Two Rivers, Two Countries and a Sea

Just returned from a week spent on a luxury French cruise boat sailing along the southern coast of Spain, across the Bay of Cadiz and up a lazy river in Portugal .

As well as two, rivers, two countries and a sea we visited Seville, Jerez, Cadiz and Cordoba - four beautiful Spanish cities. Not the Spain of resorts, hotels, apartments but the historical Spain with it's culture still intact.

This was a holiday of indulgence as although we disembarked every day to visit Sherry plantations, Mosques, Jewish quarters, eat tapas, drink San Miguel beers. all the trips were leisurely and we returned to the boat by lunchtime and time to sit on the upper deck in the sunshine to read, sleep before another sherry before dinner. And the food! Let me tell and show you that.

The food was amazing. French cooking at it's very best. The team of chefs presented the sort of meals I would expect in an expensive restaurant and not on a river boat catering for one hundred and eighty passengers - twenty three Britains and one hundred and fifty seven French. If it's good enough for the French than certainly good enough for us.

Fresh ingredients and a light touch with the cooking made it possible for us to eat lunches and dinners of such high quality that we were never over full and returned home without putting on an ounce of weight.

The cabins were the size of small hotel bedrooms with comfortable full size beds and no bunks, plenty of wardrobe space and excellent air-conditioning. I even managed the shower with no distress as I hate showers but it worked for me this time as they were well designed. There was a piano bar and large lounges plus gorgeous sun decks to watch the world pass by as we sailed along the gentle waters.

Seem to have uploaded two meringues - but I didn't eat two of them even though I could have done. But it wasn't all about food. The boat is brand new and the best river vessel we've ever sailed on and shall use this French company again. I think I'm in Portugal on this photo as the sun was going down and we were about to return to the boat for dinner after a stroll around a pretty Portugese village on the river.

A smashing week away and recommended to anyone who needs a rest and not dashing around all over the place on more strenuous tours. This is the link for the French cruise company called Croiseurope. It's all in French with a bit of English but I was promised they have English brochures. We booked through Voyages Jules Verne. The price includes all meals, travel and transfers and some tours. Doesn't include insurance and the optional tours or of course drinks on board. They are building a new boat ready to cruise on the River Thames next year! Wow!