The End of our Burgundy Canal trip

Yesterday we visited the Château Ancy-la-Franc.  The girls were memorized by the monumental size, the other-worldliness of the spaces and furniture and Madelyn was totally absorbed in the paintings (many of which were difficult for us to explain to her).  You never know how these outings are gonna go with kids.  Are they going to be 1) totally bored, 2) to busy and hyper  or 3) totally into it.  Peter and I think it is important to try it and see.  The potential for real insight and learning is there and the wasted $$ is worth the attempt.  We got lucky this time.  It helped that the Château had a brochure we could carry along with us and read about each room to the girls.  They always love a story.  The Château also had costumes the kids could wear while exploring.  They thought this was really cool and, well, totally adorable. 

Yes.  That's Phia being eaten up by that gigantic door.

Like, ummm, ya.  So stinkin' cute.

"This is how a princess walks, Mommy."

"This is how princesses stand, Mommy."

One princess being toted back to the castle from the stables.  

"I have to go potty SO bad Daddy that I can't walk!"

The last day on the boat was interesting…  Madelyn woke up throwing up.  Several times.  She slept all morning so we decided to forget the Chateau visit (Château de Rochefort) we had planned for the day and traveled on to our end destination, Montbard.  She eventually rallied and luckily never presented a fever.  We believe it was just due to medicine she is taking.  Poor honey. 

That morning while she was sleeping, Sophia had a special morning.  A man from Winterthur, Switzerland camped next to us the night before.  Not in a boat, but on land with his two horses.  He spoke a little English and we spoke a little Swiss German... we had a nice time with this sweet man, Felix.  He let Sophia have a special ride on one of his horses.

This was where we moored that night.  We woke up to horses looking at us through our boat windows.

So proud.

Felix and Sophia.

Another view of our mooring spot.

Sophia having some warm tea after her pony ride.  It was cold that morning.

So as you can see there was lots of local wild life for the girls to enjoy on the canal.  Dogs, cats, geese, herons, chickens... horses.  And...

We have found this to be a very international trip.  We traveled alongside boats with people from South Africa, France, Poland, Italian, Norweagian, Swiss and many Brit’s.  We met only one other boat with Americans and no boats with young families.  When speaking with a Scandinavian couple in the small town of St Florentine they showed astonishment that we were American.  “Are you lost?” the husband asked with a broad smile and a little chuckle.  We were on a true European Vacation.

The girls have absolutely loved this trip.  They are sad to say goodbye to our boat, their little bunk bed and the sense of adventure.  The traveling, the meeting new people, simple play and intimacy has been felt by all four of us.

Wine is a passion of mine and Burgundy wine is not something I can ordinarily afford.  I have tried some truly inspired, gorgeous wine.  Yummy!  This has been one of those trips where the wine bottles out number the milk bottles.

Tomorrow we are off to the Loire Valley and the last leg of our trip.  Sigh, sniff.  Reality is coming soon.  Do you know I actually had to cut my nails!?  I admit it.  I usually bite them from stress and anxiousness.  Haven’t had too much of that lately…

Life was tough for us all.  They are arguing about who's eclair is bigger.

~Lisa

July 13