When I came to Amiens, I was really eager to fit into the local culture. When I questioned the locals about things I could do to understand the culture better, 7 times out of 10, people would recommend I see and take the boat tour of the Hortillionnage. So a few of us internationals took the day to picnic and then take the ride down the canal. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the tour guide, a nice older man whose family had lived in Amiens for generations. We started out the journey going through a beautiful area that was nicely manicured. From where we were, we could see a cathedral in the distance. The tour guide started by telling us a brief history of Amiens. It was hard to follow at first since I was still getting adjusted to French but after a while I understood everything. About ten minutes into the trip we entered into a wooded area where the trees were very high. It had a very surreal appearance, almost as if I had stepped into a movie set. Once we cleared that part, we came to a clearing where we could clearly see the gardens and different plots of land. 
Some of the gardens were nicer than others but the guide assured us that some of the gardens had recently been harvested. Also, during the trip, the guide gave us a lot of information on the local wildlife and plants. We saw countless number of ducks, fish, birds and, of course, beautiful butterflies. At one point during the trip a cluster of butterflies landed on our boat. It was a very serene moment. Another aspect of the trip that we really enjoyed was seeing some of the locals fishing. They added an authenticity to the entire experience and some would even smile and wave as we went by. We were very quiet at those parts to make sure not to disturb the fish in the water. We also passed many hortillions doing their work. They were very friendly as well and waved. Further on into the the trip, we started to pick up a bit of speed. We passed more hortillions but this time they were in their own canoes, doing some upkeep along the borders of their gardens. The guide explained, that some of the roots went so deep and could only be reached out in the water. 
The whole experience was a very reflective time for me. Nature usually has the affect on people but I had never experienced something like that. The guide told us that all of the locals have done this tour at least twice and that you couldn't truly consider yourself a Picardie resident unless you had traveled to Amiens to witness the floating gardens.I have done it the mandatory two times and I would love to go again before I leave but this time I would like to go by foot or bike. The guide recommended we come as often as possible, and use different methods because each time was a new discovery of something overlooked the last time. I totally agree with his assessment and can't wait to go back. ♥
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