SFO777

LOL. I didn't think it was that bad, but Mrs. SFO was not impressed with the thought of squatting in the toilette.

Oh yes. From various vendors along the route.

Thank you MarkCron. The La Cité part of Carcassonne will probably look more familiar.

Exactly. When it's all included, you feel that you want to "get your money's worth". But at some point, you have to no mas.

Thank you Purim. Since it is a charter, you have a great deal of freedom. We all completed a pre-departure profile with our food and drink "likes and dislikes". And then once on board, the chef would respond to any of our meal requests and desires. Ditto for wine. There was champagne but we focused on wine, specifying Burgundies. So most of our wine was Burgundy but with a sampling of Longuedoc wines. When it was clear that we preferred Burgundy, Burgundy it was. The crew has what seems to be very wide discretion and budget for stocking the barge with guest requests. While we didn't abuse it, apparently others have been more specific and demanded very high end wines.

The bar is well stocked with pretty much everything including our requested Grey Goose and Beefeater. We could have had breakfast in bed but chose to dine fashionably late on the deck or in the lounge area... much for comfortable, especially since we were traveling with friends. The touring was completely flexible. We declined a few suggestions and did other things or just relaxed on the barge. There are bikes on board which we used to explored the surrounding area or just follow the canal, then meeting up with the barge at the next lock.

Thanks so much 1P.

SFO777

Our fifth and final full day on the Alouette started chilly and overcast as we continued up the canal.







And tied up for our final excursion, a visit to historic La Cité Carcassonne. It was only three of us today as Mrs. SFO decided to take a break and relax on board.







La Cité de Carcassonne is an amazing medieval citadel that dates back nearly 2,000 years. It's 3km of double surrounding walls made it impenetrable. The walls, design and defense systems made it one of the few villages never to be been overrun or conquered by enemy forces. As a result, it remains largely intact centuries later. After the Eiffel Tower, it is apparently the most visited site in France.















The inner castle which was apparently the third wall of defense.







Impressive old Hotel de la Cité, now an M Gallery Accor hotel.















Cathédrale Saint-Michel de Carcassonne, dating from the 13th century.







Inexplicably featuring a quintet of Russian singers every half hour, with CDs to purchase if you like, spaseeba.





There are literally hundreds of restaurants in the inner city. I guess you need them all if you are 2nd only to the Tour Eiffel in tourists.



No doubt he woke up this morning looked in the mirror and thought "damn I look good today".





The Cité train? Sure why not.



Goes around the walls with a narrative. Meh, could have passed on that one.











Back to Alouette and lunch!





As we cruised up the canal back to Carcassonne. More lock dogs, this one knew the Alouette was coming and patiently waited for Capt Joe.







While the girls went into Carcassonne for manis, I biked down the canal path towards Carcassonne.













Finally, what took you so long?









As we moored for our final afternoon and evening.



Hors d'oeuvres.



Tonight's menu. Mackerel? Really? Guess we forgot to put that one on "do not serve" list.





And Ang's cute table setting as we dined on the deck tonight on a perfect +20/68 evening.





Yup, as bad as it sounded.











We were talking about crepes earlier in the day and, voila...



After dinner, the entire crew come out for a farewell champagne toast.



What an amazing over the top experience. Exceptional service, accommodations, wine and (other than the mackerel) amazing food.
The crew was simply fabulous and I would heartily recommend the Alouette Canal du Midi cruise.

For more pics and an HD version of the report, please visit SFO777.com



Up next: The long and winding trek home including an LH mechanical, wiener schnitzel and an extra night on the road.

DetailsIM

Another great report. My wife now knows you as "that guy on FT I follow" lol.

Did you know the other couple beforehand or did you meet upon boarding? My worry about a trip like that would be that you did not click at all with the other couple which could make for a very long week.

SFO777

LOL. Thank you DetailsIM. Yes, we knew the other couple and have travelled with them before. Totally agree about the risk of having to spend a week with people you don't click with, especially on such a small boat. Indeed, we decided that we would not do another small barge cruise unless we knew (and approved )all the pax. Would rather do a cruise with many more people.

LANDJ999

Whoa Nellie! Was that a European plum smuggler? Or a French Banana hammock?

TheAAdmiral

SFO777, thank you for another inspiring and unique TR! What a beautiful way to see France. All the best to you and Mrs. 777!!

HMPS

SFO777 What a great finish ! If you call it over the top, what can we say, over the top cubed ?

SFO777

After a final breakfast and farewell to the crew, we started the long trek home. Our friends to Barcelona for a day and Mrs. SFO and I to Toulouse and what on paper look like a simple but long 18 hour journey back to Denver where we would arrive at 11PM tonight. I had originally planned to overnight in Frankfurt and return home tomorrow, but I found after noon TLS-MUC-ORD-DEN Miles & More availability. Despite the 45 minute MUC connection, worst case is we get home when we originally thought we would. Plus, what could possibly go wrong? It's efficient MUC and we're talking about Germans.

An hour and 20 minutes from Carcassonne is Toulouse Blagnac airport, a very nice modern facility. Also the home and final assembly facility of Airbus.













With priority security fast track lane, although not where the contract LH agent said it was. Ha. Oddly enough, we were the only one in the lane and we bypassed at least 100 pax and got the front of the queue.



Inside the secure area, a pleasant but long concourse.





And the Salon la Croix du Sud near Gate 34. Whoa, no subtle colors here.



















