I
have Been lucky enough to
travel to France on several occa-
sions, each time planning my
own trip. But as I begin to envi-
sion my next journey, I realize
how routine things have become:
Rent a car in Paris, drive to
Montagnac, and eat at my
favourite restaurants Côté Mas
and La Cour Pavée in Pézenas.
So I decide it’s time for a change.
I’ll still go to France, but I want a
travel experience that’s deeper and
more enriching in ways that I could
never arrange on my own.
Some friends suggest river cruising.
After some research, the promise of
interacting with locals and enjoying
daily life in France proves impossible to
resist. So too is the idea of visiting a dif-
ferent town daily without ever having
to pack and unpack. Within days, my
husband and I are booked on an eight-
day chateaux, rivers and wine tour.
The round-trip cruise from Bordeaux
includes the towns of Blaye, Pauillac,
Cadillac, Bourg and Libourne.
As soon as I board the 190-passenger
river cruise ship in Bordeaux, I set
off to explore. My stateroom is neatly
outfitted with cream-coloured linens
and upholstery. Sliding doors open
onto a veranda where we can relax at
night. There are three different dining
spaces on the ship, including a terrace
at the bow for al fresco eating. I’m won
over by this floating hotel. But while it’s
tempting to remain onboard, basking
in the ship’s charms, the hub of France’s
most famous wine region awaits.
Today’s river cruise operators do a
great job curating interesting places
at which to dine—restaurants fre-
quented by locals, spots where you
don’t feel like a tourist. We’re thankful
for their expert advice, as Bordeaux’s
main square is crowded with bistros
and cafés. At the crew’s recommen-
dation, we head to Baud et Millet, a
wine-and-cheese restaurant.
After perusing the display of eclectic
bottles inside, we settle on a Cabernet
Sauvignon and head to a cheese cavern
with 100 varieties of Camembert, Brie,
Roquefort and more. Sitting there,
sampling France’s finest fromage, we
almost forget we’re on a cruise.
This is the joy of river cruising that
everyone’s been telling us about. It’s
part land travel, part cruise. By day,
we explore cities at our own pace; at
night, we board the ship and voyage
to our next destination. Over the
next week, the culture, wine and easy
conversation flow as freely as the
Garonne and Dordogne rivers. »
Cognac at the Camus Distillery
CAA MAniTOBA
Spring 2018
43