Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Saturday, March 08, 2014

It Must be March Madness! Free Kindle

SPECIAL OFFER: Paradise Connections has a gift for our clients who make a new booking by March 31st 2014 (offer extended through April 30, 2014) on any barge we represent for a 2014 barge cruise.



This is the perfect Kindle for travelling as it is small, lightweight, and FREE!
Kindle — small, light, and fast
  • Less than 6 ounces - lighter than a paperback, fits in your pocket
  • Hand-tuned fonts for easier reading
  • Reads like paper with no glare, even in bright sunlight
  • Download books in 60 seconds with built-in Wi-Fi
  • Holds over 1,000 books - take your library wherever you go
  • Massive book selection. Lowest prices. Over a million titles less than $4.99
  • Hundreds of thousands of Kindle-exclusive titles that you won't find anywhere else, including books by best-selling authors such as Kurt Vonnegut
  • Supports children's books and includes parental controls
We love our Kindles for reading books. They are very handy and compact. With this one little device you can conveniently carry hundreds of books with you. You can read them outdoors in direct sunlight. There's no reflection or glare like when using your tablet. They have a long battery life and you can charge them using a USB port. Plus, this is not the touch version so there will be no fingerprints on your screen :)


This offer is valid for Paradise Connections clients who make a new booking in the month of March 2014 (extended through April 30, 2014) on any barge we represent for a 2014 barge trip, whether a cabin cruise or private charter. One Kindle for each person booked.


Many of our barges have special offers to fill in their remaining open dates for the 2014 season.

Click here to see the March 2014 edition of a list of barges with discounted rates.

We hope you'll be able to take advantage of this special offer from us at Paradise Connections. We the love the canals and our Kindles...

Spring is coming... Enjoy!


Sharing the Love


Contact Paradise Connections to book your barging holiday
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 


Saturday, July 27, 2013

French Hotel Barge Saint Louis : Pilgrimage Santiago di Compostela

Today we have another informative guest post from the French Hotel Barge SAINT LOUIS who offers both private charters and cabin cruises in the Aquitaine & Gascony region of southwest France.
UPDATE: August 1, 2013. What a coincidence. Today Amazon.com sent me their "Kindle Specials of the Day" email and it includes a book that ties into this post very well...
Today's price is only $1.99. I'm going to buy it because it looks interesting.


THE PILGRIMAGE IN SOUTHWEST FRANCE
 - By Alasdair Wyllie, Owner-Operator of Barge Saint Louis

During our cruising season we very often moor our hotel barge the Saint Louis in the tiny port of Pommevic, between Moissac and Lamagistere.  There is a full canopy of trees, and during the summer it can be quite pleasant to get some shade in the heat of the day.  Generally, no other boats are moored there, and we have for company the occasional boat passing between the locks, some of the local residents whom we have come to know  -  and a steady trickle of Pilgrims passing along the towpath.

A pilgrim at Pommevic – complete with stave and scallop

For a distance of some fourteen kilometres between Moissac and Pommevic, one of the main pilgrimage routes to Santiago di Compostela passes along the tow path of the canal.  This is Christendom’s third most important place to visit, after Jerusalem and Rome, and it is certainly the most important Christian pilgrimage in the sense of a holy destination reached after a long-distance trek.

In the early years of the 9th century, according to tradition, a hermit monk called Pelayo was led by a star to the burial place of St James the Apostle, and his find was confirmed as being the remains of St. James by Todemito, bishop of the most westerly diocese in the Iberian peninsula.   This part of present-day Spain is the region that James chose to come and spread the Word after the death of Christ, and it was to this coast that his remains were brought in 44 A.D. after he was martyrised by Herod Agrippa.  There is no hard evidence that the remains found by Pelayo were indeed the remains of St James the Apostle, but the evidence was sufficient at the time for the Church and the State to give immediate acceptance of the claim.  Perhaps the absence of hard evidence does not matter – the fact remains that there was established at the place a shrine to St James the Apostle, and very soon a pilgrimage to the shrine developed.

