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Poetic romance ahoy !
Disconnect yourself from reality and discover
the picturesque Paris of yesteryear, that
of
the "belle époque" and of Yvette Guilbert
and Mistinguett's cheeky humor.
We're going to take you on a wonderfully
sensual cruise !
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Sometime between 2 and 2:30pm your hotel's
reception or the chauffeur himself will
invite you to go out to the four wheeled
surprise awaiting you at the foot of your
building : an adorable 1953 Renault 4CV
!
Once aboard, you'll be
plunged into 1930s Paris as you begin
your tenderly unique escape across the
French capital.
You'll then arrive at
your destination : La Villette Basin.
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As you climb out of the vehicle, an oarsman
will greet you and introduce you to the
extraordinary cruise that he'll have concocted
up for you.
After being handed your
self-inflatable life jackets, you'll be
invited to take your place aboard a charming
motorized rowboat : a Mark II Zodiac romantically
decorated with flower garlands.
Your skipper will untie
the boat from its moor and you'll set
off for a splendid two hour cruise down
the Saint-Martin Canal - a famous source
of inspiration for writers, artists and
films.
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All the way along your romantic tour,
you'll successively cross four double
locks to enable you to descend the eighty
two foot slop which separates you from
the Seine River. Your boat will gently
undulate on the canal when you reach the
first double lock situated close to the
Ledoux Rotunda. Welcome to the Paris that
poets know - the "enchanting Paris" !
You'll cut cross Paris' picturesque old
suburbs as you sailing down this serene
canal lined with hundred year old plane
and chestnut trees, and finely treadled
by romantic Venetian style three-centered
arched footbridges. You'll quite possibly
share the pleasure felt by the walkers
or fishermen who stroll along the banks...
You may like to stop to admire the facade
of a charming retro-styled bistro, or
perhaps quite simply to exchange a kiss
!
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Your boat will slip
under the shade of some maple trees as
you approach another double lock. You'll
then notice a rascally musician on the
footbridge who'll be playing several numbers
on his violin that date back to the belle
époque (Où sont-ils donc, À
Paris dans chaque faubourg, La
complainte de la Butte).
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The little Parisian will spy on you with
cheekily complicity from up on his bridge...
Could this be just a simple coincidence
?
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Your romantic cruise will then continue
on its good-humored course.
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As you cross the third
double lock, that of Récollets, you'll
be surprised by the unexpected presence
of a second musician - an accordionist
wearing a beret and a huge smile across
his face...
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The artist will generously
dedicate his art to you from up above
on the bridge (Comme de bien entendu,
Un mauvais garçon, Quand on
s'promène au bord de l'eau). What
a surprise !
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You'll now be in front of the Hôtel du
Nord and the poetic metallic bridges which
were immortalized on the big screen by
the famous French actors Marcel Carné
and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. You may even catch
a glimpse of a certain Amélie Poulain
trying to skip rocks across the water
of the canal. The waltzing river and its
gentle water will now return to their
peaceful bed, and you'll continue on your
cruise. You'll pass the Grange-aux-Belles
Swing Bridge, and that of the rue Dieu,
which are both true works of art. The
traffic on these bridges will be stopped
for the time it takes you to pass them.
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When you are just about
to pass under another footbridge, you'll
be slightly alarmed to see a third artist
- a garrulous singer of descriptive songs
!
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The artist will sing in a cappella a repertoire
of songs from a crazy era in the past
when Paris was magnificent (Mon homme,
Le grand frisé, C'est un mâle). But
what is the meaning of all of these mysterious,
musical apparitions ?
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The true surprise will be even more incredible
that you'll have previously imagined when
you arrive at the last double lock called
the Temple...
The three musicians that
you'll have encountered along your cruise
will be there, together on the one footbridge,
celebrating in your honor as they play
La romance de Paris followed by
the moving Mon Amant de Saint-Jean
(listen
to the song).
How incredibly prodigious
!
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The boat will come to a standstill and
you'll find yourselves leaning into one
another, as you enjoy the songs' sumptuous
melodies. The singer will then pull a
parchment out from inside her vest and
throw it down to your sweetheart from
the bridge. His/Her eyes will sparkle
as he/she thus discovers... your surprising
declaration of love !
As you listen to the
joyful melody of Y'a d'la joie,
the oarsman will carefully lift out a
magnificent bouquet of flowers from a
box and offer them to your partner.
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In a wave of emotions, your boat will
set off once again and sail into a magically
splendid tunnel. You'll end your romantic
stroll under a mysterious underground
vault.
After handing you both
a fluorescent stick, the skipper will
open up a cooler and pull out a bottle.
The cherry on the cake ? A smooth glass
of champagne that you'll be able to intimately
enjoy under the soft glow of your modern
fireflies and the greenish halos distilled
by several wells of.
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After a half hour journey
through the emerald auroras of the poetic
gallery, you'll reach the Port de l'Arsenal,
where you'll find your chauffeured vehicle
awaiting you. Your love's eternal sweetness
will forever float on the gentle rapids
of the most romantic French canal.
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Price of the experience for
2 people :
3990
euros |
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| The experience
lasts on average for 4 hours, including transport,
with the departure from your hotel or residence
being between 2 and 2:30 pm. |
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Risk of cancellation
due to bad weather conditions : 5 %
If it rains, the zodiac will be equipped with
a protective covered and you'll be offered
waterproof clothes. |
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What's included in the
price of the experience :
The return trip in a Renault 4 CV from your hotel
or residence (Paris/neighboring towns) to the
Saint-Martin Canal and back.
The stroll down the Saint-Martin Canal aboard
a Mark II zodiac with its skipper.
The decorating of the zodiac with flower garlands.
The performances given by three musicians : a
violinist, accordionist and singer.
The vegetal parchment with the message of your
choice beautifully handwritten by a professional
calligrapher (using antique paper and sealed with
wax).
A bouquet of red roses with an apple, a pen, a
plaster cherub and a poem in French.
A bottle of champagne.
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