London, United Kingdom – 19-24 September 2016

We pull into London St Pancras 6 minutes late, quite unlike the Eurostar. Need to make sure going forward I'm not sitting backwards as I'm feeling a bit queasy. I'd been through immigration before leaving Paris so just follow the signs to the London Underground. I'm back in London :) 

I'd arranged to meet Kelly at Canary Wharf station where she'll get on the DLR to join me. Northern line to Bank, nice and easy. I have a 2 minute wait for the next tube; there are so many people around so I really hope I get on the first tube! Score, me and my crazy heavy bag are on. Man alive it’s hot in here!! I'd forgotten they don't have a/c on the tube, thank goodness it's not crazy hot outside. 

The change at Bank is rather painful - staircase after staircase, thankfully all downhill! I get the first DLR that comes, which happens to be going in the direction I need. No cell phone reception which I find odd (as we have it in HK) but of course it's always been like this. Within a couple of minutes we're out of a tunnel and into daylight - text sent to Kelly so I'm all set. 
A ticket inspection comes by to check every single persons ticket, wow this is new. I know I scanned my card leaving St Pancras station so no issue there but have NO idea if I needed to do something at Bank Station. When it's my turn I immediately say I'm not sure if I've scanned probably - thankfully all good! 

When we pull into Canary wharf station I scan the platform looking for Kelly, not yet but I'm sure she's there. Buggar you can enter on both sides of this platform so quickly I start to scan the other side. No sign of her but again no big deal. I poke my head out when we stop and can't see her - hopefully she gets on the other side. A man asks if I'm ok; yes thanks good as gold. No Kelly so I go to the next stop and get off. 

3 minutes later I see a smiley Kelly looking out the window - bingo I'm on! We haven't even left the station and I'm being asked again (along with everyone else) for my ticket to be scanned. Wow they are really focusing on this! 

We drop my bags at Kelly's then head out for some dinner. Kelly lives in Greenwich so we wander to one of the main areas. Absolutely wonderful to see her again! And like always there is lots of chat.

Tuesday 20 September, first day back to reality after a good two weeks on holiday.  I wake to Kelly’s alarm going off at 5.30am….15 minutes to it’s my alarm.  It’s still pitch dark outside.  We walk to and around Greenwich Park while Oliver runs around like he’s never been outside before! 

I’m back as a London commuter taking the DLR to Canary Wharf J

At lunchtime I head out to Boots and Tesco – my happy places.  I could spend hours in both places every day.  I’m finding everything so cheap compared with HK. 

We have dinner in Canary Wharf with one of Kelly’s colleagues before heading back to her place.

Wednesday 21 September, we are up early again and head to Greenwich Park for a walk. 

I’m heading to Ange and Aaron’s after work so pack up my stuff then lug my suitcase to the DLR station.  Aah the joys of traveling at rush hour with a suitcase.

Wonderful to see Aaron and meet Seb when I finally get to their place!  Thank goodness I’d left my backpack in the office…meant it was slightly easier walking from the train station to their place. 

Thursday 22 September, my route to work is a tad different – train that goes by a timetable.  All good and well if it sticks to the timetable and isn’t delayed which is today.  Not good when have a meeting to attend, thank goodness for technology to let them know I’ll be very late.

I stop off at Marks and Spencer’s to pick up dinner, now this should be a quick process but alas no.  There is SO much to look at it takes me far too long to work out dinner. 

Friday 23 September, my last day in the London office.  After getting coffee I visit Boots one more time….always something else I can purchase. 

Ange is home at a reasonable time tonight which is great!  We order pizza and have the night in.  Lovely end to the work week.

Saturday 24 September, Ange runs off to her gym for her session and I walk to meet her.  We then go for long walk along the river.  It’s such a beautiful morning, crisp but clear.  Its Seb’s first birthday so we stop off at a shopping centre to pick up a cake.  First we need to look in a few shops.  I could have gone crazy…..but no space…..next time I’m coming with a half empty suitcase. 

Aaron’s parents arrive back from the Lake District mid-morning, perfect timing as I’m leaving today.  We head down to Mortlake shops to pick up a few items for this afternoon…first stop though is a takeaway coffee.

Late afternoon we have a wee party for Seb, or is it for the adults?! Delicious chocolate cake siting in the London sun followed by drinks and nibbles.

Ange had arranged for her uber driver to take me to the airport.  He turned up early so joined us in the garden meeting the family.

My amazing time in Europe and London has come to an end….I’m not ready to return back to Hong Kong.  I’ve had an absolutely wonderful time with family and friends – definitely won’t be leaving my return to Europe too long.  Grazie Millie Italia, Ci ritornerò a Italia!  

Reims, France – 15-19 September 2016

Our trip to Reims to celebrate my 40^th birthday begins at Gard de Est station (in Paris) where we have a good 45 minutes before our 9.28am departure.

I had previously booked our tickets (and seats) so when the train arrived on we went. Of course we were upstairs which meant dragging out suitcases up the stairs.

It was a quick 45 minute journey, at times getting up to 320 kilometres per hour although unless you looked out the window and saw cars being left behind you had no idea it was going so fast.

