own fashion design business in 1987, sponsored by French luxury company Louis Vuiton Moet Hennessy. He became internationally successful right away, and later diversified his business by creating a line of perfume, linen, table ware and accessories. He even participated in designing of the interior of the Mediterranean TGV.
However , financial difficulties appeared in 2005, and today, the company was officially closed when no potential buyer showed up to make an offer to buy the famous brand name.
Sketch for a Swiss Escapade
November 14, 2009 by Jackie Grandchamps
I just wanted to share with you some details of my recent stay in Switzerland: half for pleasure and half scouting for places to soon offer a new tour in Switzerland.
As usual, my main concern was to find authentic places and people, interesting places to visit and a fun ambiance for our future groups.
Moreover, one of the goals of French Escapade is to introduce our guests to the culture of the visited country, and mostly to meet locals. So I visited farms and was glad to meet wonderful hospitable people we will be able to meet.
It didn’t take too long to decide that the Gruyere area was still a beautiful preserved countryside, with stupendous chalets, peaceful herds of cows enchanting our ears with the music from their bells, cheese and chocolate makers all around, and friendly people.
So here is a special preview of the possible visits for this new tour for you (work still in progress!):
- Gruyere cheese fabric
- walk to mountain chalet (when season permits) for artisan cheese making
- medieval village
- pastry workshop
- lunch in a private home to discover Swiss specialty food and drinks
- paper-cutting artwork demonstration
- 18th / 19th chalet villages
- Balthus chalet
- Swiss Riviera and Geneva Lake
- Montreux market
- salt mine
- terraced vineyards
- Medieval castle
- Scenic train ride
- cable car ride to peaks
- Nestle chocolate factory
In 2010, we will probably start with a painting tour in this area (just a few cultural visits and great painting opportunities) with teacher Sonja Hamilton.
If you are interested or want to check all our 2010 destinations, visit us at www.frenchescapade.com
More shopping (wine and chocolate) in Provence
October 16, 2009 by Jackie Grandchamps
Cindy, you have no idea how right you are. We had to visit a supermarket today so that Hope & Pam, as well as Rosa and also Sarah could buy some extra luggage to carry home all their shopping!!!
We started the day by drinking wine!!!! Well, visit of Chateau Neuf du Pape village and of course visit of a cellar before the tasting of three Chateu Neuf du Pape wine, The very famous Cote du Rhone.
Linda, Sarah and Sue are very serious abut the swirling, an important step in the tasting.
A bottle in the US is at least $80 when it is only 30 euros here (about $45). Everyone bought as much as they could which is three bottles per person. Hope and Pam maxed out.
After all this wine, we needed some food. Sarah was wondering how she will finish her “little” salad.
After lunch a little dessert was needed. Why not some chocolate tasting? We met with Stephane, the chocolate maker at Castellain in Chateau Neuf du Pape for a little demonstration on how to make chocolate. We kept asking him questions and therefore got many more samples that we were supposed to.
Not sure the group will appreciate this picture on the Internet but I couldn’t resist.
Join us next year on this great trip to Provence. Sign up before Oct 30th and get $150 off.
How is olive oil made in Provence?
October 14, 2009 by Jackie Grandchamps
New tour, new group. We have spent only 2 days in Provence and so much shopping already.
Yesterday we visited Andre, an olive oil maker at the Clos des Jeannons in Gordes, in the Luberon, Provence. But how is olive oil made?
In Provence, harvesting normally takes place around November.
Using traditional methods, this will be done by hitting [...]
When Friends Surprise Birthday girl in France
October 13, 2009 by Jackie Grandchamps
Six American ladies managed to hide a big surprise to Sharon on her birthday. She had been told she was going to travel for a week, but she had no idea what her destination would be until she finally got to San Francisco airport, from where she flew to Marseille. But it was not her final destination: Barbara, her girlfriend, took her on a train ride to Avignon, where 5 friends of theirs were expected them.
Carol and Sharon in Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape
Allison was also there and joined the jolly group along ! Everybody had a great time, visiting the area (hilltop villages, ranches, markets …) and enjoyed the Bastide in Luberon.
Sharon, the birthday girl !
Allison, chocolate-tasting in Oppede Ready to board the van for another fun day!
The whole group on the ranch in Camargue
For more information about our tours in France, Belgium and more, checkwww.frenchescapade.com
Touring the natural beauty of Provence
October 2, 2009 by Jackie Grandchamps
Women from Canada and from the USA have joined me this week to tour Provence. Provence is known for its breath-taking sceneries, its historical hilltop villages and its art. We saw all that, but its natural beauty was at the heart of this week’ s delights.
Camargue is always a highlight, with the visit of Thibaud Ranch, where Olivier and his friends always put on a show just for us.
Roussillon with its ocher walk is a kind of fairy land, with magical colors.
In Les Baux, houses are nested in cliffs around the medieval castle, or down below the village walls.
In Saint Remy de Provence, Van Gogh also discovered the beauty of nature and depicted it on many of his paintings. We visited the hospital where he stayed and painted a few months before his death.
We took pictures of all of that, and we will again tomorrow, when we will admire the Pont du Gard, one of the most impressive roman ruins in Provence.
To find out more about our coming trips, visit www.frenchescapade.com
