From French Barge Cruises to Whistler and Hopland, There's Plenty of Travel-and Travel-Wine Events Coming Up! by George and Ninette Medovoy

Travel Postcard

From French Barge Cruises to Whistler and Hopland, There's Plenty of Travel-and Travel-Wine Events Coming Up!

the 7-day/6-night barge cruise
round-trip economy flights between most U.S. cities and Paris
two nights in a 3-star boutique hotel in Paris with
continental breakfast and hotel taxes
transfers to and from the barge from a specified pick-up point in Paris
all meals aboard the barge; all bar drinks; local wines with lunch and
dinner
daily sightseeing, and use of bicycles

This price is valid for departures from the U.S. on November 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2001 - per person based on double occupancy.

For reservations and further information, visit http://www.eWaterways.com, or E-mail: sales@eWaterways.com.

You can also contact: eWaterways.com, 140 E. 56th St., Suite 4C, New York, NY 10022. Tel: 800-217-4447; Fax: 212-688-9467

JEWISH HERITAGE BARGE CRUISE IN FRANCE

eWaterways also has a Jewish Heritage Luxury Barge Cruise in Alsace-Lorraine, France, scheduled for November 9-18, 2001

This remarkable area was once a thriving center of the rural French Jewish community and is one of the most picturesque regions in the country.

The comfy sun deck, framed in flowers, of the 22-passenger (11-cabin) Lorraine will glide along the Canal de la Marne to the River Rhine, maximizing the full impact of the lovely fall foliage and the charm of the villages scattered at the base of the Vosges Mountains.

Six days/seven night canal cruise, at the special price of $2199, will include:

Round trip airfare from almost any major airport in the U.S. to Paris 2 nights accommodations in a boutique, three-star hotel in Paris
Round-trip rail transfers between Paris and the barge
All meals on board prepared by a talented chef featuring local wines and
produce
All bar drinks

Special Jewish heritage sightseeing program in Strasbourg will include:

The Synagogue de la Paix, dedicated in 1958
The Alsatian Museum, rich collection of Judaica
La Petite France, charming neighborhood of 400-year old houses
The Jewish Museum in Bouxviller and
The private Judaica collection in Colmar of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, sculptor of the Statue of Liberty
American Airlines AAdvantage mileage.

(Itinerary subject to change.)

For reservations or more information, visit: http://www.eWaterways.com. For special, all-inclusive fall packages, click on www.bargespecials.com or telephone eWaterways.com at 800-676-6613 or 212-688-9464 or email: sales@ewaterways.com.

B.C. FOOD AND WINE CELEBRATION

Meanwhile, preparations are well underway for Cornucopia, Whistler, British Columbia's Food and Wine Celebration November 8-11, 2001. Epicurean enthusiasts from across the continent will gather for the four day Tourism Whistler event, which features wine tastings, food and wine seminars, celebrity chef showcases and winemaker dinners.

Picturesque Whistler Resort, nestled in the Coast Mountains, offers a perfect atmosphere to savor and learn about the fine culinary arts of the region.

"Whistler is a haven for five star dining and Cornucopia provides a venue to experience the beauty and excitement of the mountain resort, along with the food and wine specialties of the West coast," says Gwen Young, Manger, Festivals Experience at Tourism Whistler.

"The event features presentations by some of the area's most acclaimed chefs, and wine tasting by more than 50 select vintners from the renowned wine regions of British Columbia, Washington, and California."

Cornucopia opens Thursday, November 8 at the Westin Resort & Spa with a Preview Grand Tasting featuring wineries such as Summerhill (BC), Mission Hill (BC), Chateau Ste. Michelle (WA), and Bonny Doone Vineyards (CA) (see attached winery list).

The weekend continues with the Crush! wine tasting event on Friday at the Westin. Host to 1,000 guests, this gala is a vibrant and inviting marriage of food and wine combining a grand tasting, gourmet grazing, live entertainment, and a silent auction. The evening continues with a Wine Rave at the Bearfoot Bistro featuring live entertainment, party atmosphere and boutique B.C. wine tasting.

A-la-carte seminars on Saturday are led by industry experts showcasing food and wine trends and topics such as a coffee, cigar, and truffle seminar at the eclectic Havana Room; a bread workshop by Vancouver's Ecco Il Pane; a chocolate and dessert wine seminar with Roger's Chocolates, B.C.'s original chocolatier, and Comaraderie Cellars; and many other food and wine sessions to learn, taste and enjoy.

The weekend will serve up favorites from previous years including Chocolate!, Rustic Breads from Scratch, and The Art of Sushi. Seminars will take place in various venues in the village including the popular new Whistler Cooking School.

Cornucopia presents a Chef "Cook Off" featuring chefs from the Table Top Group of restaurants, which include Araxi (Whistler), Ouest (Vancouver) and Blue Water (Vancouver). A wide array of Winemaker Dinners will take place Saturday night at Whistler restaurants such as the Aubergine Grill, La Bocca and Araxi.

There will be various levels of dinners - bronze, silver, gold, and platinum - to appeal to varied tastes and audiences. The festival wraps up with Sunday Brunch events including one at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort, famous for its brunch.

Whistler offers some of Canada's best dining with many fine restaurants and an outstanding supply of fresh food from the region, and around the province. Whistler restaurants feature a wide range of British Columbia products such as, award winning wines, fruits and berries, vegetables, wild mushrooms, salmon, trout and shellfish, free range meat and poultry, as well as farmed specialty meats such as venison.

Cornucopia weekend packages start at $439 (US$299) per person including two nights accommodation, ticket to Crush!, admission to two seminars, a Winemaker Dinner (Silver), and brunch.

Call 1-800-WHISTLER, or visit www.tourismwhistler.com/cornucopia.

Whistler is the renowned four season mountain destination offering a spectacular setting, adventurous year round activities, and an exciting dining, arts and entertainment scene. HOPLAND PASSPORT WEEKEND

Finally, you can join the fun of the ninth annual Hopland Fall Passport Weekend, Oct. 27-28, from 11 a.m. -- 5 p.m., in Hopland, California.

The event presents an unusual assembly of seven wineries, each with an emphasis on Italian, Bordeaux, Burgundian, Rhone, or old wine varietals ranging from Zinfandel to Syrah.

Wineries will pour barrel samples, current releases, and library selections, plus provide food to complement their wines.

Winemakers will also be on hand to answer questions and tempt you with special sale offerings from the cellar.

A $25 participation fee will provide each attendee with a commemorative Hopl and Passport Glass, and a Hopland Passport to be validated at each winery.

Catch the "Early Bird Special" and save $5 a ticket by purchasing your tickets before Oct. 15 online at www.hoplandpassport.com or call 800-846-8637.

Participating wineries: Brutocao Cellars, Domaine Saint Gregory, Fetzer Vineyards, Jepson Vineyards, Mendocino Hill, Milone Family Winery, and McDowell Valley Vineyards.

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Email: George and Ninette Medovoy