Alouette is a Luxemotor barge built in 1910 in Zwartsluis, Holland. She was first used as a cattle transporter, and later as a shrimp fishing boat. In 2002, she was lovingly converted by a British couple into a liveaboard barge. We are her third owners - Randy and Deborah, two Americans from Colorado who escaped corporate life in search of an adventure. After a few years of searching for the right adventure, we discovered the barging life. Having sailed for most of our adult lives, it seemed a perfect fit. We spent another year looking for the right barge and in the summer of 2010 found her in Roanne, France. We've renamed her Alouette - the Lark. And so in her 100th year, together with our two Russian Blue cats, we're shoving off for a life on the canals and rivers of Europe.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

A surprising discovery at a Bistro, continued

We met up with Andrew and Laurel in the plaza, and set out to find a bistro for lunch.  After checking a few menus, we chose a cozy spot.  It was near the end of lunch, and we were seated at a table in the window with an over-the-shoulder people-watching view.  Some time after ordering, probably after the wine arrived, one of us looked up and noticed the painting over the bar.  We sent Randy over to investigate:

Attached to the right side of the picture frame is a door, presumably to quickly cover the picture in case someone is offended.

As Deb giggles, Laurel feigns embarassment, and Andrew raises his glass in a toast!


After lunch, Randy left the table to find the restroom, and discovered that the walls of the place were lined with "fanny" pictures - paintings, ceramics, "naughty" postcards that were so popular in the early 1900's!  And behind our seats, in the window, is a painting of a smiling, benevolent grandma.  Who would know!


 I'm transported back to the moon shot days - dive trips on the Impossible Dream, an evening at the Buckhorn Exchange in Denver - the moon was quite a bit smaller back then!
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1 comment:

  1. GeezerFebruary 2, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    I find it truly unfortunate that you have allowed this informative blog about adventurous barging to devolve into a site for the display of unadulterated pornography. I assure you that your cheeky behavior will be thoroughly investigated and in the end we will get to the bottom of it.

    ReplyDelete

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