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Welcome to our August ‘Barge of the Month’ in which we are delighted to showcase the glorious
and newly refurbished
Alouette
cruising on the beautiful UNESCO Heritage Site the Canal du Midi in 2008 and 2009,
between Beziers and Carcassonne.
The Barge Company was one of only three barge specialist agents to be
invited on to the
Alouette’s
2008 inaugural cruise following her spring 2008 refit, so we proudly bring you
our newest photographs and ‘insider’ comments on the boat as she is now—ready to
welcome you aboard!
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Bathrooms are all newly created using natural stone and marble (see right). The showers are over-sized for extra comfort and a selection of heavenly ’Occitane’ bath products are complimentary. Large mirrors with excellent lighting as well as huge fluffy white towels make these bathrooms a complete delight to spend time in. Those of you lucky enough to cruise on her will be in for a world-class treat!
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The Blue Cabin is just as gorgeous as the Yellow Cabin but of course using a different colour theme. Again it can be either double or twin-bedded, and the bathroom (see below is decorated in the same subtly natural tones as the Yellow cabin’s. TV and DVD is in each cabin too.
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The provencal-style bed linens are a pleasure to enjoy and are extremely comfortable. I (Marie of The Barge Company) spent three happy nights in this lovely Blue Cabin and I honestly couldn’t have slept better! Comfy mattress covers make going to bed something to really look forward to, and the option of listening to music or watching a film before bedtime was a real added bonus.
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I simply adored using the showers during our cruise; the hot water was so instantly there, and it was so easy to use and constant. The flow of water was also very generous and simply made for a very luxurious bathroom experience. There is so much room in the showers too because they are double-sized, so you need never feel cramped or fear hitting your elbow as you wash away the cares of the day. The perfect antidote to a day of adventure on the Canal du Midi...
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Our cruise took us from Beziers to Le Somail and during the three days it took us to wend our way gracefully along this trail we enjoyed several superb excursions to places of cultural interest, including the secluded ‘Abbé de Fontfroide’ (above). Set way up in the hills it is a stunning destination with a very special atmosphere. All excursions and entrance fees are always included in the cruise, as are the services of your personal driver-guide who takes you there and back in the luxury air-conditioned minibus. We also enjoyed a superb visit to the ancient Roman ‘Oppidum d’Enserune’ and its museum, plus the spectacular medieval citadel at Carcassonne—not to be missed!
As for our meals on the
Alouette, we were thoroughly spoilt from start to finish. Fine wines were carefully selected and introduced to us with each course and we were pampered far too much! Gus our superb chef catered for our every whim, and breakfasts, lunches and dinners were a sheer delight. From elegant light lunches (top left) to sumptuous desserts (below left) we simply couldn’t have asked for more.
For full details on the
Alouette
please click
here
and to enquire about availability or to make a reservation please click
here.
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