Some of us had been on previous trips to Antwerp and Paris but some were taking their first short continental break with neighbours and friends from Littleton & Harestock.
There
were 46 of us setting off early
on Thursday 20 April and we reached Clackett Lane in very good time.
Anyone who has travelled by coach to the continent via the channel tunnel will
know this service area just at the start of the journey through Kent. Onto the
train and through the tunnel, we reached our hotel in Reims during the afternoon
giving us all a chance to unpack and have a look around before dinner together.
This was the first of three lively, sociable evenings.
The
next day we had more time in Reims where many of us took the opportunity for
lunch that, not surprisingly given where we were, included some champagne.
We
heard later that one small group had had a bottle of bubbly and a picnic on the
grass outside the magnificent cathedral. The weather was perfect, warm and
sunny. Reims is a beautiful small city with tree lined streets and a large area
of gardens. Some of the cherry trees were in flower and many of the flower beds
were full of colourful displays.
The cathedral is quite magnificent and there are some lovely squares and old streets to wander through and, of course, some excellent shops and restaurants.
In the
afternoon we went for our first tour at the champagne house Piper-Heidsieck.
This involved a steep descent via stone steps until deep under ground we learnt
how champagne is made and stored. We travelled in groups of five through the
tunnels in little ‘carriages’.
Back up
at ground level we enjoyed a glass of champagne before heading for the ‘shop’
and what a shop! Everything in the house colours of red and gold with every
conceivable accessory loosely involved with the serving and drinking of
champagne and all in the best possible taste with nothing remotely tatty or
tacky.
Soon we
were back on the coach, many with distinctive Piper-Heidsieck red and gold
carrier bags, and heading back to our hotel anticipating our next event that was
to be dinner at a nearby chateau. The dress code was ‘smart casual’ and
everyone looked splendid as we sipped champagne together on the terrace of the
chateau,
which had taken us about half an hour to reach, through some lovely
countryside. The next day we had a very pleasant drive through miles and miles
of vineyards with interesting villages en route to Epernay.
We had
a couple of hours here so time for a look round the little town and some lunch
before another tour this time of the champagne house of Mercier where, this
time, we were all on a little ‘train’ together and had the benefit of a guide.
Again champagne
to drink and another wonderful shop, more purchases and more carrier bags to
stash away on the coach. Our last dinner together was back in the hotel and the
following morning we set off for the return journey stopping en route at Laon,
where we saw the cathedral and walked round the ancient streets. We stopped
again near Calais to buy some wine, if we wished, and then it was on through the
tunnel and back to Littleton.
There
were thanks to Gill Thomas, who took over the organisation of the trip that had
been started by Mary Brunt and
thanks too to our driver Phil whose spatial awareness had not been challenged
this year, as it had been last year under that bridge in Paris that many will
remember! As we said our farewells there was talk of where we should go next
year and we all agreed that we had shared a very special time together.
Thanks to Barbara Elsmore for this report