After a quick sandwich and a tiny rest, we were off to the afternoon boat tour. It was perfect, warm weather, so the museums will just have to wait until the next trip.
First we headed upriver, under the low brick bridge built at the behest of napoleon, who was annoyed at crossing the river by boat. The tide varies by 15 feet or so, and the current is very swift, so we could understand why he would be irritated.
Upriver there are fishing huts like these, not mean for living, but half in and half out of the water, with nets ready to dip into the river for eels or fish.
Downriver there is this more modern bridge that links the port city to the quiet side of the river. The village below had been isolated until the 1960s when this bridge went in. Our guide said that even now not many people stop at the village, so despite being right underneath the bridge, it still has a small town atmosphere.
As we went by, this barge was going upriver, with two sections of the Airbus as cargo. The side of the barge says "AIRBUS on board". Our guide told us to expect a show when we got back to our dock.
The old homes along the old port riverside.
As we got back to our dock, the problem was clear. The barge was pretty tall, the brick bridge was pretty low. The current was pretty stiff, and there was a brisk breeze from the stern.
The barge waited and maneuvered for about an hour as people gathered at the riverside to watch.
The barge would get close, then back off, straighten out and try again.
We got a little bored so switched to checking out the muskrats on the riverback. They had been imported from the US for their fur, but their fur isn't all that good. Now they are just pests. Entertaining, but pests.
The barge.
The muskrat with pizza.
The barge finally goes for it.
Show's over!
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