On arrival into Reims we walked to our B&B. It was too early to check in unfortunately so instead dropped our bags and heading into the city centre for coffee and a bite to eat.

We had planned to do a walking tour of Reims but the rain put that idea to bed!

Late morning Ann and Patrick arrived from New York. We met them at the B&B.

We wander to a wine bar I had previously researched, but unfortunately they were full so we headed down the road until we found another place for lunch.

 

It was absolutely pouring so instead of walking to Mumm a taxi was called. Our original booking was at 4.30pm but thankfully they managed to get us in nearly an hour earlier.

Mumm was founded back in 1827 and in 2015 was ranked 4^th globally based on the number of bottles they sold. We are taken around their cellars on a conducted tour. It was fascinating to learn the history of Mumm.

At the conclusion of the tour it was time for the champagne tasting. Delicious!

 

Thankfully the rain had stopped, and we wandered back to the B&B where we checked in and had a couple of hours R&R.

For dinner we headed off to a place in the city centre.

Friday 16 September we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast downstairs. We were the only guests in this 4 room B&B which was lovely!

At 10am we went on the walking tour around Reims, which was interesting to learn the history of the place. Ending at the Notre-Dame de Reims (Reims Cathedral).

Notre-Dame de Reims is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in the middle of town, which was built in the 13^th to 15^th century to replace an earlier church that was destroyed by a fire in 1221.

 

Lunch and a spot of shopping was had before having a short break at the B&B.

Mid-afternoon we walked off to Veuve Clicquot.

Veuve Clicquot was founded back in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot. His wife (Veuve Clicquot) took over when she was 27 years ago after he passed away. At the time she was the first business woman in the early 1800s to run an international business.

At the completion of the tour it was time for some tasting and reviewing of their merchandise. Anna wanted to buy a table and chairs but they wouldn't ship to the USA, such a shame. As expected we all loved the champagne.

 

 

Ann and Patrick had organised a dinner in a Chateau on the outskirts of Reims. Mum, Dad, Anna and I walked back into town and to the wine bar that I had previously researched. Great food and drinks! The owners were entertaining and very helpful.

 

Saturday 17 September I woke to rain, fingers crossed it doesn't last long. We all have breakfast together downstairs.

As our first champagne house booking wasn’t until 11.45am we had some downtime before having to walk there.

Thankfully the rain had stopped when we head out to Taittinger.

Taittinger was founded back in 1734.

Like the other two champagne houses we have visited we have the tour then its champagne tasting time (this time it’s 3 glasses). They were all absolutely delicious and Mum’s favourite (so far).

Our next booking wasn’t until 3pm at Pommery however on arrival we were able to get in at 2.15pm. The main entrance / hall is HUGE!

Pommery was founded in 1858 with the primary business being wool trading. It became the first champagne house to commercialise a brut champagne in 1874.

 

2 glasses of bubbles was our tasting…we decided to slow up a bit!!

 

First stop on leaving Pommery was getting something to eat! Back at the B&B we had a couple of hours R&R.

I had booked dinner for tonight at Le Cyptro which was delicious!

 

 

 

Sunday 18 September (my birthday) it was an earlier start than previous mornings. Breakfast was enjoyed before Martin, Mandy and the children arrived from London.

We walked to the train station to go to Epernay. The line to buy tickets was super long! In the end I sent Mum and Dad to the platform. We finally managed to purchase tickets as a group before having to run to the train!

On arrival it was a quick walk to Mercier for our booking.

Mercier was founded in 1858. They store their champagne in the 18km long cellar tunnels located 30m underground. We got on rail carts for part of the tour to get around the tunnels. Very interesting.

 

Post the tour it’s all about the champagne tasting.

We wandered back down Avenue de Champagne to the town area. There weren’t too many options for lunch (places were either closed or full). Thankfully Paul (French café / restaurant) worked out.

 

 

Our last champagne house was Moet and Chandon. Established back in 1743. Today they produce approximately 28,000,000 bottles of champagne. Fun fact, Dom Perignon (another brand of champagne) is produced by Moet and Chandon.

On arrival we were greeted by a LARGE number of Ferraris. Mum loved them.

Post the tour it’s champagne tasting and wandering around the shop.

 

Having managed to see everything we managed to get on an earlier train back to Reims.

Pre-dinner drinks are enjoyed outside on one of the main streets in the city centre. A lovely warm evening. We definitely aren’t the only ones out and about on a Sunday night!

It had taken a number of emails and phone calls (a few weeks ago) to find a restaurant for tonight. Not surprisingly a number of places aren’t open on a Sunday night.

 

 

 

Monday 19 September Anna is up and out super early to return to New York! We thankfully don’t need to rush. It’s a slow casual walk to the train station before taking the train back to Paris.

We manage to get ourselves to Mum and Dad’s hotel without too many issues before wandering the streets nearby. A lunch location is confirmed. Mum and I decide a glass of bubbles is required.

I leave Mum and Dad early afternoon to head to Eurostar. I’m off to London for a week.

Au Revoir France, you have been amazing!!