To my surprise, a small digital display asked me to make my selection, but then informed me that one beer was being charged to my room as I picked it up. Right after that began a countdown from 30, which was amount of seconds I had until transaction was official. Quickly I put beer back in its place. The menu stopped counting down and read "item replaced." Interestingly enough, there also were sensors on snack tray and candy bars. After reading further instructions, I learned I could lock refrigerator with a personal code so no one could have snacks and drinks billed to my room.

Now intrigued by what other types of fancy gadgets I would find in this room, I walked to living room. Opposite a nicely decorated couch and end tables was a television with a few remote-control looking devices. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that there was a wireless keyboard, Nintendo 64 controller and TV remote. The next 30 minutes or so were spent playing with all options on television. I learned how to order movies, any of nine Nintendo games and even how to check out of room through television when I was ready. After sending an e-mail to a friend of mine through television, I continued my exploration.

On kitchen table was a dish of Italian candies that were extremely tasty. I popped one in my mouth while opening curtains to reveal my view out window. Being 12 floors up, I had an amazing bird's eye view of absolutely nothing. I was staring directly over a parking lot at side of a large hill. I didn't expect to see much though given that surroundings weren't terribly exciting. I decided to keep curtains closed so I could pretend I was in Las Vegas.

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Josh edelson, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Monday morning, about "tenish", La Belle Époque glides gently away from Auxerre waterfront. Before week is ended, we will travel through 31 locks to town of Clamecy. Barge speed is limited to 3 mph on canals and 10 mph on rivers.

Soon we reach our first écluse or lock. La Belle Époque slides into a chamber to rest while a set of gates at each end closes so that water level can be raised or lowered. Potted flowers and a picturesque stone house indicate where éclusier (lock keeper) lives. At Captain Lee's call he comes out to manage gates. Timing is important, however. If we arrive while éclusier is at lunch we will just have to wait. The French take their dejeuner very seriously.

In France there are over 2,700 miles of inland waterways including a 750-mile network of connecting canals. Many locks are hundreds of years old. Most canals were built in 19th century, but some are two centuries older. Because canal barges were originally horse drawn, poplar trees were planted along way to protect horses from sun.

The Canal du Nivernais passes through western Burgundy, crossing Yonne Valley and sometimes merging with Yonne River itself. It was originally built to transport wood from Morvan forests to meet firewood demands of Paris. This wood trade was main source of income for this area until 1920s. The canal saw last of its merchant traffic in 1970s.

As we glide by a rolling patchwork of green hills and picturesque vineyards, lunch is served: quails in crème fraîche sauce, tuna pasta salad, caprisi salad, fruits, a white Savignon St-Bris and a red Chitry. There are two kinds of cheese with exotic names—Delice de Bourgogne and St. Mair de Tourraine.

After lunch there is another lock, and while barge rests we pile into European Waterways' minivan. Nick takes us to St-Bris le Vineux, a little wine village above a network of medieval passages. At stone farmhouse (complete with satellite TV dish) of Monsieur Bersan, we descend into an ancient cave for a wine-tasting. The cool air is strongly scented with damp, wet wood and thriving mold. Everywhere there is a flat surface, wine bottles lay in horizontal slumber.

"This is only place in Burgundy

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Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com