WRITING IN PARIS A memoir sojourn 24 October 8 November 2008 Writing and Paris are so entwined that it is impossible to think of one without the other. For centuries, Paris has provided artistic inspiration for writers, artists, philosophers all of us who believe that the wonders and challenges of life are worth more than a passing thought. Join us on this memoir sojourn as we immerse ourselves in writing, ideas and beauty in the city of light and literature.
OVERVIEW OF ITINERARY This 16-day tour includes eight morning writing workshops each from 10am to 1pm - as well as individual afternoon meetings with Patti to critique and discuss your writing. The workshops, suitable for all levels of writing experience, explore the rich territory of memoir. The afternoons and the entire three-day weekend are free for writing and for exploring this enchanting city, following your own inclinations or Patti s literary suggestions. We will also enjoy an orientation and a potted history of Paris, a lecture on French literature, a literary ramble and a literary evening at an English-language bookshop or café. This sojourn will allow your creative self to unfold and be nourished and transformed by an artistic atmosphere unparalleled anywhere in the world. Your tour leader Patti Miller is the author of the best-selling Writing Your Life, the most popular text for life writing in Australia, as well as The Last One Who Remembers, Child and Whatever The Gods Do, which explores the transformations intrinsic to life, love, death and creativity. Her new text, The Memoir Book, brings together her many years of memoir writing and teaching experience. Her essays and articles have been published in the Good Weekend and other publications. She holds a BA and an MA in writing and has extensive teaching experience at universities and writers centres, including teaching Life Writing at CCE for the past 10 years. She recently spent a year writing in Paris and so is familiar with the joys and rewards it offers. With space and time, we stop pushing our writing and learn to dance with it instead. Your tour manager Vicky Cole has lived and worked in France since 1969 and has been working in the tourist industry for some 20 years. She has a passion for literature and an extensive knowledge of France and of the French, most particularly of Paris a city of which she never tires! Bilingual and bicultural, she enjoys sharing her knowledge of and enthusiasm for France and the French way of life. Tour Highlights Be inspired by eight days of life writing workshops with Australia s most experienced life writing teacher and author Be stimulated by individual critique and discussion of your own writing Stay in genuine Paris apartments in a range of authentic quartiers - experiencing life as a Parisian rather than as a tourist Enjoy a lecture on French literature, a self-guided literary ramble along the rues and boulevards of Paris and a literary soirée at a bookshop or café Seize the opportunity to experience first hand the great art and music of the world and explore such breathtaking sites as Chantilly and Chartres Experience the sheer beauty and many charms of Paris in Autumn through a writer s eyes
How much does the tour cost? Land only: (ex Paris) Now $6,450 for a one bedroom apartment Now $5,300 (per person) based on sharing a 2 bedroom apartment Air Travel and Further Information: For assistance with air travel and airport transfers in connection with this tour, please contact the Travel Coordinator, Lissa Sharp, on (02) 9036 4766 or e-mail l.sharp@usyd.edu.au Subject to exchange rate fluctuations and the number of people on the tour, the price may vary. You will be notified immediately of any changes. Numbers are strictly limited to a maximum of 12. A deposit of $1,000 per person is required to reserve a place on the tour. Payment conditions for the Parisian apartments are strict. You will be advised when full balance is due in the Welcome Pack that is sent to you subsequent to receiving your deposit. What is included in the land tour cost? 8 morning teas/coffees (including local patisserie), 3 lunches, 1 dinner Accommodation in selected authentic Parisian apartments Eight writing workshops and individual sessions with Patti Miller Services of workshop tutor and local French and English speaking tour manager from Paris (24 October) to Paris (8 November) Orientation sessions with tour manager Literature lecture, literary ramble and literary soirée Paris Welcome Pack including Metro tickets Pre-departure workshop and buffet dinner in Sydney What is not included in the land cost? Travel insurance (this is a requirement) Visa costs (if required) Meals and activities not mentioned in the itinerary, or listed as optional Tips for individual services Personal expenses, such as laundry, phone and fax bills and other incidentals Drinks at evening rendezvous mentioned in itinerary Gas and electricity (depending on size of apartment and usage a rough estimate would be $40-$60 per week per apartment)
