There's a reason why people who have taken canal cruises are often repeat customers. Pastoral landscapes serenely pass by at 4 mph, allowing you to take in all that your senses intended. Add to this gourmet food, personalized service and daily excursions and you have the perfect relaxing vacation. My wife and I booked a trip with European Waterways through Alsace-Lorraine, a region of France created by the German Empire in 1871 and encompassing parts of the Rhine, Moselle Valley and Vosges Mountains. We decided to arrive a few days early to explore Paris and rid ourselves of jetlag. Prior to our cruise, we boarded a TGV (high speed train) to the Strasbourg train station, where we were met by Alan, our tour guide for the week, and transported to our barge, the Panache. Actually, the term barge is something of a misnomer. These retrofitted boats serve as upscale floating hotels on the water complete with comfy rooms, beds and showers as well as a lounge area, bar, dining room, and all the amenities you can imagine. Our vessel accommodated 12 passengers and our cabin was spacious and comfortable and even had a double sink bathroom with full shower. The crew staff, who may outnumber the passengers, are well trained to provide a high level of service. Aboard European Waterways, the price includes fine regional wines, an open bar and daily room service as well as a tour guide who manages interesting side excursions during the trip. Essentially, you are treated like a VIP on your own private yacht and it is not uncommon for locals to queue up along the banks to watch these large vessels navigate the sometimes narrow canals and locks. Our first stop was the small town of Lutzelbourg, where we docked for the night and enjoyed a regional dinner prepared by our onboard chef, Christophe. This included a mixed salad with smoked duck, filet of pork with wholegrain mustard sauce, a selection of cheeses, and dessert. Of course, wine pairing is all part of the fun and each selection is presented with a little bit of history, charm and humor. Each day begins with a casual buffet breakfast followed either by an off-boat excursion or cruising down the canal through various locks to the next mooring destination. On our second day, we took a side trip to the town of Sarrebourg and the Chapelle des Cordeliers. You might not think twice about this non-descript little chapel except for the fact that it houses the largest stained glass window in the world by artist Marc Chagall. The Tree of Life is based on biblical themes but experts still guess as to some of its deeper, hidden symbols and meanings. Our next stop, the Cristallerie Lehrer, is home to third generation crystal makers, and here you can view master craftsman creating beautiful glassware in the form of vases, stemware and cute little animals. You also have the option of purchasing some of these to take home with you, carefully packaged, of course. Many of the postcard perfect towns along the Canal de la Marne Au Rhin can be explored on foot or by bikes, the latter of which are carried on board. This is one of the best ways to see the small villages that line the canals. If you happen to get tired, no problem. just catch up to the boat at the next lock, in time for a sumptuous lunch. Nighttime is for relaxing and after dinner conversation with your fellow passengers. One evening, we were unexpectedly treated to a local entertainer who came aboard to sing, play the piano and encourage us to participate. It was quite a sight to see baby boomers trying to sing a karaoke rendition of Hotel California. Our itinerary also included a visit to the Lalique crystal and jewelry museum in Saverne; tasting tarte flambée in Altenheim-sur-Zorn and seeing gorgeous Hansel and Gretel style villages along the Alsatian wine trail. For us, the highlight was the city of Strasbourg, selected as a UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity Site. With winding cobblestone streets, flower-laden bridges, half-timbered houses, and plenty of shops and restaurants, Strasbourg is an amazing place to visit. __________________ These video montages presented by Ron Stern, the travel writer and photojournalist also known as The Global Gumshoe, are for editorial purposes only. Any footage within this video may be purchased for editorial use. Please contact me via my contact form at http://theglobalgumshoe.com if you are interested in purchasing any video elements. (Any use of these elements for commercial or advertising purposes is strictly prohibited.) I teach classes on how to become a Travel Writer. If you’d like to Learn from Stern in a one-on-one mentorship, contact me at my website above. http://theoriginalglobalgumshoe.blogspot.com http://facebook.com/globalgumshoe http://instagram.com/globalgumshoe http://twitter.com/GlobalGumshoe

• published: 18 Sep 2013
• views: 955