The pilgrimage to the shrine developed within the population of Iberia, and then in the year 947 the first foreign pilgrim arrived – he was the Bishop of Puy, who had travelled over the Pyrenees from France.  Between then and the fifteenth century the pilgrimage was busy, and indeed it was at its busiest in the twelfth century.   Imagine, if you can, the conditions that these pilgrims had to endure at that time, and the risks they took.  Long staves, for protection, were part of every pilgrim’s essential equipment, as was a scallop shell displayed on the body, for identification.  (The scallop shell is the emblem of St James, the “logo” of the pilgrimage, and  the French for scallop is “coquille St Jaques”  -  “St James’ shellfish”)  Many of today’s pilgrims keep the tradition going by carrying a stave and displaying a scallop shell.

A pilgrim statuette in nearby Auvillar

I am often asked where the pilgrimage starts.  The simple answer is that there is no starting point – there are feeder routes across Europe, from Ireland in the west to Austria and Poland in the east.  Hence, the pilgrims represent a multi-cultural and a multi-lingual society.  Although the pilgrimage is clearly of Christian origin, there are many people who are doing it as a classic long-distance walk with no religious connotation.  It is essentially Slow Travel!

As part of the parallel between the pilgrimage and Slow Travel, it is interesting that one of the very first Traveller’s Guide Books was written as a guide to the pilgrimage – the Pilgrim’s Guide “Codex Calextinum was written in the 12th century!

It is interesting to discuss with today’s pilgrims their motives for what they are doing.  I very often hear from people that their motives, their rationale, indeed their whole way of thinking have changed along the way.  There is the classic statement “One’s pilgrimage does not end in Santiago – it begins there”.  Perhaps this is a bit like a luxury cruise on the Saint Louis, in which you have the time and the surroundings to be able to reflect on the world around you.

Two pilgrims pass the barge at Pommevic

Meanwhile, back at Pommevic, the pilgrims can enjoy the fact that they only have 1,200 kilometres left to go!


Thanks, Alasdair!

French Hotel Barge Saint Louis - Barging cruises charters in southwest France

The French hotel barge Saint Louis cruises the beautiful calm waterways of Southwest France, including the historic lands of Aquitaine and Gascony. She does so in "casual luxury", providing the perfect accommodation for up to six guests in three stateroom suites (configured as twins or doubles, as desired). To cruise aboard Saint Louis is to experience peace and tranquillity as one passes through the lush countryside, pretty villages and memorable towns. It also means enjoying delicious French cuisine, prepared with fresh local produce, and savouring local wines and aperitifs. Your hosts, Alasdair and Barbara, together with their friendly and expert crew, will ensure that your holiday or vacation is the ultimate in relaxed pleasure.

AVAILABILITY:
  • Saint Louis, current availability for the remainder of the 2013 season:
    • August 16-22, 2013 : Agen - Montauban
    • August 30 - September 5 : Agen - Castets
    • September 20-26 : Montauban - Agen (optioned)
    • September 27 - October 3 : Agen - Montauban
    • October 3-9 : Montauban - Agen
  • Inquire for the 2014 barging season. It is not too early to book, especially if you have special, specific dates such as your 10th wedding anniversary :)


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SAINT LOUIS 
View Saint Louis' online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

It's not how far nor how fast, it's the pleasure of the journey that keeps people coming back for more.



Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Special Gift for 2012 Barge Cruises, New Bookings

Special Offer: Paradise Connections has a gift for our clients who make a new booking after July 16, 2012 for 2012 barge cruises.


