2015.05.05 Morning Run in Reims (Reims, France)

Sube Fountain

Random pretty flowers by the sidewalk. 

Porte de Mars

Built by the Romans, dates back to the 3rd or 4th century.  

This guy was the only decorative bust left on the gate. He looks lonely and sad.

Even weeds look better in France.

I'm guess the building was once a stable? Or owned by a horse-lover?

City Hall

Random building

Pretty Art Nouveau Marquee

Place Drouet D'Erlon - Main City Square

2015.05.04 Notre-Dame de Reims (Reims, France)

Since 987 AD and for as long as the French monarchy existed, Notre-Dame de Reims (pronounced "reince" with a heavy nasal tone) has been the traditional coronation site of the French monarchs with only a handful of exceptions.

Most famously in 1429, Joan of Arc won Reims back from the English and led the then-Dauphin to be finally be crowned as Charles VII.

I could only afford a very brief visit before having to rejoin the group, but it was well worth the hassle.

The interior was narrower than I would have guessed, especially considering the fact that it was used for grand coronation ceremonies. To think of all the French kings who once walked down the same aisle gave me chills.

Part of the front facade was under renovations, along with the main rose window over the front portal (Drats!)

One of things I found unique about this church was that not all of its stained glass windows adhere to the medieval aesthetics, such as the more contemporary windows pictured on the right.

... and these windows designed by the famous painter Marc Chagall.

Fun facts from the cathedral's wikipedia page: 

1) A labyrinth design once existed on the church floor from medieval times. The design has now been adapted by French Historical Monuments as their logo.

2) During the WWI, the church caught on fire and molten lead from the roof poured out of the gargoyles' mouths (seriously!?)

Joan of Arc

The outer facade.

Compared with the Notre-Dame in Paris, the gargoyles here are far more animal-like. Not going to lie, it was somewhat spooky having them looking down at us, as if ready to come alive at any moment.

The weather was pretty dreary but really amplified the Gothic feel of the entire building. 

Magnificent!

2015.05.04 Taittinger Champagne Caves (Reims, France)

Like the flower auction, visiting a champagne house was something I would have never planned for myself. But it turned out to be a great and unique experience. 

There are quite a few champagne houses in and around the city of Reims. The one we chose to visit was the Taittinger champagne house, built on top of the ruins of Abbey Saint-Nicaise, which dates back to the 13th century.

A short introduction video later, we were led deep underground, into chalk caves where rows upon rows of champagnes were stored and awaiting maturation.

According to the plaque, Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, visited the abbey. Story goes that he was found passed out drunk the next morning in the caves.

Everywhere you looked, there were racks of champagnes waiting to be turned. 

And a maze of side-caves and tunnels, to which there were no rhyme or reason. 

Every now and then, we encountered a wall of champagne bottles, some ten-twenty deep.

That is A LOT of champagne.

The original stairs leading up to the now defunct abbey.

Fun Trivia: Did you know that champagne can come in a range of sizes? 

From the Demi (1/2 bottle) to Sovereign (35 bottles), and everything in between. Most of the larger bottles are named after biblical kings.

The roof of one of the caves.

These chalk caves actually date back far older than the abbey's 13th century. They are what remains of Roman chalk quarries. The pyramidal shape of the roof and the surface scratch marks were techniques applied to reduce chances of cave-ins.

During the world wars, these caves were used as shelters. So carving doodles, like the horse below, were left all over the walls as people waited for the air raids to be over.

Haha, you know I had to.

It wouldn't have been a proper visit without some champagne tasting, or so I was told.

We tried 4-5 different champagnes. And I have to say, they all tasted pretty good to a novice like me. Carbonated grape juice for adults.

Still, my tolerance level for alcohol is still as low as ever. By the end of the tasting round, I was already starting to feel the adverse effects and that was after only a few small sips altogether.

That being said, I'm perfectly happy sacrificing my liver's alcohol metabolism for a more efficient lipid metabolism.

Lunch: Brasserie Flo

Dinner: Brasserie Le Jardin