Champagne - Day 1

This is the posting for 10/9, Sunday.

Sunday morning we took a taxi from the hotel to the Gare de l‘Est for our trip to Reims.  Sharon was a little sad leaving the city.  Sunday morning in Paris and the streets were quiet.  Tried to take some last photos out the windows of the taxi, but not much luck.  Had café and pain au chocolat at the train station for  breakfast.  It was a fast train, so we were in Reims by 11:30 am.  The Grand Hotel Continental was only a 5-minute walk from the train station, so that was great.

I was not feeling well, so the rest of group left me and the luggage at the hotel and set out to explore the streets.  There was some kind of running event going on and there was lots of activity in the Place Drouet d’Erlon.  Bonnie, Steve and Sharon made their way to the cathedral and it did not disappoint.  The facade was under renovation, but the interior was amazing.  Some very cool stained glass windows by Marc Chagall.  The cathedral has an interesting history.  Too much detail for this blog.  26 French kings were crowned there.

After the cathedral, they made their way back to Place Drouet d’Erlon for lunch at Micro Brasserie les 3 Brasseurs.  A French take on pizza and beer tasting.  It was great!  After lunch our rooms were ready and Steve was ready for a nap.  Bonnie and Sharon were on their own to take the 15 minute walk to visit the champagne caves at Mumm.  They had a 2:30 tour reservation and they barely made it!  It was a great tour and they enjoyed a special cuvee tasting at the end.  Sharon and Bonnie walked back through the park and saw the Porte de Mars, an entry gate to the city that was built in Roman times to celebrate the Pax Romana.  Also passed by a memorial to soldiers of WWII.  There is so much history here.

Bonnie and Sharon had decided to meet for supper about 7:00, but I was still not feeling well and Bonnie could not roust Steve; so, Bonnie and I headed out to l’Edito for a French take on pasta.  They gave them a menu in French, but Sharon finally asked the waiter, “Parle vous l’Anglaise?”,  and it was much easier after that.  They shared a salad of tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto.  Bonnie had a risotto and Sharon had a macaroni Bolognese.  It was all very good.  They also shared two half bottles of a Sancerre.


The train station in Reims.

And just a short walk across the road to our hotel.

Some of the sights and activity on the streets.

First view of the cathedral.

Back to Place Drouet d’Erlon for lunch at Micro Brasserie les 3 Brasseurs

After lunch, Bonnie and Sharon set off to their tour at Mumm.

They were a little late so they had to quick step to catch the tour.

The tour guide is talking about the 3 types of grapes that are used in making champagne.

Then a visit to the caves where the champagne is aged.

Examples of the different sizes their champagne can come in.

Riddling racks for moving the sediments to the bottle neck.

Sharon referred to this as the library.  Different years of champagne that are used for reference.

Collection of old champagne making equipment.

Tour ends up where else, but the tasting room.
Sharon and Bonnie were the only ones tasting cuvee.  Can you spot the glasses?

Notice how the she is holding the bottle to pour.

Some of the art work inside.

On the walk back, Sharon and Bonnie took pictures of one of the remaining city gates.

Sharon and Bonnie had dinner at the l’Edito for a French take on pasta

A great day for those (Sharon and Bonnie) who had the energy.  Number of miles for the day was about 5.2.