Off to Reims on the TGV. Didn't get up on time so a very mad dash to the métro station, in the stations and to the train at Gare d'Est. Puffing made it to the train, on time!!!!
Encountered two young Americans in our reserved seats. They had a railpass but didn't know that you had to make a reservation for all TGV trains (cost of 3 Euros per seat per train). Well when the SNCF conductor came by he smiled and told them the penalty for not having a reservation was 40 Euros (20 Euros each!!).
The trip to Reims is now only 45 minutes (with the introduction of the Eastern high speed network in June). Amazingly fast trip, you sit down and then it is time to get off the train!!!
Left Reims station and came upon the town Saturday market. Very interesting seeing the crowds and all the wonderful vegetables, fish, meat, breads, etc. for sale. This is what makes Europe so different and wonderful.
After the market went to the Champagne house that is closest to the train station/center of town: G.H. Mumm. We're lucky we managed to book a tour as they close for a 2 hour lunch break (so civilized). Interesting tour of how champagne was made and is presently made, the fascinating part for me was walking through a part of the 25 miles of underground cellars. Each alley has street name plaques just like in Paris. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and attractive. We talked a bit about where each of us was from and that we were from Canada, but not Québec where everyone speaks French. She voiced the traditional European line, that Québec French is a funny language but not very nice to listen to. At the end of the tour had a champagne tasting. We bought a bottle of the Champagne we liked the best which was silly, as we had to carry it around all day and also some how fit it in our luggage.
On the tour we met a young Kiwi lawyer living and working in Paris (international arbitration). She spent most of her weekends off going on day trips outside of Paris. She was great as we could ask her lots of questions about what is was like for a foreigner to live in Paris (costs, accomodation, etc.). She could compare Paris to New Zealand as well as London as she had lived there also. She said that everything was more expensive in Paris than New Zealand, naturally, but that the Parisians have a higher quality of life than Londoners. We walked and talked with Anita all the way to the Cathedral and then said our goodbyes.
The Cathedral was very impressive, beautiful windows and great carvings on the exterior.
On the way to the Cathedral the town seemed so dead for a Saturday. All of the sidestreets weren't very attractive and were empty. The Cathedral had tourists but not as many as you would think. In the afternoon we found the main shopping street which historically they had tried to be a copy of Paris. Galeries Lafayette and all the major shops are on this street. Bought some French CD's at FNAC. Very busy, but turn a corner and nothing.
To get back had to take a ten minute train to the Champagne-Ardenne TGV staion. Many of the TGV trains do not stop at this station and it was great experiencing the thrill of seeing/hearing/feeling the trains flying through the stations at full speed. It was great seeing the grins on everyones face after the TGV train had gone through!!!
After dinner a Saturday evening walk on the Champs-Elysée. Very crowded but fun!! Went into the FNAC and Virgin stores to look at the French CD's & DVD's. Went into Sephora's again to look at more perfume/cologne. Bought some for Glen. Asked the opinion of the male sales clerk and he said I like this one because it is "FRESH". That one? "Not FRESH".
Finished our walk to Concorde and back to the apartment.
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