A bateau mouche trip that went way beyond the classic

"Bateaux mouches" are boats that show Paris from the Seine or from the Canal Saint-Martin. People sit in rows as a loudspeaker blasts descriptions in different languages.

Not last Sunday, though it did begin in the usual way...

The d'Orsay museum, as a start

... except that you could stand on the bridge, sip wine -- with no loudspeaker !

Canal Saint-Martin

                               

The trip continued in a way that almost never happens. Our hosts were moving their bateau mouche to a new mooring. They had to take a roundabout route because a bridge was under repair. So this was a six-hour trip via a canal that runs through the city's industrialized north.

Ambiance

Owners Pascal Breuil and Anna-Liza Mahilé thought the voyage should be shared. It was a family day...

With an unexpected touch.

In real life, the artiste is a lock-keeper on the canal.

This could have been vulgar. It was in fact funny, and even elegant.

Pascal Breuil

The seagulls were as unexpected as the rest.

Pascal and Anna Liza don't usually do this trip (nobody does). But they do another. But they do trips for groups on Wednesdays and Sundays and receive lunch and dinner guests. When weather permits, Pascal does the cooking on the bridge.

Thanks to Natalie Peugnet for these photos.