Barge Hotel Emma

07/08/2020

Well it is the end of an era for René and me. After 20 glorious and happy years aboard Emma we have finally handed over the reins to our successors. We wish them every success in the future and in spite of these dark days in the tourist industry, there are bright years ahead. For those of you have cruised with us , a big thank you and keep spreading the word. Emma cruises on but under a different name "Black Mountain" and a new crew , Arnaud, Lydie and Joel. What a great life.

11/08/2019

The locks at Fonserrannes are always dramatic.

06/08/2019

In spite of the heat wave Emma's flowers are blooming.

05/08/2019

Whoopee. Back in the water we go. A wee night in Frontignan where my life in France started 26 years ago . A little well deserved glass of wine to celebrate. Love my life.

05/08/2019

Last day in ship yard. Painting all done. Isn't she lovely.

30/07/2019

Oops. Our neighbor in the shipyard had a bit of a slip and broke in 2.

29/07/2019

Cruising into Sete for a week in the shipyard. Feel right at home.

08/07/2019

18/08/2018

Well the summer holiday is almost over and back cruising next Saturday. For the first time I got enough figs from my own tree to make Fig, ginger and lime jam. Really good. Guests are in for a treat.

24/07/2018

Forgot to put the photo with my blurb so here it is . Look at the heat haze in the distance. Too dry for mushrooms.

24/07/2018

After the heat of the Canal du Midi we are enjoying a cool break up in the Cevennes. Gorgeous scenery and no crowds. Could life be any better?

03/07/2018

Well the first half of the season is over. Started off with thunderstorms and finished in a heatwave. Now off up the mountains in the camper van for a bit of chill and no barges in sight. Life is soooo good.

09/05/2018

For all the lovers of Roquefort.

24/04/2018

Spring has definitely arrived in my part of the world.

21/04/2018

One of the greatest French Chefs.

18/04/2018

Our beautiful region.

04/04/2018

All our guests will remember getting the cheese cutting lesson. Although We always said not to cut the point off the Brie but to angle it.

23/01/2018

Another of the lovely visits we do on the barge. this one is a hidden gem down in the Corbières. Very arty farty.

Classée parmi les « Plus Beaux Villages de France », la cité médiévale de Lagrasse se love au fond de la vallée de l’Orbieu, sur la route sinueuse des Corbiè...

16/01/2018

18 years ago we started our trip south with the lovely old barge we had just bought at St Mammes. It was freezing cold, the deck was an ice rink, I thought I would die if I slipped and fell in the canal and the barge was an empty shell. When we got down to Agde, everyone looked at our barge and thought " luxury hotel ha ha ha" Now all these years have passed and "Emma" is beautiful, has given us many years of pleasure, allowed us to meet the most amazing people who have become lifelong friends and allowed René and me to really work at what we love to do most. The best 18 years of my life. Thank you Thank you Thank you. We are very lucky.

24/12/2017

He is so right.

22/12/2017

I know how he feels some times.

20/12/2017

Christmas greetings to all our friends, colleagues and the wonderful guests we have had all these years cruising on this beautiful canal. We hope 2018 will be the best ever. World peace would be nice, but failing that, may you all be safe and healthy.

15/12/2017

Love Bon Jovi, love the wine.

We warmly welcome in the ranks of the knights of the art de Vivre !
Since 2011 at the initiative of Gérard Bertrand, the Brotherhood of Knights of L’Art de Vivre honors personalities who defend the taste, arts and wine around the world. The 2017 version of the brotherhood

welcomed five outstanding personalities, ardent defenders of wine, whether they were engaged buyers, renowned journalist(Anthony Gismondi, ) or passionate amateurs like the American rock star, Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse.

BTW Good luck for the

10/12/2017

Well now you know what we knew all along.

25/11/2017

This is one of the visits we do on our cruise route. Not bad at all.

18/11/2017

We do great wine tastings on the barge but I dont think we have ever done one quite like this!!!!

16/11/2017

Well the summer is over so we have to wait until next year to cruise again across the Etang de Thau en route for Aigues Mortes. Such a different cruise, flamingoes, white horses and black bulls, the best of what the Camargue has to offer

13/11/2017

Mon chez moi.

This is "Le Canal du Midi" by Sud de France on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

11/11/2017

This year has been very dry and the autumn colours are just amazing on the Canal du Midi. So lucky to have this as my workplace.

08/11/2017

Antonio Carluccio has gone mushrooming in the sky. Such a great character and wonderful chef who loved foraging. Sad news. Look at all those cepes, yummy.