It may cost $1.55 to buy a euro, but President Bush is still enjoying high season in Europe. The commander in chief has been on a whirlwind tour of the Continent since June 9, making stops from Slovenia to the UK.

Bush started his tour in Slovenia, which he once confused with Slovakia. After hobnobbing with European Union officials, he left for Germany to chat with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Later he flew to Italy for a two-stop meeting: After talking with Silvio Berlusconi, Bush skipped over to the Vatican for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

Later, after breakfast in Paris, the president crossed the Channel to the UK. His last stop was in Belfast, where he presumably changed his pounds back into dollars--and started planning his next trip to a place where the greenback is stronger.

Check the route on our President Bush European Vacation Map.

Related Stories:
· Bush Soaks in Europe as Only a President Can [AP]
· President Bush coverage [Jaunted]
· Europe Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The White House]]]> pbb 2008-06-16T13:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/12/132045/603

French President Nicolas Sarkozy had an embarrassing plane related mishap last year, and now, he's getting a new ride--sort of. France is upgrading its thirty year-old Presidential fleet, but according to the newspaper Liberation, Sarko's new plane, an Airbus A330, will be bought used.

Sarkozy might be ashamed flying around in a pre-owned plane, but it'll definitely be better than his old jet. Up until now, Sarkozy's been doing his traveling in a short-haul Airbus A319.

On his first official trip to China last year, Sarkozy's Airbus had to stop for refueling in Siberia while journalists covering his voyage enjoyed a non-stop journey. Quel dommage!

Related Stories:
· France Upgrades Presidential Aircraft [NYT]
· Nicolas Sarkozy coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of A330: caribb]]]> Hunter Walker 2008-06-12T13:45:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/28/232757/126

Between playboy and presidential duties, Nicolas Sarkozy is lobbying to get French cuisine UNESCO World Heritage status. Don't laugh, it is possible. In addition to sites of stunning human achievement and culture, the list, started in 1972, also includes United Nations-protected oral traditions, performance art, traditional crafts and social practices.

True to form, some French feel that escargot isn't on par with Machu Picchu: It's better.

Now up to 851, the list includes not only Mont-Saint-Michel and, for that matter, Venice but also lesser-known sites from Butrint in Albania to the Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe. Not all the French were thrilled at the thought of having their cuisine co-listed with parts of the Congo basin or an ancient church in Finland.

Related Stories:
· Does French Cuisine Deserve UN Status? [IHT]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Éole]]]> ced138 2008-04-29T13:00:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/7/12473/18315

Cécilia Ciganer-Albéniz, the ex-wife of Nicolas Sarkozy isn't letting him have all the re-marrying fun. She's getting hitched to her lover Richard Attias in New York later this month. (The two previously had a year-long affair in 2005.)

The news was leaked by Versace, which is proud to brag that it's the label of choice for the wedding party. Rumor has it the pair will keep the luxe life up after the nuptials: They were spotted checking out a pad at the recently-renovated Plaza hotel across from Central Park.

Central Park? If they wanna top the globe-trotting Sarko--and his new wife, Carla Bruni--they're gonna need to go further afield than that.

Related Stories:
· Sarkozy's Ex to Re-Marry in New York [AFP, via Google]
· Cecilia Weds for "Revenge" [Page Six]
· Encore, Sarko and Bruni [Jaunted]
· Sarko and Carla Acting American in Paris [Jaunted]

[Photo: Daily Mail]]]> pbb 2008-03-07T13:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/2/4/114951/2607

After a globe-trotting whirlwind romance, Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni got hitched in Paris this weekend. And though they spent their wedding night at the Palace of Versailles, they could do much better to keep up their Super World Traveler status.

Ryanair, the airline the couple sued over a witty ad, has lots of departures from Paris. What better way to put a ridiculous lawsuit to rest than snagging a super-cheap seat on the low cost carrier?

Flights leave Paris Beauvais airport--which is about 50 miles north of the city--for Stockholm, Rome, Dublin and Valencia among other spots. Sarko hardly seems like the romantic type, but what bride wouldn't love a trip to Venice? And if the duo isn't ready to put the feud with Ryanair behind them, no worries: Beauvais is also served by Wizz Air and Centralwings.

Related Stories:
· Sarkozy Marries Royally with Versailles Wedding Night [Guardian]
· Encore, Sarko and Bruni [Jaunted]
· Ryanair coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-02-04T12:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/28/17171/3018

The European press can't spill enough ink over Nicolas Sarkozy and his paramour Carla Bruni, who've been traveling up a storm lately. (They've been spotted at both Disneyland Paris and touring Egypt's pyramids.) But the latest jab at their whirlwind romance has Sarko tres irrité.

Ryanair, which isn't known for its subtlety, used a photo of the couple in an ad in today's issue of Le Parisien. The thought bubble above Bruni says:

With Ryanair, my whole family can come to my wedding.

That may be--as long as her relatives don't want to check bags--but the French president didn't appreciate the joke. Ryanair's apologized, but Sarko plans to sue the airline for "improper use of the president's image."

Related Stories:
· A Ryanair Ad Provokes the Ire of the Elysee [Le Figaro, in French]
· Sarkozy to Sue Airline over Advert [AP, via CNN]
· Sarkozy Fails to See Ryanair Joke [Press Association]
· Sarkozy Threatens Suit Against Ryanair [Telegraph]
· Ryanair coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Le Figaro]]]> pbb 2008-01-28T17:18:11-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/18/12422/406

French President Nicolas Sarkozy just divorced his wife two months ago--but that isn't stopping him from enjoying Disneyland Paris without a lovely companion. Sarko was spotted at the theme park, just outside the city, with Carla Bruni, a former model and present-day singer-songwriter who's been linked to Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.

The pair were on hand to take in Euro Disney's Christmas Parade, which continues until January 6. Also on tap for Christmas at the park is Mickey's Winter Wonderland, a kid-friendly musical production, and Belle's Christmas Village, a Disney-approved holiday fair like the ones you find throughout Europe.

Oh, and unlike Sarkozy, Disneyland Paris is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year!

Related Stories:
· Disneyland Paris [Official Site]
· Nicolas Sarkozy coverage [Jaunted]
· France Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: AP Photo/Francois Mori]]]> pbb 2007-12-18T14:00:02-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/