Wine round the Bend Burgundy Barge Bliss.

I am getting up to look out the open porthole window and am met with a friendly squawk. A giant white swan approaches expectantly, followed by many mallard ducks. This up-to-the-minute hotel barge carries just twelve passengers, with 6 crew to look after each probable passenger need. A two hour journey by minivan thru rolling French country had brought us to the medieval city of Auxerre, where La Belle poque and her crew awaited. After meeting the crew and getting settled into our cabins, we explored the cobblestone streets and trendy shops of Auxerre. It appeared to be a huge market city for lumber and wine as well as a vital religious center. Beaune vineyards. Nevertheless , if you are still left worried about the quality of the food on your trip, then why not consider one of Burgundys campsites? This area of France is known for its high living and gourmet eating, so you are bound to be in for a culinary treat. Coq au Vin follows a like formula, only with chicken rather than beef. There are sure to be some cafes near your campsite in Burgundy serving this sort of food, given its such a favored local fare. There are lots of other meats if you are not a chicken or meat eater, diverse hams, hare, calf head and even some brook fish usually poached in white wine, with bacon, onions, garlic and butter. The best ones are Chaource ( creamy and white ), St-Florentin, the orange skinned poisses and numerous kinds of goats cheese from Morvan. Potted flowers and a beautiful stone house indicate where the clusier ( lock keeper ) lives.

This wood trade was the main source of revenue for this area till the 1920s. As we glide by a rolling patchwork of green hills and pretty vineyards, lunch is served : quails in crme frache sauce, tuna pasta salad, caprisi salad, fruits, a white Savignon St-Bris and a red Chitry. There are 2 sorts of cheese with exotic namesDelice de Bourgogne and St The cool air is strongly scented with damp, wet wood and thriving mold. Everywhere there's a flat surface, wine bottles lay in horizontal slumber.