IftlU-ls lit WiHhlirliinl The Royal Bank Financial Group presents the OAKVILLE TRAFALGAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (B^innual Idyllic tour for art afficionados as well as novices By Carol Baldwin ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Oh the Champs-Elysee, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower... If those words conjure up images of spending a vacation basking in the beauty of art and architectural history rather than the sun of the islands, you’ll want to hear what Janet Bollinger and Irene Home have to say about their tours to Europe. Although the two women claim the “project†they started 12 years ago doesn’t reap any financial rewards, it does, they admit, give them a feeling of self-satisfaction and many albums full of memories. Bollinger, an Oakville resident, and Home, a Burlington woman, met in an art history class at McMaster University in 1985. At the time, their professor suggested that everyone should visit Italy as soon as possible and see the art work and architecture in their studies before it deteriorated. That statement inspired an idea that grew into regular art/history tours, mostly to Europe. And despite the negative feedback Bollinger and Home initially received from their McMaster classmates, they pressed ahead, determined to offer educational yet fun trips to seasoned as well as novice art and history buffs. “We have done five trips to Europe and two to New York, and finding the people has always been the challenge,†admits Bollinger. “But, we’ve always gone.†And they’ve gone with about 20 to 25 people each time, plus their contingent of five - the two women themselves plus their husbands and that selfsame professor, Warren Tresidder. Normally, the two women take their groups to Italy and France in May. But next year will mark the first in which they will visit Paris and London. And they’re quite pleased with their chosen destinations - a suggestion from a former patron. “We went over in March this year for one week - three days in each city and the day in between in the tunnel (between the two cities). It was a wonderful trip,†says Home. “We researched five hotels in London and three in Paris," adds Bollinger, noting that they settled on two recently refurbished hotels that are each near their respective city centres. In previous years, the tours have not only moved from city to city, they has also moved from hotel to hotel. This time, though, people will only have to unpack once in each city, and the tours, some full-day excursions, will leave from the base hotel. “Normally we don’t wax eloquent over the hotels,†says Bollinger. “But in this case, spending seven days in one hotel, we felt that the two hotels needed to be ones that everyone would be happy with.†And wax eloquent she and Home did, excitedly talking about heritage hotels that offer charm, comfort and convenience. That way, they say, their guests, who are free most afternoons to do as they wish, will be able to walk to many of the local attractions or to public transportation that will take them to their chosen destinations. “With a free day. Dr. Tresidder makes a list of recommendations of things that might be of interest,†says Bollinger, rhyming off all the galleries and museums that are already part of the scheduled itinerary, including a day trip at Hampton Court and another at the Chateau Vaux-le-vicomte. “People need time to have time on their own. If there is too much hand-holding, they don’t pick up the flavour of the city.†Tresidder takes a walk on the day of arrival in each city and invites guests to join him if they wish; and many do. Every morning after that the entire group visits a museum, art gallery, or architecturally significant building with the professor. “One of the things about traveling with Dr. Tresidder is that he knows exactly where certain things are in the galleries. You really hit the high spots and see amazing things. On your own you wouldn’t know what’s there and how to find it...I think a lot of people are looking for an educational experience when they travel now,†says Home. “It’s a traveling seminar. They come away with a wonderful art/history framework. They’ll never look at art again without knowing something about it.†“It is rare to have an expert at your beck and call for two weeks," adds Bollinger. “It is one of the major joys of this trip.†The tour will visit London first. But once the group arrives in Paris, Bollinger’s French will come in handy. Bollinger and Home are now affiliated with Carlson Wagonlit McTavish Travel in Oakville through which all deposits and cash/credit-card transactions are made. But even the itinerary for their first couple of trips was guided by suggestions from the local travel agency. Each year, though, the pair has taken over more and more of the responsibilities of arranging and booking the accommodations and itinerary. Now, of course; it’s old hat. And, they say, the mix of the group not only includes experienced and the novice art enthusiasts, it also includes young and old, couples and singles, male and female. The entire trip will take place from May 4th to 19th, 2001 at a cost of $5,990, paid in installments, with a $500 deposit on registration. The total price includes 14 nights accommodation (based on double occupancy), hotel tips, return economy airfare from Toronto, the Eurostar train to Paris, buffet breakfasts daily, five dinners, three lunches (meals include gratuities), museum entrances, public transportation passes in both cities and, of course, a resident, well-informed tour guide. “With few exceptions, you have the keys to the city,†says Bollinger. “It’s a combination of architecture, sculpture, paintings, cuisine, culture -a real rich mix with little time for shopping.†Before the trip, the women will host three get-togethers so people can meet their traveling companions and receive a trip itinerary, complete with restaurant suggestions, gallery addresses, etc., and a packing list, which has been modified over the years. “We ended up with a very practical list of things to pack for a two-week trip,†she says. “But the item that is in big capital letters and bold is good walking shoes.†‘This is not a trip for the faint of heart or the weak of leg," quips Home. The first get-together will be held in at Home’s home in Burlington on the evening of Friday, Sept. 15th, and the second is scheduled for January in Oakville. IVAL OF CLASSICS inassociation with THE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS presents MUCH flD° flB9UT N9THIHG SHAKESPEARE’S romantic comedy directed by MICHAEL SHAMATA MONDAY to SATURDAY at 8:00 pm CORONATION PARK Oakville Tickets $15 • General Admission 005)815-2021 ROYAL BANK FINANCIAL GROUP' ^MsSmBGUST 12th 2000 The Oakville Art Society 34th Annual Art Park Monday, August 7 Civic Holiday -10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Waterfront Heritage Park in Bronte Located at the foot of Bronte Rd. Over 120 artists from throughout Ontario, featuring original works in oils, acrylic, watercolour, pottery, sculpture, photography, stained glass and more. Refreshment Food Court. Admission $2 at the gate. Organized by The Oakville Art Society Golf Tournament Wednesday • August 16, 2000 at Wyldewood Golf & Country Club Great Golf, Great Prizes... and a Great Feeling. Book your group now for this highlight of the Charity Golf season, celebrating 20 years of support for OTMH! FINANCIAL GROUP /fcCtoKvuLE Beaver BFGoodrich FOR CROUP BOOKINGS, HOLE SPONSORSHIP & CALL: ADRIAN COO it The Oakville Beaver Charity Golf Tournament c/o RBC Dominion Securities (905) 815*8270 OR FERN MICHEL (905)849-6518 Wednesday, July 26,2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Photo by Peter J. Thompson Irene Horne, left, and Janet Bollinger have traveled extensively in France and Italy. The two art/history buffs have been conducting tours in France and Italy for six years now. But next year’s tour will be the first to take in the art galleries, museums and architecturally significant buildings in Paris and London. Their all-inclusive tour, which comes with a live-in art-history professor, attracts people from all walks of life, all ages and all levels of knowledge when it comes to art.