Honorable Pierre Vimont Coming to theHudson River Valley

After several visits recently to France I am glad that the Hudson River Valley is getting a visit from a VIP Frenchman, the Ambassador himself. The Honorable, Pierre Vimont will be in good hands as he will be shown around by long time congressman and good guy Mo Hinchey. I fully plan on joining in on this great occasion and spread the news joyously. The French Tourism people have been ever so good to me and my fellow GoNOMAD writers. Below is part of the email I got about the day.

We are delighted to invite you to join Rep. Maurice Hinchey and Rep. Nita Lowey in welcoming The Honorable Pierre Vimont, Ambassador of France to the United States, who will visit and tour the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area on Saturday, July 25, 2009.

The Ambassador will participate in a number of public events to celebrate the passage earlier this year of federal legislation that formally designated the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. The "W3R" Trail traces and commemorates the 600-mile route from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia taken in 1781 and 1782 by the armies of General George Washington and General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau of France.Call (845) 344-3211 for info.

Back to NYC and the French Tourism Event, Camera in Hand

The bags are repacked for the French Tourism event tonight at the Tribeca Grill and the chance to visit with my number one Francophile friend Katherine Johnstone and her cohort Jessie is going to be great. After looking through my pictures taken in NYC during the NY Times Travel Show a visit to socialize will be a nice change of pace.

I thought the picture of the 937 billion dollar bail out on Fox’s neon reader was more interesting when added to the cab ad for Flash dancers. The other picture is of an attendee at the comic show also at the Javitts Center this weekend. I am bringing my camera back to NYC; you never know what pops up in NYC.

Winter Adventure in Finland and France

Spring is just a few days away but I am just starting my winter. After a few months of healing I am ready to go and several trips will help me get in the winter activities I missed since Dec. I soon head to Finland in particular Lapland above the Arctic Circle. Traveling via Husky, ice cutter, horse drawn sleigh, snowmobile and on the hunt for the aurora borealis should give me plenty of outdoor action.

In April I will hit the slopes of Val d’Isere and Chamonix in the French Alps, that should take the sting out of missing a good snow season here in the Catskills. After I am heading back to Lyon and the Rhone Alpes Region to gather more for a possible France Guide piece, I will be wandering on my own and at my own pace.