This is the perfect Kindle for travelling as it is small, lightweight, and FREE!
The all-new Kindle - Lighter, smaller, faster:
  • 30% lighter, less than 6 ounces
  • 18% smaller body, same 6" screen size - fits in your pocket
  • Most advanced E Ink display, reads like paper
  • Built in Wi-Fi - get books in 60 seconds
  • Massive book selection, over 800,000 titles are $9.99 or less
  • Borrow Kindle books from your public library
This offer is valid for Paradise Connections clients who make a new booking after July 16, 2012 for 2012 barge cruises, whether a cabin cruise or private charter. One Kindle for each person booked.

Or, if you prefer, we will send you a Kindle Fire (one per cabin).

Many of our barges have special offers to fill in their remaining open dates for the 2012 season. Click here to see our previous post for a list of barges with discounted rates.

We hope you'll be able to take advantage of this special offer from us at Paradise Connections. We love our Kindles...

Enjoy!


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your barging holiday
For more information on our barges and barging, visit our website : www.BargeCharters.com
 


Monday, October 22, 2007

Books on the French Canals

Here are some books about the canals of France... Patience while it loads :)




Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Books - Barging and French Canals

Book - Through the French Canals Through the French Canals (Paperback)
by David Jefferson

Book Description
Through the French Canals has probably tempted more people to explore the beautiful waterways of France than any other publication. Now in its ninth edition, this comprehensive guide includes new photographs and practical information on local facilities, distances, heights and depths. It will be invaluable to anyone planning a cruise on the French waterways or a passage from the English Channel through to the Mediterranean. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book - Barging in Burgundy France Barging in Burgundy: Boating, Exploring, Wining, & Dining (Capital Travels) (Paperback)
by Erasmus H. Kloman

Review
"Erasmus Kloman and his wife, Sue, travel to France every year. This is really a how-to book, punctuated with anecdotes from his family trip - with teenagers! Along the way in his descriptions of the villages and places they pass he gives the history of the area and as mentioned before sprinkles in a few recipes that are specialities of the region. What struck me as I read the book - yes I'm ashamed to say it - it almost sounds like too much work! As I reflected on my fading fantasy, I realized that most accounts I'd read so far had been trips on what Mr. Kloman calls "hotel barges", rather than his chosen method of "bare barge". So, I remembered that what is important, even more so on a barge, is the journey, not the destination and the fantasy is returning.

Book - Inland Waterways of France - Cruising the canals and rivers of EuropeInland Waterways of France: Cruising the canals and rivers of Europe, on your own Dutch barge or canal boat [DOWNLOAD: PDF] (Digital)

Book Description

Traveling on the canals and rivers of Europe aboard your own vessel is an ideal way to visit as as many as 14 countries and experience their culture and customs of life. Cities, villages and the countryside are often very accessible by natural or man-made waterways.
Cruisers can travel at their own speed and on their own route, stopping almost anywhere to spend a night or a week. You can bring your own affordable hotel right into the center of many major cities, or find a secluded anchorage amidst peaceful surroundings. You can rent one of several thousand boats available for holiday cruises, or find a barge or a canal cruiser of your own. EuroCanals Guides offer detailed information and comments to help narrow down the many choices of where to go and how to do it.

Book - through Europe at four knots European French canals Through Europe at Four Knots: A Tale of Boating Mayhem and Family Adventure (Hardcover)
by Les Horn

Book Description
In 1990, teacher Les Horn had a brainstorm: why not navigate Europe's inland waterways, from England to Greece, in a small sailboat? Much to his surprise, he sold his wife and preteen son and daughter on the idea, and the following summer, installed in their 24-foot fixer-upper, Alea , the Horns set sail on the family odyssey chronicled in this amusing, satisfying tale. Traveling at a snail's pace, foraging for provisions, and propelled more by British pluck than by their temperamental outboard motor, the Horns eventually made it to the Aegean, but not without their share of uproarious misadventures in France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Combining a wry sense of humor with a journalist's eye for the telling detail, Les Horn weaves a shrewdly funny family farce within a delightfully engaging travelogue packed with vivid observations of Europe's variegated landscape, history, and people. A rousing good read for both actual and armchair sailors, travelers, and adventurers.

