Cruising the Canal
Ever thought about a cruise in the middle of Paris that’s NOT on the Seine?
My friends Bill and Nancy invited me over to their peniche (houseboat)/home the other night for drinks and appetizers before taking the Canauxrama cruise up to La Villette (the link is to the site in French – but there is also an English version).
We had so much fun! The boat follows the waterway which is actually UNDER the street “Richard Lenoir”. My friend Barney – the BB&T building engineer in Asheville, had told me about this cruise before I left to come here in 2006 so I was familiar with it but had never taken a night cruise.
They show a movie on the wall of the canal – it was kind of like being at a drive-in movie. We were talking too much to actually hear the comments but I did note it was in both English and French.
After going through a number of locks (much like the ones in Washington DC in Georgetown), you arrive at La Villette – an up and coming neighborhood in Paris’s 19th Arrondissement.
Nancy, Charlette and me. Charlette (the redhead) is 78, also lives on a peniche across the water from Bill and Nancy and drives a corvette. She’s promised to take me on a Friday night spin down the Champs Elysee…..
Hi Donna!
It was a wonderful evening wasn’t it! so much fun and I’m so pleased I got to meet you along with all of Bill and Nancy’s good friends…
Bisous de Sydney
Roniece
I saw your comment on David Lebovitz’s post and decided to come by to see your blog. This is such a fun tour, isn’t it? I decided this past summer to do a walking tour of the canal, and then, curious about where the boat goes between the Bastille and into the 10th, my boyfriend and I took the boat cruise up the canal. I blogged about the walk and cruise on my blog.
My boyfriend and I had a great time! I’ve seen a little of your site here & am off now to check out the rest! It’s great!
Be well. Karin
Thank you Karin and thanks for stopping by! I can’t believe you live in Paris gluten-free. That has to be an interesting challenge. Your blog post about the canal trip is way better than mine!!! You got great pictures too. Maybe between the two of us we’ve gotten some more people to take the cruise because it really is a wonderful piece of Paris history..
Hi Donna! Thanks for visiting the blog! Yeah, gluten-free is not so fun in Paris some days, lol, but I am trying to make the best of it, and the biggest incentive is how goshdarn good I feel when I stay off gluten in comparison to when I eat it!
So that’s a lot right there.
I know I have had a few people search for the Canauxrama or the canal cruise and happened on my blog. I hope you are right, that we’ve convinced people to take the ride, for it is FUN and totally worth it! Thank you, too, for cleaning up my link in the comment. It looks much tidier that way, lol, and I wish I would have known I could do that in comments! (In fact, will try one just below now…)
I just saw David Lebovitz’s new post on this “8 Coping Tips for Living in Paris” and your comment there, too. Good on you for getting out the door, lol! I should do the same…
I was wondering what *your* 8 Tips would be. I think I am going to write about mine.
Best as you go about your day, thanks for the follow-up comment & hope to see you around again soon!