DETAILED ITINERARY Friday 24 October: Paris On arrival at your apartment you are met and given your front door key and Paris Welcome Pack including immediate food requirements, a local quartier map, Metro tickets and general orientation information. In the early evening we rendezvous at the Café Francais in Place de la Bastille for drinks. Saturday 25 October: Paris This morning we meet at our class venue for an introduction to Paris including a potted history and recommended sights and delights. There is also useful practical information and an opportunity to ask questions. Bookings are taken for optional tours and time and place for individual discussion sessions with Patti are also arranged. Afterwards we lunch in a cheap and cheerful local bistro as writers for centuries before us have done. During the afternoon you can explore the environs, or return to your apartment to rest. A pleasant and relaxing way to see Paris at the start of your stay is from the glass-covered deck of the Vedettes du Pont Neuf (excursion boats) cruising along the Seine. Sunday 26 October: Paris In the morning we meet again at our class venue for a talk on Literary Paris with a special emphasis on French, American and English writers in the local quartier. We then enjoy our welcome lunch at a belle époque brasserie. Afterwards there is a self-guided literary ramble, each person at their own pace with map and guide notes from the previous lecture. The rest of the afternoon is free to rest or to try the first of the suggested individual activities. Suggested independent activity: Take the Metro to Concorde, walk from Place de la Concorde, through the Tuileries, past the Louvre and along the Seine to Nôtre Dame. Go inside and be inspired and refreshed before returning to your apartment. Monday 27 October: Paris This morning Patti holds the first memoir workshop. We start with refreshing ways to begin, and accessing original memory, the primary source for every memoir. The afternoon is free for writing, exploring Paris or your individual session with Patti. In the evening we rendezvous for drinks and conversation at Café Francais, or our latest favourite café. Suggested independent activity: Take the Metro to Trocadero to view the Eiffel Tower. Climb (or take the lift) to the top and then walk back by the banks of the Seine to Place de la Concorde. Tuesday 28 October: Paris Today s morning workshop explores the importance of awareness and observation and creating a lived reality on the page via the senses. The afternoon is free for writing, exploring Paris or your individual session with Patti. Suggested independent activity: Take the Metro to Abbesses or Anvers, walk (or take the funicular) to Sacré Coeur and then explore the fascinating surrounding quartier of Montmartre. Wednesday 29 October: Paris The third memoir workshop considers the role of the story-teller in your memoir, the narrator who seduces or enchants the reader. The afternoon is free for writing, exploring Paris or your individual session with Patti. This evening we rendezvous for drinks and conversation, perhaps at La Closerie de Lilas with the ghosts of many of the writers and thinkers of the 20th century. Suggested independent activity: Explore the two islands in the Seine the Île St Louis and the Île de la Cité. Watch the river from the Square du Vert-Galant and listen to the monks chanting in St Gervais on your way home. Thursday 30 October: Paris In this morning s workshop we bravely face the difficulties of truth telling and discuss how far we can go before memoir becomes fiction. The afternoon is free for writing, exploring Paris or your individual session with Patti. Suggested independent activity: Visit one of the many renowned museums or galleries some favourites: Musée D Orsay (Impressionists), Pompidou Centre (modern art), Musée Carnavalet (history of Paris and home of Mme Sévigné), Musée Cluny (Middle Ages).
