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More about this trip-
As Always, Julia presents a riveting correspondence between Julia Child and Avis Devoto, chronicling a lifelong friendship, the impact of which has crossed time and space to make an impact on its readers.
In Occitanie, pilgrims will embark on a culinary journey through shared connection and vulnerability. Led by Chelsea and Ashley, the group will explore the text through the theme of community, asking questions like: What does it mean for women to age with intention, and with purpose? And, what does community look like outside of the nuclear family model?
Pilgrims will convene at the breathtaking grounds of Hotel Domain Des Clos, a former 18th-century wine estate transformed into a luxury hotel. Food and wine will be a core component of the experience, with arranged dinners prepared by passionate chefs as well as opportunities for specialized tastings and culinary classes.
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We expect to walk up to 5 miles per day at a steady pace. The weather in France during July ranges from the low 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit. We will walk come rain or shine, and we recommend that pilgrims prepare for the possibility of both warm temperatures and potential rain. We won’t rush our walks, but we expect to be tired at the end of each day.
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Pricing & Logistics:
The full tuition of the trip is as follows
Private Room $4,950
Private Room Suite (shared bathroom) $4,750
Shared Room $4,350
Meeting Up
We will meet after lunch on July 7th and end programming before lunch on July 11th. Specific meeting time and location will be offered privately to pilgrims upon payment.
Travel Expenses & Arrangements
Each pilgrim is responsible for handling their own travel expenses and arrangements prior to our meeting on July 7th and after we say goodbye on July 11th. Flights are not included.
Accommodations
Our home base throughout will be the Hotel Domain Des Clos, a former 18th-century wine estate transformed into a stunning hotel. Situated in Provence, France, Hotel Doman Des Clos is known for its harmonious hosting atmosphere. With gorgeous grounds and ease of town access, pilgrims can expect a restorative yet energizing time at this charming farmhouse estate.
Scholarships
We have three partial scholarships (tuition of $2,000) available for three shared room spots on this pilgrimage. If you are interested, please fill out our form here. You can expect to hear from our team before the end of the year. Note: Scholarships are limited and cannot be guaranteed.
Trip Faculty
Chelsea Fagan
Co-Faculty (she/her)
Chelsea Fagan is a writer, home cook, and the founder and CEO of The Financial Diet, the largest women's personal finance media company. She is the author of many books, including The High Dive, released May 2025.
Fagan was a writer and editor for Thought Catalog, where her articles have generated millions of page views. Her work has also appeared in dozens of French and American publications such as Grantland, the Atlantic, Slate France, and Le Monde. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog.
Chelsea will serve as co-faculty for the trip.
Ashley C. Ford
Co-Faculty (she/her)
Ashley C. Ford is the first Women & Girls Reporter for Free Press Indiana, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir, published by Flatiron Books and An Oprah Book.
Ford has written or guest edited for The New York Times, The Guardian, ELLE Magazine, Slate, Teen Vogue, New York Magazine’s ‘The Cut’, Allure, Marie Claire, Netflix Queue, Cosmopolitan, Cup of Jo, and numerous other web and print venues. She is the former co-host of The HBO companion podcast Lovecraft Country Radio, and primary host of Ben & Jerry’s Into The Mix. She is also a Senior Essays Editor at the literary publication, The Rumpus.
She's taught creative nonfiction at The New School in Manhattan and Aspen Summer Words, among others, and served as Ball State University’s Writer-In-Residence in the Fall of 2022.
Ford lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband—poet, fiction writer, and bookseller—Kelly Stacy, and their chocolate lab Astro Renegade Ford-Stacy.
Ashley will serve as co-faculty for the trip.
Vanessa Zoltan
Chaplain (she/her)
Vanessa is the CEO of Not Sorry Productions. She hosts the podcasts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and Hot & Bothered. She founded Common Ground Pilgrimages in order to travel with brilliant faculty to beautiful places and talk about books with amazing pilgrims. It was a great trick she pulled off. She is also the author of the book, Praying with Jane Eyre. Vanessa was trained as a non-denominational chaplain at Harvard Divinity School. She is a proud California girl who currently lives in MA with her beautiful kids and pup Rory.
Vanessa will serve as co-chaplain for the trip.
Colette Potts
Chaplain (she/her)
Colette is an educator, family therapist, and parent of three Harry Potter fans. She serves as chaplain on our pilgrimages and shares a life with Matt Potts, the former host of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast. Colette also serves as our pilgrimage faculty training administrator.
Colette has worked with families across the developmental spectrum in settings ranging from urban public schools to rural homes, to help parents raise loving children, using caring communities to make it easier – and more fun.
Colette will serve as co-chaplain for the trip.
“To think that we might easily have gone through life not knowing each other, missing all this free flow of love and ideas and warmth and sharing.”
— julia child to avis devoto