The city of love, fine food, art and stunning scenery #3

Part Three: Bateaux Parisiens

Sitting on the banks of the Seine you can’t fail to notice a constant procession of boats floating by.

Hundreds of tourists pack into the variously branded barges – all taking in the magnificence of the monuments which lie along the route.

Some are herded in like sardines, paying out a few Euros for an hour long tour along all the landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Notre Dame cathedral and the Musee D’Orsay.

As we were only in town for four days and didn’t have time to take in everything we wanted, my girlfriend booked us a place for a lunch-time cruise and three-course feast on the more upmarket Bateaux Parisien.

As a sea-sickness sufferer on Channel crossings I was slightly wary of submitting myself to two hours of a wavy voyage and the drinking of heavy French red wine under a scorching sun.

But as it was, the Bateaux Parisiens was one of the best parts of our trip – and culinary wise it absolutely topped the bill of anything I had the pleasure of sampling during our stay.

Arriving at the dock, we presented the maitre’d with our pre-booked tickets and were swiftly escorted to our window-seat table.

The older French couple who we’d usurped for the prime position seemed non-plussed that a 20-something couple had pipped them to the post in securing the premiere seats.

In fact, I barely saw them speak a word to each other – I think he was in big trouble for not getting the better table.

For my starter I elected snail and asparagus spears pot, my main was a deliciously tender loin of pork with ravigote sauce, white kidney beans and shiitake mushrooms, with a healthy helping of authentic Camembert cheese for dessert.

All the while we were served with copious amount of kia, white and then red wine by the ever-attentive waiter – who put the kind found in many tourist attractions in the UK completely to shame.

With a full belly of food and a head fuzzy with wine we went back to our hotel for a sleep.

For more information on the trip visit www.bateauxparisiens.com.