We headed back to our cabins which were cozy, light and adorned with beautiful fabrics and wallpaper. The bathrooms are spacious and boast gorgeous tiling. I especially liked the convenience of having sink separate from the bathroom.
After getting settled, we sauntered up to the deck for an afternoon cruise to find afternoon tea and cookies awaiting us! I don’t think there is anything quite as relaxing as enjoying a cup of tea watching the beautiful Burgundy countryside float by. After tea we jumped off at a lock for a bicycle ride and a little exploring.
Chef Sarah wowed us at every meal. Even with severe tooth pain (brought on by an unfortunate abscessed tooth that decided to rear its head on the last leg of our trip) I could not get enough – it was so good it helped dull the pain! The duck breast with balsamic sauce she served as our main the first night melted in my mouth - it was impeccable! Our second night Sarah prepared an amazing pumpkin soup using pumpkins she had purchased on our trip to the Montbard market that morning. I don't think there was ever a spot of food left on either of our plates.
After we visited the Montbard market, Emma took us to the medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois, where she gave us a walking tour and an opportunity to shop in some of the cute stores. (I picked up some black truffle seasoning salt and a fantastic almond apricot jam which is sadly already gone) When we returned Sarah had a delicious lunch of fresh salads, charcuterie, terrines and pates ready for us. After lunch Cedric took us to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontaney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the adorable village of Flavigny where the movie Chocolat was filmed. All too soon it was time for our last dinner on Papillon. Sarah's decadent Molten Chocolate Cake with fresh berries and Creme Anglais was the perfect ending to another amazing meal.
Even though we were only had two nights on Papillon, Sarah, Emma and Cedric made sure that we got the most out of those days. We felt like personal friends that had come to visit. We were very sad to leave come Saturday morning, but happy to have made new friends and wonderful memories aboard Papillon! "
