We love to cook and provide two home cooked evening dinners. Home cooked regional French cuisine is what its all about! Breakfasts and lunches are included on all days. On other nights, we make reservations for you to dine ashore at your own expense in reasonably priced but excellent eateries a ‘healthy' walk from each mooring. We're on hand to help with your French (if you need) and can personally recommend all the restaurant options you have available to you, having tried and tested the lot! Dining ashore is one of the joys of any trip to France!
A typical day might begin as the aroma of freshly ground and brewing coffee wafts through the interior of Barge Nilaya and breakfast tempts you from slumber. After refreshing showers, while Kevin heads off on the bike to the local boulangerie for day fresh breads and pastries, a leisurely continental breakfast ensues. A feast of coffee, tea, fruit juice, cereals, baguettes, croissants, Isabelles home made jams, pain au chocolat, ham, cheeses, yogurt and maybe even a hot dish. Just what you need to set you up for the day!
A light lunch will ocasionally be taken 'on the hoof' but more usually after mooring up for the day. This generally consists of freshly prepared salads, cheeses, cold meats, crusty local breads, pickles and time permitting a hot dish such as quiche Lorraine, tartiflette or jacket potatoes. All washed down with a nice glass of local wine. We grow most of the barges crunchy salad leaves and herbs in our gardens on the upper deck and you'll often see Isabelle harvesting some moments before you get to eat them. It doesent get fresher than that!
In the afternoons, you're free to explore the new locale by foot, ships cycle or enjoy one or two side trips that we've arranged using our luxury Renault Espace 'Rene'. Alternatively, you can swan about the barge, soak up the sun, read, paint or simply sleep off your lunch!
Dinner's a wonderful part of the day. During your private charter cruise, we provide two home cooked dinners aboard, sometimes enjoyed outside on a candlelit deck under the stars. Isabelles tablescapes are something to behold! On other nights, after an early evening aperitif, you can head off and enjoy an agreeable little restaurant or cafe a healthy walk from the barge. Dinners ashore are taken at your own expense and to make sure you have a table, we generally book you ahead. We know all the best haunts, having tried and tested the lot!
On occasions, you even get to know people on other craft, sometimes mooring in identical locations more than once. Impromptu parties are not unknown!
