Grand Hotel De L'Europe Reims

... a hot pocket. It was very good, albeit messy; and went great with the Bordeaux that we had been trying. All in all, the Champage region treated us very well. But alas, our wine days are over. Now it is off to Paris to drop off the car and get back to the hostel living, metro taking, sight seeing routine. But at least we'll be doing it with some good wine for dinner. Here's hoping the rain that plagued us all week decides to take a break!

... touch to the gothic structure that somehow seemed to fit. The cathedral was also the site where Clovis was baptized as the first king of the Francs, thus determining the country&#8217;s religion, and it was the coronation site for French kings including Charles VII in 1429. He was led to the cathedral by Joan of Arc, who encouraged him to rebel against English rule of France, marking the beginning of the end of the Hundred Years&#8217; War.<br><br>The city ...

... this stuff. And I doubt you have to be an architecture nerd to appreciate it, either. I still can&#8217;t wrap my head around how the master builders were able to construct these buildings without TI-89 Titaniums or at least computers! After sketching a few views of this building, it was back on the bus to head to our last destination of the day, the landmark building of&#8230;our hostel.

... pavers and building blocks for the city but after mining was completed Mr. Pommery and a colleague bought the land when it was discovered that the 98' deep caves were ideal for aging wine. It can get as cold a 3 degrees in the winter and no warmer than 18 in the summer. While we were visiting it was reportedly around 10 degrees. The tour guide spoke with an accent and rather quickly so most of my information came from Caroline since she apparently is a much ...

... generally does not come cooked. So a little disappointing especially as the middle was a bit cold - yuk.<br><br>It was then off to explore the city and of course see how champagne is made. I did find it bizarre that a lot of the bigger Champagne house were in the main city as I had expected it to be like most of the wine farms surrounded by vineyards, but here we were in a city walking around unknowingly at first above some of the most ...

This morning after breakfast we finished packing our bags and ordered a taxi. Our driver spoke not a word of English so in very poor French I told her we were going to pick up our rental car and showed her the address.<br><br>More than half an hour later was quite clear that we were lost. I translated the directions from the rental company to our driver and she did eventually get us there, after ...

... 4:30 by now, we had no problem joining a tour (in English) that was just starting; it was 14 euros each though! We had a very knowledgeable guide (with a name sounding like See You) who took us through the cellars and explained the process for making champagne. The statistics at Moet were amazing, starting with 120,000,000 bottles quietly ageing in the kilometres of "caves". We finished the tour with the standard ...

... descended upon us.  It turns out that even though I received a receipt in the mail stating that I could pick up my bank card, I actually wouldn't be able to receive it until the bank processed my receipt that I received for my appoinment to start the application process for my second visa...ahhh outwitted again!!!  But I will get you next time, French bureaucracy, next time!!!

... we returned to the train station to watch a couple of trains come and go and I promise them that we will go on a train soon. We return home, the afternoon having been as much an adventure for me as it was for the kids (perhaps even more so). PS Second Champagne purchase today - half bottle of Mumm (NV) Euro$12.50 - very delicate and a lovely mousse. I scoffed 2 glasses this evening. Will buy this one again. Also purchased an Alcasian Riesling (Euro3.58) and a Rose (Euro4.25).

... that her name was connected with the city firmly. Crossing the royal place , there was the cityhall. But because it was noon, it was closed. How sad I was! Thus, I went to see the old buliding of Roma. It was also closed. What I only could do was going around it to have a picture. After visited the Roma City Gate and a monument for the war , we had to run back to the bus.