Postcards to Rick Steves |
About Reims
An easy drive (and easier train ride) from Paris, Reims is the capital of the Champagne region. It is at the same time historic (Gothic cathedral, old Champagne caves, Roman gates) and modern (a bustling college town with a happening pedestrian zone).
Reims is best explored on foot. Most sites are within a 15-minute walk of the famous Cathedral; convenient buses and sleek, modern trams whisk you to attractions or cellars on the outskirts of town. To explore the surrounding countryside, however, you'll need a car... or join a tour. WHY CHOOSE A RICK STEVES TOUR? A focus on history, art, and architecture. While you're likely here for the bubbles, what was most surprising is the amount of history in this town that I otherwise would have glanced over. DID YOU KNOW that in Reims... ~ 26 French kings were crowned at the Cathedral? At over 800 years old, this is also where Christianity came to France. Charles VII, led by Joan of Arc, was crowned here, and he subsequently drove the English out of France, ending the Hundred Years' War. ~ Champagne was first bubbled? Considered the finest sparkling wine in the world, Champagne is synonymous with good living. ~ Art Deco replaced medieval architecture in the 1920s after over half of Reims was destroyed during World War I? Take a walking tour and notice the geometric forms, symmetrical patterns, rounded corners, uses of iron, and simple elegance. ~ World War II ended in Europe when the Germans surrendered here in 1945? "Travel is like walking through a door into a new comfort zone. You wean yourself off what is comfortable and familiar, and embrace something new. Usually you end up loving." - Journal entry, June 27, 2014 |
Tour Highlights
~Tour Orientation: all the fun things in store; what we could expect; and what was expected of us.
~'Welcome to France' dinner: three-course meal with Champagne! A wonderful way to further get to know our tour buddies. ~Walking tour of Reims, visiting and learning about its Roman gates; Art Deco architecture; famous market; historic cathedral; vibrant pedestrian-only zone; edible delights; and decadent Champagne. ~Champagne cave tour and tasting at Martel. Learn and see more in the slideshow above! Meeting Our Group
Our group met for a 'Welcome to France' orientation at 5pm at our hotel, the Grand Continental Hotel. I was warmly greeted by fellow tour members earlier that day, assuring me that I would be in good company. This is why I recommend Rick Steves tours: small, friendly groups of people with similar interests in travel and culture. By the end of the night, we had bonded so quickly and so well, it was like we had known each other for years! During tour excursions, dinners, and bus rides, we got to know each other better. Having these wonderful folks on this journey definitely enhanced the trip!
Our tour guide was Daniela Wedel. From the beginning, it was not only evident that we would be in good hands, but that our guide was an expert in all things French. The humor and irony in having a guide who was of German descent, Italian in name, and living in France by choice... was the fact that these teams were competitors during the World Cup! (And as we would soon find out, our bus driver was from Belgium...!) |