Mike M.E. Bailey is a juried, signature member of the National Watercolor Society, a member of the Santa Cruz Watercolor Society, Santa Cruz Art League and the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society (SCVWS). Mike is a sought after teacher. He is often called upon to demonstrate, lecture and to teach workshops. He is associated with University of California at Santa Cruz Extension where he is an active instructor with 'sold out' classes each time he teaches. Mike exhibits his watercolors and other art work in festivals, private showings, open studio at his home and, occasionally, galleries His paintings are held in private and corporate collections in the US, Europe and Australia. Mike is truly 'Mister Positive'. In his words, "I live a life that most people dream of. I travel to Europe to paint, have wonderful artist friends, show and sell my work and have a fabulous home life! Every single day is a delicious adventure!" Mike loved the Dordogne so much when he visited for the first time last year, that he is returning in 2008. Mike has chosen some special places and events he wants to share with you. Don't miss the chance to enjoy Mike's Picks.

Mike's Picks
Mike loved painting at the Chateau de Belingard, a beautiful winery overlooking hectares and hectares of grapevines. History unfolds around you. On the lawn is an ancient stone that must have figured in prehistoric sacrifices to the Sun God Belinus. From the terrace you can gaze out into the distance at the sites of both the beginning and the end of the One Hundred Year’s War. And then there’s Sylvie whose husband Count Bosredon inherited the winery from his parents – after his 2 older brothers rejected the offer. We’ll tour the winery to learn some of the technical aspects of wine making, but mostly we’ll enjoy a day at the winery - sketching, painting, and of course, wine tasting.

St. Emilion, a favorite of both medieval popes and English kings, was a favorite of Mike’s, too. In 1999, it was classed a world heritage site, the first vine-growing area to achieve this status. In 2008, Mike invites you to join him for a day-long adventure in this beautiful hill-town perched above some of the world’s most renowned vineyards.  We’ll come early and stay around to watch the light change on the golden stone buildings and cobble stone streets. Around each corner another view comes into sight – and we’ll take our time painting, sketching and savoring the ambiance of a truly grand cru town

The occasional after dinner cheese course only whetted Mike’s appetite for more. So, in 2008, join Mike for a real Degustation (cheese tasting) offered by an expert who enjoys fine cheese, knows where to find it, how to describe it and best of all, knows how to serve it - to us!

		All Breakfasts
		Most Dinners at Petit Rousset with Regional Wines
		Transfers from and to Bordeaux
		Transportation by Private Coach
		Painting & Sketching Instruction
		Scheduled Critiques
		Open to all levels of experience including those who wish to paint with fellow artists but may not wish to receive instruction.

Day 1
3:00 p.m. Meet our Private Coach in Bordeaux for the scenic, two-hour drive into the Perigord and Petit Rousset. Welcome Dinner.

A sampling of our Destinations
Our explorations of the towns and villages described below will often be on bustling Market Days. We’ll visit other villages as serene as stage sets, waiting for us to bring them to life. We will also enjoy a guided visit to a cave with prehistoric paintings; a medieval fortress and a Renaissance chateau; wineries and a walnut grove; a truffle farm and a water mill where they make paper by hand, the old fashioned way.

Petit Rousset – Our home an 18th century farmhouse, provides many opportunities for painting, sketching & relaxing – in the garden, on the terrace, by the pool.

Eymet – Our 'hometown' is a 40-minute stroll from Petit Rousset, past rows of grapevines, fields of sunflowers and meadows of grazing cows. This bastide has a perfectly intact 13th century center square which bursts with activity on Market Day. Little streets radiating off the square are dotted with houses made of wattle and daub. As we explore, we’ll learn about the medieval conflicts that gave rise to the many bastides in the region.

Bergerac – The town made famous by the poet-Musketeer, Cyrano, is now the capitol of the wine-growing region. At an earlier time, its fame rested upon its tobacco production. A museum of this now much maligned weed documents 15th century globalization. We'll visit Old Town, with its medieval houses clustered along the banks of the Dordogne River. Nearby is the fairy tale Renaissance Chateau de Monbazillac. We'll visit the chateau then taste the golden, mellow wine of the same name.

Les Eyzies – The capitol of Prehistory, we'll visit a cave embellished with polychrome prehistoric paintings.

Beynac – We'll visit the village with the Chateau at its summit. Built during the One Hundred Year's War, the Chateau de Beynac perches high atop a cliff dominating the Dordogne River. Now we marvel at the views of the valley below, but its imposing profile attests to its original military purpose.

Sarlat – Founded as an Abbey Town, when Charlemagne visited, he brought a fragment of the True Cross with him. Nearly all of Sarlat's restored town houses were built during its years of greatest prosperity, from 1450-1500, giving it a rare architectural unity preserved by the Loi Malraux.

Monpazier – Hailed as the most perfectly preserved bastide in Southwest France, the 13th century houses surrounding its totally intact market square, are identical in size, unique in appearance.

Molieres – An unfinished English bastide, surrounded by walnut trees. Try the walnut press for a taste of the celebrated Périgord walnut oil and learn how ‘terroir’ effects the quality of these delicious nuts.

Final Day –
After breakfast, depart for Bordeaux. Coach drop off at Bordeaux airport and/or train station. Onward journeys after noon are advised.