2007年7月6日

法國遊

Day 1 - Friday, 1 June

Pick up car, did packing and drove to Holiday Inn at Ashford near  Eurotunnel for a good rest.

Day 2 - Satyrday, 2 June

Took the Eurotunnel to Calais.  20 minute journey.  Rather comfortable. Drove from Calais to Reims.  Saw Cathedral de Reims.  Similar structure to Notre Dame in Paris.  











維修工程正進行,大 剎風景。




 Drove on to the Champaigne Region.  Had no luck with our wine-tasting pursuit; as we arrived around noon, no body seemed to be working during lunch hours in France! 


Checked into Royal Champaigne, a very pretty little hotel sitting at the top of the hill overlooking the valley of vineyards.



 


 貴係貴啲,但剩係啲景已經值啦。
 
食埋個法國大餐,不能不同意法國人
真係識嘆!




Day 3 - Sunday, 1 June

Drove to Bougogne (Burgundy).  Didn't think there would be much wine-tasting, as the French did not seem to work on Sundays !  Most vineyard were not open.  The few that were are too enthusiastic.  So we decided to leave it till better days.

Stopped by a pretty lake Lac d'Orient in the Parc Naturel de la Foret d'Orient in Aube en Champaigne.  While having some snacks there, noticed that even the roadside kiosks served Champaigne!




Checked in later in the day into Chateau de Gilly, a castle turned hotel.  Full of characters.  Rooms over-looking beautiful gardens.  The walls of the rooms were unbelievably thick.














































Found  a shop, La Grande Cave, nearby and tasted two very nice reds.  Bought two bottles for drinking the following day.






 




Day 4 - Monday, 4 June

Drove to Chamonix.  Revisit this beautiful skiing and holiday resort at the foot of Mont Blanc from Day 4 to Day 13.  Covered in another Blog.


Day 14 - Thursday, 14 June

Set off for Beaune.  Set off for Beaune.  Saw La Roche en route.


 


 





Went through Pouilly Fussie.  Had a few tastings.  Real good wine.  Couldn't resist buying a few more bottles.


Had lunch at a roadside restaurant.  The prices were very reasonable.  Here in the small villages, one could appreciate how the French take their time to eat and enjoy their food.


Chateau de Meursault



俾20歐羅入場費參觀酒莊,可試10種名酒,兼得酒杯一隻留念,簡直超值!

美酒當前, 忍唔住又買現貨,又定上一年的靚酒,下年便有借口再唻啦,要提貨嗎。
          
 


Beaune :  A very pretty ancient city.  Lots of historic buildings.  Worth making another visit.   Stayed at the Le Cep.


Day 15 - Friday, 15 June

Went to Moet Chandon, one of Louis Vuitton wineries.




Its cellars made up of 28 km of wine storage tunnel and could hold up to 8 million bottles.  Through the contact of a good friend, got VIP treatment and had some really nice champaignes.   
The friend advised us not to buy there at tourist prices!












Was take to the missionary where Champaigne was created.




 




 Paid respect to Dom Perrie Perrignon, father of Champaigne, the monk who created Champaigne and improved it.
















The missionary was situated in an estate now owned by  the LV boss as one of his holiday homes and was not open to the public.  So a surprise treat.









Checked into Chateau de Fere in the evening, another magnificent hotel a bit out in the country with exceptionally beautiful view.  Full of period characters.  It should be a place to spent a couple of days








Day 16 - Friday, 16 June

Set off for Calais.  More wine shopping before heading back to England.