Book - The European Waterways The European Waterways: A User's Guide (Paperback)
by Marian Martin

Book Description
Anyone who admits to a sense of confusion when confronted with the bewildering array of European waterway signs, signals, rules and regulations will find this book a blessing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book - Cruising French Waterways - Canals Cruising French Waterways (Paperback)
by Hugh McKnight

Book Description
This beautifully photographed handbook covers historical sites and scenic attractions, as well as shore facilities, repair yards, and much more. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Midwest Book Review
Now in this updated and expanded fourth edition, Hugh McKnight continues to draw upon his nearly four decades of experience and undeniable expertise in making Cruising French Waterways an essential reference and guidebook for anyone wanting to sail or motorboat along one of France's 5000 miles of waterways. Extensive descriptions of scenery and historic locales make Cruising French Waterways as ideal for armchair travelers as it is for vacationers whetting their anticipation for what to expect. Black-and-white and color photographs offer a glimpse of the ancient wonders waiting to be discovered. Packed with detail cover to cover, Cruising French Waterways spares no effort to explore the depth and beauty of the scenic French countryside.

Book - Culinary Journey in Gascony - Cookbook French Canals A Culinary Journey in Gascony: Recipes and Stories from My French Canal Boat (Paperback)
by Kate Ratliffe

From Publishers Weekly
Ratliffe offers readers an armchair culinary journey on her 80-year-old Dutch barge, the Julia Hoyt, her "one-table restaurant and two-room hotel,'' as it traverses 88 kilometers, 21 locks, 19 villages and six courses along the Garonne River in southwestern France. After aperitifs and olives come such simple delights as Garlic Soup and Two-Celery Soup. In true French fashion, an entree comes next, an opener such as Grilled Ham with Figs, Wild Mushroom Pie or Salad with Sauteed Fresh Foie Gras. The main course might be Roast Pork Stuffed with Prunes and Shallots, Braised Beef in the Gascon Style or Pan-Grilled Stuffed Trout. Following French custom, a separate vegetable dish comes next, designed to contrast with the main course: for example, a celery root puree after a garlicky roast guinea fowl. Desserts are simple: Summer Fruit Custard Tart, Two-Peach Gratin, Goat Cheese with Armagnac and Honey. Fashioned for preparation in a small galley-kitchen, the recipes are classic ones, often accompanied by a little truc (trick or personal touch) such as adding bittersweet chocolate to a stew. Recipes, maps, photographs and essays on local products and people combine to create almost the satisfaction of being aboard the Julia Hoyt on her leisurely course.

Book - Watersteps through France - Camargue by Canal Watersteps Through France: To the Camargue by Canal (Paperback)
by Bill Cooper, Laurel Cooper

Book Description
When Bill and Laurel Cooper decided to spend the winter in the South of France, they took their seaworthy but half finished Dutch barge Hosanna by an "overland" route throguh the canals and rivers of France. Along the way, they passed through a number of out-of-the-way places, made a wonderful variety of friends and had a great many adventures.

Book - Floating through France - Canal du Midi Barging Barges Floating Through France: Life Between Locks on the Canal du Midi (Travelers' Tales Guides) (Paperback)
by Barbara J. Euser (Editor)

Book Description
Many tourists' trips to France are dominated by that country's cosmopolitan capital; Floating Through France reveals a rural side of France that is seen less often, but is just as compelling as Paris's urban excitement. The essays in this collection explore the areas surrounding the unique, picturesque Canal du Midi. The oldest functioning canal in Europe, the Canal du Midi started out as a shortcut for bustling commerce in the 17th century and is now a United Nations World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful, evocative features of the French countryside. Featuring essays from notables such as Linda Watanabe McFerrin, Larry Habegger, and Joanna Biggar, as well as up-and-comers, and poetry and photo-sketches, Floating Through France is perfect for those traveling to France or those who just want to feel like they're there.