Friday 31 October: Paris Today is a day at leisure to write, explore or take an escorted optional tour to either the magnificent cathedral at Chârtres or the enchanting château at Chantilly, both about an hour s journey from Paris. The cathedral is the finest example of Gothic architecture in Europe. Meditate on the stunning stained glass windows and intricate stonework, walk the ancient labyrinth and explore the surrounding medieval streets sloping down the hill. The château is one of the flowers of French heritage with elegant architecture, a fine art collection and beautiful gardens but far fewer tourists than Versailles! Saturday 1 November: Paris A free day to write or explore. Suggested independent activities: Stroll through one of Paris glorious parks: the Tuileries, the Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc Monceau, or off the beaten track, Parc des Butte Chaumont. Sit in a café write post-cards or send e-mails. Visit one of the other museums or galleries the Louvre, Picasso, Rodin, Guimet (Asian art) or Quai Branly (ethnographic). Sometime over the weekend, visit the famous Paris flea market at St Ouen in the north of Paris which attracts buyers from around the world (open all day Saturday, Sunday, Monday) or its smaller cousin at the Porte de Vanves in the south of Paris (open Saturday and Sunday mornings only). Sunday 2 November: Paris Another free day for writing or exploring. Suggested independent activities: Indulge your senses at the wonderful fresh food market on Boulevard Richard Lenoir, the best market in Paris. Sample cheeses, meats, fish, fruit, vegetables, breads and many other tasty dishes amongst the noisy cries of the vendors. Rent a Vélib bicycle and bike along the banks of the Seine, which are closed to traffic on Sundays. In the afternoon or evening, you might choose to attend one of the superb free concerts listed in Pariscope. Monday 3 November: Paris We return to our morning workshops, rejuvenated by the long weekend. Today we begin a week of exploring structure and form, starting with beauty and truth, as we always must. The afternoon is free for writing, exploring Paris or your individual session with Patti. Suggested independent activities: Take the Metro to the Arc de Triomphe and walk down the Champs Élysée, or, for those who need a quiet time, take the Metro to St Placide or Odéon and sit in the Jardin du Luxembourg soaking up the afternoon sun. Tuesday 4 November: Paris In the sixth memoir workshop we explore the patterns of narrative structures how they cast their spell. The afternoon is free for writing, exploring Paris or your individual session with Patti. In the evening we attend an organised reading at a Paris bookshop or café. (Please note, depending on the bookshops programs, this could take place earlier or later in the program.) Suggested independent activity: Take the Metro to Père Lachaise and pay homage to some of your favourite writers amongst many others, Colette, Gertrude Stein, Oscar Wilde, Molière, de Maupassant are buried here. (And Marcel Marceau who didn t use words at all!) Wednesday 5 November: Paris In this morning s workshop we extend the area of memoir into travel/sojourn writing so that you may find the words and the form to explore your own experience of Paris. The afternoon is free for writing, exploring the back streets of your city or your individual session with Patti. We rendezvous in the early evening for champagne at the Ritz. Suggested independent activity: Walk from Petit Pont up Rue St Jacques, around the Pantheon into the market street of Rue Mouffetard buy chocolates at the chocolatier. (Or if you are homesick, continue up the hill to Café Oz!) Thursday 6 November: Paris In this our final workshop, we discuss memoir as a way of exploring ideas - philosophy, history, art, nature, wisdom. Afterwards, we have a celebratory lunch at a nearby café or brasserie. Suggested independent activity: Talk a walk along the Canal St Denis, watch the locks fill with water, stop for a coffee at the café on the canal near Bastille.
Friday 7 November: Paris Today we enjoy our last free day in Paris. In the evening, we meet for a farewell dinner together at a belle époque restaurant. Suggested independent activities: Visit a market or shop for that special gift in the boutiques of the Marais or the famous department store, Galeries Lafayette. A visit to the hammam (steam bath) at the Mosque de Paris would be an invigorating way to steam away the indulgences of the last two weeks. Saturday 8 November: Departure We depart Paris for our flights home.
