And on to Reims and Champagne world…

Saturday

After a satisfying breakfast, farewells to our new friends from Normandy and the charismatic Monsieur Maltoff we set off, roof down again 😎 towards Reims, via the Grande rue dear Chablis.

Our journey was uneventful. Chablis itself was very different from the town’s and villages around. It oozes wealth and tourism. We moved from hillsides covered with vines to absolute swathes of open countryside planted with grain, for as far as the eye can see.

We arrived in Reims mid afternoon. Our accommodation was an apartment booked through Air B&B last week and we were both apprehensive about the parking…. some reviewers drove round for over 30 minutes to find a spot, others got parked outside! We fell inbetween!!! Having located a spot a block away when we walked back round there was a space across the street….. needless to say we moved!! We are still unsure though if we can park here during the week…

Having unloaded the car we took a walk to get our bearings. We are less than 10 minutes from the town centre. With the Cathedral, Hotel De Ville and Place Royale

Time for some bubbles… and then a catch up on the laundry, the blog, the wedding and all the other news of the day!

Sunday

We are getting used to everything being closed on Sundays! Had a lazy start then called at a local recommended restaurant to make a reservation. The only time they could accommodate us was noon! That put paid to the walk!!

The recommendation was well made. The food was excellent and the wine, a graves, a Bordeaux, decanted at the table.

Another amble after lunch and just back in time before the skies opened with a thunderstorm! A visit to the tourist office enroute back has informed us that not only is it a holiday tomorrow but the trains are on strike Monday and Tuesday…. that puts paid to taking the train to Epernay….!!!

Some of the sights…

Halles du Boulingrin… A concrete vault only 7cm thick and 19.85m at its height, is the city’s food market.

Porte dear Mars… Behind this scaffolding and tarpaulin is a three arched triumphal gate built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD – apparently!!! It has been undergoing renovations for some time.

The monumental Sube Fountain was erected in 1906. Around its pedestal, the four statues represent the region’s rivers… The Marne, Vesle, Suippe and Aisne. The victory, with it’s bronze wings, was taken by the Germans in 1941, and wasn’t replaced until 1989.

The light and shade water jet fountain further up the street is equally pretty…

And round every corner are Champagne houses…. Some better known than others…

So, having had a delicious meal at lunchtime, it is a quiet evening in, surfing, blogging and, of course, a few hands of Monopoly Deal! Including following the Ulster Rugby match on line!!