Today we checked out of our little apartment in Paris and picked up our hire car for the next 22 days of self drive starting from Paris and ending in Amsterdam. We left the apartment and walked to the Eurocar company in the dry and by the time we drove out the other side in the car about 1/2 hour it was raining and it rained for hours. Lesson 1. We picked a nice quiet time to leave Paris and managed with the help of the GPS to get on our way without any drama. Lesson 2.
The narrow streets, driving a manual on the opposite side of the car plus the whole driving on the other side of the road got to Kevin and he managed to clip the edge once too often and wrecked a tyre. It didn't give out on the highway until we got to a Service Station so it was nice and safe to change. Lesson 3. A lovely truck driver from Germany how was having one of his manditory breaks, saw us in distress and came over and literally changed the tyre for us. Less 4. Then he even saw us stop to test the pressure and he walked over and did that for us as well.
We then drove on the Reims a big city and the lovely girl at an information booth understood english well and gave us a map to the local tyre fitting company. Less 5. We managed to get a replacement fitted in quicker time than it took the guys to sort the paper work, even though they did not speak English at all, we walked away with everything replaced, checked etc. I know the computers look after inventory and all sorts but I was fascinated that it took longer to produce the invoice than to change the tyre! Lesson 6.
So enough about that onto what we did today. At Reims we saw the Hotel De Ville (Town Hall).
It is Bastille Day in two days and we think this may have something to do with that. It looked so pretty.
Notre Dame of Reims.
It was absolutely fascinating to see this church as they are actually restoring the sandstone figures etc, the roof and many stained glass windows were destroyed in the WWI and also many of the figures were damaged and many are decaying from age, so they are storing it using ancient methods to keep it authentic. The colour difference makes it stand out a mile though.
Reims has a cleanliness and peacefulness that Paris can not offer, we are really enjoying it.
Such a cute tiny house.
We then drove on to Chalens en Champagne the vineyard area where we are staying tonight and went for walk and saw these amazing houses.
Champagne's Hotel De Ville.
Notre Dame in Champange.
Amazing monuments in the middle of the round abouts.
Eglise Saint Loup Church from 1246.
Wandering home to sleep for another big day tomorrow.
I just love the stained glass windows in the church, the colours are unbelievable. Everything is so old is does my head in and I remember it being such a strange feeling actually walking in the footsteps of so many generations of people and where historic things happened.
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