Captain Andy

I have always known that I was meant to be the captain of a boat, even if it was for only a week.  Actually......... I haven't!  But I did loved the idea as soon as Megan told me about this canal boating excursion in France.

The Particulars: Me, Megan, Susan (Megs Aunt), and Gary (Megs Uncle - aboard for only a day), a boat, a canal, lots of French wine, good local foods, and 7 whole days of cruising from point A to point B.  Fantastic eh!

As we approached our week on the canal, we were informed that our little boat was no longer available, and that we were given an upgrade; no complaints!  Well, the only snag was that the boat was in the town Chatilloen-Bazois instead of Digoin (where we were initially boarding).  Problem diverted when they offered us a free car to drive the hour and a half to the upgraded boat in Chatillon.  Driving the country roads of Burgundy was gorgeous and entertaining; it's always fun not knowing what the road signs say or mean. 

Being the Captain of a boat isn't always easy, especially when you have never EVER motored a boat before!  Luckily, I assimilated to the life of a boat master quickly, and we were off to explore the beautiful country side of Burgundy.

Me, Megs, Gary, and the pooch, Rolex

The days consisted of navigating the canal, sipping wine, tasting cheese, and working the locks.  As I would approach the lock, Megan would jump ship and fasten our ropes to secure us while the lock filled or emptied in order for us to maneuver through it.  Susan secured the ropes from the boat, and together, after some 40 locks, we became a well oiled lock working team.

In between locks, we stopped to explore small towns (7 or 8 in total) where we saw old abbeys, shopped at local markets, and connected our boat for electricity.  The temperature on the canal was chilly to say the least; one night got down to 29 degrees, and our little boat heater couldn't keep up with the demand for my desired Maui staple of 82 degrees.  To stay warm, we bundled up, ate chocolate, drank tea, watched the Gilmore Girls (I am in love with Lorelei, and I don't care who knows it), played scrabble, and read.  However, apparently wine heats one up from the inside out, so that was my plan of attack!  Wine was my new water.

Food from the market: baguette, pastries, ewe cheese, quiche, and apples.

Old Church

Besides running up on 2 sandbars, parking on a rock, and forgetting our electrical cord converter (which I didn't realize until 2 days down the canal), the cruise was mishap free, and very enjoyable.  We have decided that we would partake in another canal boat excursion in the future........only........ in July!

As captain of the NE2890 Siloe, I bid you farewell, and safe boating.

Paris week

Ok readers, bear with me; I'm gonna put a plethora of pictures up to document our time in Paris. Enjoy!

The (Grass Fed) Butter is AMAZING! 

The Arc De Triomphe

Modeling shoot

McDonald's Coffee (McD's is a whole other beast across the pond).  Expect a post on the 5 Star restaurant sometime in the future.

Catacombs

One can partake of wine nearly everywhere and at anytime, It's great!

St. Germain (the oldest church in Paris)

Crepe's with Nutella

Fresh Baguette's daily

The Louvre 

That's me and my girl Mona!  The real Mona.

This is for my father-in-law.  How bout a wrestle?

Megan; this is her desired profession in life.

Modeling shoot again

So there you have it; Paris in a week.  We are outta here, and off to captain a boat on the canals of Burgundy.  I'm not sure if we will have internet access for awhile, so this may be the last post for a week or so.  

Notre Dame!

I have something to confess..... I have a love for many things Catholic.  I love the reverence they show for God (even if it seems dry), the Cathedrals (even if they are extravagant), Icons, and various traditions: the Daily/Divine Office, Contemplative prayer, Stations of the Cross, the Liturgical year (Advent, Lent, Ash Wednesday, etc.), among others.  I also have to confess that I have rarely or never partaken in most of these traditions, but am fascinated by them nonetheless.

Byzantine style Icon

Having said that, Megs and I stuck to our schedule of partaking in a Christian service each week of the trip.  This week, it was a Gregorian Mass at Notre Dame in Paris, France.  The first stones were put in place in 1163, and construction continued until 1250 using four different builders, and has gone through many additions and modifications since.  

Entrance to the Gothic style Cathedral

This space is a feast for the senses.  The Cathedral is a masterpiece for the eyes, with its vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and gigantic pillars.  There are hints of burning incense and candles burning from those who offer up prayers for loved ones.  Once the service begins, the music rushes throughout every chamber as if it's wind looking for a way out.  

The service was quite reverent I thought.  Followers would enter and kneel and cross themselves before taking their seats.  The entrance procession (5-6 people) leads with the alter cross, followed by the candles, the Book of Gospels, and finally the priest.  The methodology at which the service took place seemed very old and symbolic in ways I didn't understand, but I felt as if I were experiencing something sacred at some level.  

The main drawback for me was that the entire service was in French and Latin, and I don't know a lick of either.  Ah well, this was a great way for me to simply set back and enjoy the experience and take it in.  

The journey to Notre Dame was a fantastic one.

Cambridge

I needed a break from the hostel in London, so Cambridge couldn't have come at a more perfect time.  The experiences in the hostels have been good barring the first two nights in the eight man room with at least three smelly dudes..... and I mean smelly!  Extreme B.O., and some poo mixed it with it.  One guy had to of had Tuberculosis also, cause he hacked something up for nearly two hours, and another had some butt crack showing with his hand lodged into it when I awoke.  Sound extreme?  Well it was.

I have never had a more frustrating time pursuing shut eye in my life!  I had to smash my face into the comforter and use it as an air filter, and you can imagine that a hostel comforter isn't all fresh and wonderful itself.  So I finally made it off to sleep and once I left the room in the morning, wasn't returning until absolutely necessary.

So now you understand my excitement for a B&B in the smaller town of Cambridge.

We arrived in Cambridge at nearly 4pm, and moseyed on over to the Leverton house, our Bed and Breakfast about 2 or so miles outside of town.  Heaven lay beyond the door to our room.  We had a California King, and two other beds incase that one wasn't juuuuuust right, a TV, nice shower, tea and cookies, free WiFi, and a continental breakfast!  Damn we were living like a king and queen.

For dinner we decided to eat an international meal, and our choices were Indian or American, so we chose the wiser of the two; McDonald's.  Wow, that was hands down the best McD's I have ever scored (yep, better than China and Brazil).  In our short stay we learned that all of the eggs for McDonald's are free range, and the ketchup had no high fructose corn syrup in it, and we didn't feel like crap after eating it.

After a stupendous night of sleep, and incredible english breakfast, we set out for the city center.  The day was full of old buildings, churches, and Universities (31 Colleges comprise Cambridge University).

Kings Chapel/College

We finished our day with the spectacular culinary master Jamie Oliver.  Well, he wasn't there as far as we know, but it was his restaurant; Jamie's Italian.  Yep, another adjective to express the dinner!  FABULOUS!  We decided to get a few plates and share a bit with each other; Megs got the Wild Truffle Tagliatelle, and I the Feathered Steak, and green olives on ice.  I'm not quite sure how to express with words how wonderful the dishes were, but they were, and couple them with a delightful glass of organic house red wine, and you got yourself two happy travelers.  Head on over to Megan's blog for the full story of Jamie's Italian.

As the evening slipped away, we had a taste of some home made ice cream, and ventured back to the B&B where we were swallowed up by our king sized bed and fell into a deep hibernation.

Cambridge was great!