Best Western Henry Ii Hotel Beaune

... really got what, but it all tasted good.<br><br>Our trip to Burgundy would not be complete without a stop in Nuit-St. George, where we again employed the "look for the sign of whoever is open" tactic and were not dissapointed. We got to try some excellent Pinot, C******nay, and even some Aligote (a white that they mix with Creme de Cassis for an aperitif) from some of the local producers. <br>Now its up to Champagne!

... easily but finding parking made us take one too many turns around the first wine hall which made me eager to get out of the car. It was only 10:30am so we had to wait 30 minutes until the next tour. Finally we we paid and were handed fancy wine glasses with the emblem of the place engraved (we tried to keep them but we weren't allowed). Angela's mom picked this as stop number one because it was advertised as a learning experience and not just a drinking experience. The ...

... platform until 15 minutes before and my train was very long, it took almost five minites to get to the last carriage. It was the secnd TGV train I have been on (the first was from Luxembourg to Paris. They are the fastest trains in the world. I have been told that the most recent trial had the train travelling faster than a plane (however the rails couldn't handle it). <br>From Paris to Dijon it only tok an hour and a half, the Ice trains in Germany would have taken at least ...

... Cube' we had left Belgium for ran out, leaving us with a fridge only functional when on the move. This time we had a much longer drive to France than previously -some 350 miles. Off we set, stopping on route at Frankenberg/Eder and Thalfang, reaching Clermont-En-Argonne (49.07'15"N 5.02'13.8"E). For 5eu on a spotlessly clean aire we have electricity for 24hrs, as muc water as we want, toilets and showers. The only drawback being no cafe/bar within ...

... The Hotel Dieu had two wards, one for the poor with small beds made for two, and the other for the rich with larger beds and "skylights" in the draperies so they could admire the ceiling art. The Pauper's Ward had a large chapel so patients could pray and prepare for death. The patients in the rich man's ward were more likely to survive and therefore had no chapel to repent. Both ward were served by an ...

The journey from Dunkirk went well. Soon we were on the A25 to Lille and soon enough after on the A26 to Reims; the miles smoothed away. We stopped occasionally at services - which the French do better than anyone else - and came off the motorway for a short while at Chalons en Champagne to fill up more cheaply. This little excursion was made especially interesting by a brief attempt on my part to drive on the left - it ...

... headwinds continue. It doesn't sound like much but as I normally cycle at about 10 mph its twice as much effort to make average progress. So today has also been a useful rest day while still making progress. I don't intend to do it routinely; if hotels were cheaper it would be different. Anyway the countryside was pretty; Much bigger rolling hills and vineyards more common. Also the bare trees were bowing to the wind. Getting off the train was quite simple ...

... barrels with a different wine on it uncorked and ready to sample. They also had incredibly knowledgeable attendants throughout the caves to answer any questions or give a brief history of the region and its pride and joy. We considered it all educational as we are just starting or tour of the Burgundy and Alsace wine regions in France. We only want to be prepared you know... Off to Dijon for a little mustard... and more wine of course.

... normal rate as the harvest was now over and we were entering the early part of the off-season. It was 8:30 when I checked-in. The woman at the front desk told me the restaurant would quit seating at 9:00 but, she could call over to let them know that I was coming if I liked. I thanked her and headed upstairs to quickly drop my bags, splash a little water on my face and change shirts. I was famished and did not want to miss out on this restaurant. I hurried next door to secure my ...

... of things. We had a great lunch accompanied by Premier Crus of Chassagne and Puligny Montrachet and Corton Charlamagne Grand Cru from 2000 through 2003. One of the photos is a wine press from the 11th century use by the monks who really established wine commerce in this area. The photo does not convey the massive size of this press. We have a few more days in Beaune and then off to Paris. Take care all, Tom & Lynda