Additional Information Accommodation Because the experience of living in Paris rather than staying in an hotel is an essential element of this sojourn, we have selected authentic apartments in a variety of areas within one of the twenty arrondissements of central Paris. All will be within easy and convenient reach of the workshop venue, either on foot or by Metro. You will receive details of your apartment and a website address for additional information at the Pre-departure Workshop and Meeting. For organisational reasons, Continuing Education reserves the right to allocate apartments. The apartments are privately owned so each one is different and has its own charm. Furnishings and equipment are of good quality, and everything necessary is supplied including linen (one set per bed, two towels per person) and kitchenware. Each participant has their own bedroom and front door key to come and go as they please. Remember that Paris real estate is expensive and space is at a premium. Even though some of the apartments are small, you may be surprised at the ingenuity used to make the most of space! Living in Paris Participants need to be independent and confident enough to make their own way to classes on a very easy to use but at first unfamiliar public transport system, to do their own household shopping, and to be generally autonomous outside of class periods. Each person needs to be self-reliant and excited by the prospect of dealing with daily life in a foreign language and culture. Special food requirements? If you are cooking at your apartment, one can buy every kind of food in Paris, but it has to be said that cafés and restaurants, apart from Indian or Asian, do not cater well for the vegetarian. Special requests will be possible for group meals, but an imaginative vegetarian meal cannot be guaranteed. Workshops and Background Talks The eight workshop days (Monday to Thursday for two weeks) combine stimulating and creative classes with time for writing and for enjoying Parisian life, and because this sojourn focuses on the art of memoir, participants also need to be open to exploring and sharing via the practice of writing, their own experience of life. Each day follows a rhythmic pattern: workshops from 10am to 1pm exploring a specific topic, including morning tea/coffee with a selection of pastries and gateaux from the local boulangerie, then the afternoon free for writing, for exploring the autumn beauty of Paris, or your individual session with Patti. In the evenings there is always the opportunity to experience something exciting - from the best of French dining, to concerts, opera, salsa dancing - or champagne cocktails in the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz! To complement the workshops there is also an orientation of Paris by a local, a self-guided literary ramble to the favourite locales of French, English and American writers, and a literary soirée at a bookshop or café in a lively salon atmosphere. Pre-Departure Workshop and Meeting Approximately 4 weeks before your departure there will be an evening workshop and meeting with buffet dinner. This allows you to meet your tour leader and fellow travelling companions and gain valuable information regarding climate, currency and other practical travel information. Weather It is of course notoriously difficult to predict the weather, but October/November in Paris should be mild and pleasant, similar to late winter/early spring in Sydney but more changeable. One can expect days when a jacket is enough, others when a coat and scarf is needed. Although you should expect some rain, there ought to be enough sunny weather for wandering and enough cool weather for writing in cafés! Fitness Overseas travel takes us beyond our usual physical and mental comfort zone. Therefore, please consider the following carefully. To fully participate in the workshops, literary activities and the experience of independent living in Paris (there are very few disabled facilities in Paris) you need a reasonable level of fitness and mobility - to walk to attractions, shops and venues, to catch the local transportation and to manage the many flights of steps in
the Metro and at the workshop venue itself. The workshops require you to sit at chairs without desks for a few hours each morning and for the optional tours, you should be fit enough to walk for periods of up to an hour with only short breaks. If after carefully reading this daily tour program, you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to participate in this tour, causing delay or inconvenience to others, please contact the Travel Coordinator (02 9036 4766) to discuss further the physical demands of the tour. What kind of people travel with us? The age of participants in this course varies from 30 to 80, and most are over 40. They are independent travellers wanting the assurance that most of the technical things on tour are taken care of. With all our tours we ask participants to give feedback. Over the years they have told us that the main reasons they continue to travel with Continuing Education include: Well-delivered and carefully-planned itineraries that combine intellectual engagement with enjoyment and relaxation Informed, enthusiastic and caring tour leaders, many of whom present regular courses at CCE on themes relevant to tours they are leading Being with like-minded travellers who want to be part of a lively and informed group Safety and Security Your safety and security is our priority. If the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issues an official do not travel warning for places visited on a tour, we cancel the tour and give you a full refund.