Everything was fine until about T-60 when I received an email from LH...



Uh-oh. We have a tight 45 minute connection and our flight is delayed 80 minutes. Looks like we're not getting home tonight. But hey, on the bright side, someone else is paying for the hotel tonight. And as drminn reminded below, we'll be getting 1,200 euros compensation from LH.
Yep, indeed it is delayed.



For the next hour, I searched EF and came up with a list of available F space flight, all great options from FRA tomorrow morning.

• FRA-ORD-DEN on the 748i
• FRA-IAH-DEN on the 388
• FRA-SEA-DEN on the 744

What could be better? I quick MUC-FRA flight, airport hotel and back to the FCT in the morning.

At around T-40, we headed off to our Gate 26.





Lots of pretty new planes over at Airbus assembly.





Toulouse-Munich
Lufthansa 2219
E95
1:10P-2:55P (sked)
2:35P-4:18P (actual)
June 20, 2015
Business Class
Seats 1A and 1D

Since we were the only Business Class pax today, once I changed seats to bulkhead seats, the two row cabin became a one row cabin, and the "curtain" was moved up a row. The bulkhead is only row to have in dopey Euro "Business Class" which is two economy seats, one for you, the other blocked.







Friendly FA offered PDBs and cashews. Mrs. SFO and I made a mutual decision today. After the decadent week, nothing but water on the way home.









More from Airbus.



And this interesting one... The Beluga Airbus. For ferrying parts?



In the air...



Drinks and lunch, which was actually pretty good, tasty corned beef.





We taxied to our gate at about 4:20P. Our MUC-ORD flight had been delayed but alas didn't wait for us and had departed at 4:07P.



As the door opened, a FCL supervisor was waiting for us and escorted us to the lounge. She informed us that we had a room at the Hilton and she had rebooked us on tomorrow's MUC-LAX flight and connection to DEN. Once in the lounge, I gave her "my list". She verified that all of my three options were available and it was up to me as to which one we wished. "Have something to eat and then let me know which option you would prefer". All in all, pretty amazing IRROPS handling. The complete opposite of the disaster that is BA.





Off to eat...











We both had Vietnamese soup.





And the Wiener Schnitzel, a FCL classic. Fabulous!





Despite my recommendation to fly to FRA and overnight for better metal and the FCT, Mrs. SFO wanted "one less flight". Argh, woman. So here we are in Munich for the night, with the prospect of tomorrow's miserable "premium" boarding, a crappy plane and getting home 5 hours later than we would have otherwise. The supervisor checked us in and issued both MUC-LAX and LAX-DEN boarding passes.

See you tomorrow and we left for the Hilton. How bad can it be?



Nice lobby but challenged front desk staff.







And a depressing room.





After a nap, we decided to have a light bite ("maybe just a burger") and headed downstairs to use our LH meal voucher. The Hilton restaurant menu was not very appealing and quite frankly, the restaurant just plain smelled bad. So we headed back to the terminal. Almost ate at McDonald's but that would be a no tonight. Wound up at the Erdinger Sports Bar on the lower level just outside arrivals.





We split a burger, which was surprisingly good.





And then back to the Hilton to see what tomorrow brings.

SFO777

LOL. Very scary.

Thank you very much TheAAdmiral. We love France, especially Paris, but it was a fun way to see another part of the country.

Thanks HMPS. But we're not finished yet... still have to make it home.

drminn

I am sure you are aware that LH owes you 600 Euro each in addition to the hotel and food. This is in accordance with European Regulation 261. You can look at it as compensation for having to put up with the depressing Hilton room and stinky restaurant. They may not volunteer that information, but I am sure you will have no problem collecting once you ask for it.

SFO777

Thanks very much drminn for the reminder. Indeed, I forgot to mention that above as another positive. Just added above.
I sent in the LH.com complaint form a few days ago and reminded them that they owe us. Will see how long it takes. Thanks again.

techie

Does she qualify for "SFO777 Girls" section?

Digital01

Excellent report as always. The food looked amazing. This looked like a pretty relaxing trip with just the right amount of exploring! Did you specifically request a lot of fish based dishes? Any particularly memorable wines that you tried?

This definitely looks like something I need to make happen down the road!

It's sad Mrs. SFO didn't go for the FCT or better F products you had available!

DTS

The next time you're stranded in MUC, try 'Airbräu'. An authentic Bavarian restaurant with own brewery on the airport grounds. Or simply go to Fürstenfeldbruck.

Kagehitokiri

SFO777,

did they tell you menu in morning? was there flexibility for changes / last minute ?
"talking about crepes earlier in the day and, voila"

they will also stock things you want, like drinks, as long as price is under their 'maximum'
(at any true luxury with all-inclusive rates, not just charters / exclusive-use )
and for readers of thread - if it says "All-Inclusive" in name of big hotel, its not luxury

service can also include 'invisible refills' of drinks like champagne. i also had this experience >
staff came after lunch and said that dessert would be 15 minutes. while we all said that was fine, she must have read the surprise on our faces (possibly strong on someone else's) because she returned after consulting with the chef to find a quicker alternative, which we all went with.

btw russian orthodox has great church choir music

interesting hilton munich airport recently reflagged from kempinski

interesting, i cant imagine doing another cruise (even seadream) and wish there were more yachts that took individual reservations
although easier to check out of land accommodations than 'checking out early' from an individually booked (not charter) yacht trip