One of the most delightful things about living in London- is that the rest of Europe is only a few hours away. I recently went to the champagne area of France with a friend. We drove to the "CHUNNEL"- and our car was driven onto a train of sorts which took us under the English channel . Amazing! Only about an hour. Then from there we drove 2hours to Reims. Reims is a good-size city-but the surrounding area is filled with vineyards for champagne. So we spent the next day and a half driving round the countryside.It was cold, wet and rather bleak as the vineyards barren now- but you could just imagine them in the summer- would be gorgeous countryside.We drove thru little villages that appeared abandoned- but charming.People close up from 12- 3 there for midday meal and I think a short siesta. The French we met were charming and lovely to us. One man in a restaurant really didn't speak English- but kept looking up words on his computer to try to carry on a conversation with my companion about English football teams.Pretty funny.
We also met a young man serving in an Irish pub (though no Irish there) -- I asked him how to say F**K in French (one must know these things:) and he said that was his name-- Foque. Poor guy. But he was really sweet and we went back the next nite.Never did get the French translation.
Unfortunately, we didn't have our act together enough to actually reserve for a tour of any of the champagne houses- (though the ones in Reims were massive and gorgeous- there were several wide avenues that house them one after the other.). Did get in a couple tastings and got to see just the main reception area of one big one.
The other big adventure was going to a fancy gourmet restaurant. Of course, with my "taste disorder" and the items that I could translate from the menu- I was sure I'd have to go without supper. Almost everything was either the head or entrail of something. Agh!And they actually WERE serving steak tartare--- piles of RAW hamburger it appeared-- But after some frustrating negotiation and language issues-they gave up on me ordering from the menu and made me- I think- a special dish-- simple duck and potatoes. Very good.
I would love to go back in the summer and do the house tours and see it again. And it was great just being in a car and DRIVING aimlessly in the country.And again- fabulous to be in a totally different culture in just a few hours.
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