Up dated 6 Sep below an new photos below the old
Air France delivered us to the Charles
DeGualle airport forty minutes ahead of schedule. We quickly passed
through the formalities, gathered our luggage, jumped on the Air
France bus and headed for town. Being almost 9 AM we expected bad
traffic but we breezed right into to town and to the Gare de Lyon.
Now we have two hours to kill before the train, so we stake out a
table at the Montreux Jazz Cafe in the train station.
Air France was a big disappointment.
My expectations, based on lots of Air France propaganda on their
website, were dashed. If it was on the internet it had to be true.
They promised lots of room, comfortable seats, upgraded meals, and
great service. One out of four I guess is not bad in today's cattle
mentality of the airlines. The seat did not recline. Some wacko
designed this crazy thing. When you hit the recline button the
cushion of the seat slides down and out about four inches. There is a
footrest that comes up a little bit but is totally useless.
The service, which I had really had
great expectations, was non-existent. Despite a great menu promising
lots of courses it was the same meal as economy. The flight attendant
came through and served the meal and the drinks all at the same time.
Then she came back to pickup up the meals and only if you knew it,
you could get a second drink service, but she did not offer. This
same scenario was repeated for breakfast. In between these two times
you never saw a flight attendant during this nine hour flight. Where
most airlines walk through several times during the flight offering
hydration we got nada. I walked all the way to the rear of the
airplane. Halfway back there was a few bottles for self service and
two flight attendants in the rear gallery ignoring everyone. I
returned to my seat and pushed the flight attendant call button. Two
hours later a flight attendant who was hiding in first class came by
and saw the light and begrudgingly asked if I wanted something. Mind
you there is a computer screen at several stations in the airplane
that show the exact seat the pushed the call button.
Our only other experience in Premium
Economy was on Japan Airlines and it was far better than Air France.
To all those American airlines that I despaired, I apologize.
The TVG 6193 left from track G and
speed through the countryside. Most of the fields had already been
plowed under. There was the occasional corn field but mostly the
fields were ready for winter already.
If you can not understand the
conductors announcements or sure of the town the train is pulling
into, just get off at your scheduled arrival time. We were scheduled
to arrive in Arles at 15:36 and we never understood the announcement
but got off anyway. Arles is a lovely little town. We pulled our
luggage the few blocks to the river front to the MS Anne Marie tied
up along the quay on the river Rhone. There were two much larger
river boats tied up but by morning they would be stacked three deep.
Check in time was not until 5 or 6 depending on who's paperwork you
were going by, but we were welcomed with open arms by the crew. They
settled us in our rooms and we washed 28 hours of travel off in a
very comfortable shower.
Then there was a knock at the door and
we found Rich standing there. It was time for the big reveal, the
whole reason for us being in Arles and on the boat (other than we
love France and these small barge trips). We went up to the main deck
and surprised our neighbor and good friend Vicki Bennett with our
presence. Rich had come to us early in the year and wanted to do
something special for Vicki's (2) birthday and wanted help. Vicki
(1) one said to give her what she wanted most. Rich has been on a
extremely successful roll with his company over the last few years
which has taken more and more of his time. So, Vicki (1) said give
her your time. That settled, the two of them started brain storming
and came up with the barge trip. This was all to be a secret and it
was pretty much. But as the date got closer and closer Rich caved and
gave up more and more of the story. The barge was not revealed to her
until four days before their departure. Our joining them was the last
remaining secret. When Vicki (2) saw us she was genuinely surprised.
I was sure she had been cheating and reading Rich's emails but now I
was convinced she had not.
The rest of the evening was spent with
meeting the other 18 passengers, all British, Canadians and a lone
French couple. Zolton, the “hotel manager” introduced the staff
and told us of the weeks event. The Captain, Rudy, gave us a safety
briefing and explained our route. Romain, the chef, told us this
evenings dinner menu and we set off for the dinning area. We started
with steak tartar salad, followed by leg of rabbit and pasta in a
fine wine sauce, followed by fig dessert thingy with sauce and
whipped cream.
It had been a very long day so Vicki
and I said our goodnight s and disappeared below the deck.
The next several days set quickly in to
a routine. Breakfast at 8, on the bus by 9 headed to something be it
a oil farm, winery, marsh, or old town with guided tours. Back on the
boat by 1 when the boat would set sail on the canal and we would eat
a gourmet dinner. By 5 or 6 we were docked somewhere, a short walk
and another gourmet meal at 7:30 that lasted until well after 9. The
food is excellent and by day three I had cut back to partial meals.
We are having excellent weather a beautiful full moons at night.
Correction from a earlier statement.
There are no French on board as guests. They are in fact French
Canadians. As is their
tradition, though having had conversations with each them in perfect
english, they have demanded everything be said in French also. That
is fine as it helps with our french hearing in english and then
repeated in french. They have, as is also their tradition, demanded a
separate table for themselves. They will just not give up that
separatist movement where ever they are.
My only
disappointment on this trip is though we are on a true canal, it has
but one lock. On the other canals with many locks you are able to get
off and walk along side the barge. That is not possible on this
canal, but I will probably survive it.
SEPT 3
Well the boat trip is over. Food was
great and when I figure out the latest Google + system I will insert
a slide show of some of it. For now, just take my word for it Romain
cooks a mean meal in a kitchen smaller than most American's
bathrooms.
Everyone on the trip was great. Here I
have to insert a apology. The French Canadians were not separatist
or anti-anyone. One of them had just had a stroke and literally had
just came out of the hospital and insisted that they all still go on
this trip. One of the non-visible effects of the stroke was that he
lost of some of mental skills and one of those that suffered was his
understanding of English. The separate table was because setting at
the big table made him very uncomfortable and agitated. They are
great people and a lot of fun and I hope he recovers fully soon.
We took a bus to get on a bus to get on
a train to Paris. In Paris we were get on a bus to the airport but
it never came, so we got a cab. The problem was that the farmers
were protesting and several roads were blocked with lots and lots of
John Deer's. Took us about 30% longer to get to the airport, but our
great taxi driver did a fine job. Despite the inconvenience I still
love the fact the French protest what they do not like. Wonder if
they vote?
updating you in the Gare de Lyon
at this famous restaurant you can pay $30 for a burger
everyone watching the board
the reason we are here
stacked three deep
our little home
fortunately we did not have to do this.....
...or this
As some of you know I was recently fired from my mowing position with Lemur Land so I am looking for a new job. I like this machine. The owner of the olive farm lives in Switzerland and never visits to the farm so I think I got this position.
He drove it from Switzerland to the Burmese border
Our chef
