Engineering:Anjodi
Anjodi is one of around 60 barges of different dimensions that operate as hotel barges on Europe's inland waterways. Some were purpose-built, but most, like Anjodi, were built to carry freight on the waterways of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and converted for their new use.
History
Anjodi is a Luxe motor Dutch steel barge built as a trading barge in Groningen, Netherlands in 1929 and originally carried grain. She was constructed of iron with a high copper content which has contributed to her longevity. She got the name Anjodi in 1963 after the names of the three children of the original owner, Tiemen de Weerd: Andries, Johan and Diana.
Anjodi was purchased by Derek Banks in 1982 from a Dutchman, Fopa de Jong, in Amsterdam.[1][2] She was a retired trading barge and full of old World War II aircraft instruments. The refit in 1982-1983, by European Waterways, made Anjodi one of France's first ever luxury hotel barges.[1] Before making the three-month trip from the Netherlands to the south of France, Anjodi was towed to a shipyard in Belgium where tanks for fresh water, generators, wiring and plumbing were installed and a shell infrastructure of steel was built.[1] She is refurbished on an annual basis and [3] currently operates on the Canal du Midi in southern France .
Hotel barge
Anjodi has four guest bedrooms with private bathrooms and a saloon. Crews' quarters are in the bow and stern.[4] The Anjodi has a crew of four: captain, first mate or matelot/tour guide, chef, and hostess. The captain must have at least two years experience as a first mate and possess a French certificate of competency.[2]
Anjodi was featured in the 10 part BBC Series about Chef Rick Stein’s six week journey from Bordeaux to Marseille aboard the Anjodi on the Canal latéral à la Garonne and Canal du Midi.[5][6] Famous guests who have travelled on the Anjodi include Rod Stewart.
External links
- Directory of hotel barges offering cruises in France
- Anjodi on the owner's website
- Anjodi on french-waterways.com
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fuller-Love, Heidi (February 2005). "French Waterways". Living France.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kay Kritzwiser. "Six slow days on the canal". The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ Hill, Richard (May 1997). "Lost in France". Canal & Riverboat.
- ↑ Deck plan
- ↑ Pritchard (2009). Shooting the cook. FSC AND Harper Colins. ISBN 978-0-00-727830-5.
- ↑ Bowler (2005). Rick Stein's French Odyssey. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-52213-5.
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Anjodi in the Evening
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Anjodi crossing Pont Canal de Cesse
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Anjodi underway
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A room on the Anjodi
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The Anjodi moored for the night.
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Anjodi's main Salon.
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Anjodi moored for lunch in Capestang
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Passengers going through the Fonserannes lock
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Anjodi crossing the aqueduct at pont Canal de la Cesse
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Anjodi at Le Somail
