Degustation in Beaune

We had to turn the boat in early on a Saturday morning so Ali, Shannon, Rick and I decided to stay in the region for the weekend. We used Beaune as our home-base to tour around and taste some wine. The region is mostly known for its pinot noirs and we found some tasty ones (a little heavier and more full-bodied than those in the U.S). We brought quite a few bottles home with us, but had to limit our purchases as the wines were pretty expensive. We found out later that Burgundy wines are some of the most expensive in France.

Aside from tasting and buying wine, this trip was a great opportunity to practice my French. I had fun speaking with the locals and I feel that being able to communicate with them in their language makes the experience more interesting.

Boating in Bourgogne

We enjoyed our first boat trip so much that we decided to take another one--this time in France and for 1 week. It was basically the same crew as before: me, Rick, Maria, Clive, Gabby, Vladimir, and little Sara. This time another couple, Ali and Shannon, came along as well. Because we had a slightly larger crew and the trip was longer, we rented a bigger boat. Our boat, Chloe, was beautiful! On the last boat trip, we all shared one toilet and shower. This time we each had a private bathroom (toilet and shower) in our bedrooms. There was also a lot more storage space, a bigger kitchen, and more room on deck. We were definitely cruisin' in style!

We were on a river called the Petite Saone, which runs through a very rural region in Burgundy. Some of the towns/villages we stopped in didn't even have one store! The villages were cute, but sleepy and the scenery, while pretty enough, was not spectacular. Nevertheless, it was a great trip. It was sort of like camping, but with a boat. I think all of us would agree that the best part of a trip like this, besides getting to drive the boat, is hanging out with friends. This is a fun group and we always have a good time when we're together regardless where we are. Our friends, Gabby and Vladimir, moved to Vienna last February so it was great to see them again.

We spent our time sunbathing, swimming, biking, playing games, barbecuing, hanging out by the campfire, drinking wine, and eating cheese.

Cruising

Visiting the Villages

Fun in the Sun

BBQ Time

Wine and Cheese

The Boat