The Barge L’Art de Vivre

The barge has 4 passenger cabins, all ensuite two with double beds and two with twins. This week there were only 6 of us so we had more room for the deck and meals.

She is the oldest boat in the European Waterways fleet and was originally a Thames Lighter, she was commandeered by the Government during the first war and in the second world was was towed to Dunkirk to evacuate troops. Later she was fitted with a Kelvin engine and this was later changed to an air start Baudouin DK6 engine which she still has today. She was shortened to 100 foot to work the Canal Du Midi. Lots more information about her can bee seen here. https://www.europeanwaterways.com/blog/hotel-barge-l-art-de-vivre/ 

 

The barge has a crew of 5 to look after us and they have a minibus that moves with the barge for the excursions. As well as taking us on excursions every evening when they mover the mini bus to the next location they also had to reserve the next Mooring.
The cruise followed the normal pattern, half a day excursion and half day cruising.
Life on board was breakfast 8-10, lunch around mid day and dinner in the evening around 7-30pm. Each day the menu was put out on a chalk board and all meals included good wine, the evening meal a cheese course with three different cheeses each night. Unlimited drinks all day plus a cocktail and nibbles.   I failed to photograph one lunch menu.   

The food was as good as it looked, here are a few of the dishes we enjoyed with good wine  

		This is the result of the cookery demonstration

As well as the chef coming out and describing each dish our hostess also told us about the cheese and the wine showing us exactly where it came from, she was also skilled in napkin folding

The chef did a short cookery demonstration in the galley one afternoon.

Many a time I have watched barge crews man handle gang plank, lowering them off the top of the deck. swinging them down on ropes and sometimes doing all sorts of gymnastics with them, but this crew had it sorted. A light weight aluminium frame with removable deck panels, all easily handled and giving a wide walkway.