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Published: October 14th 2010
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inside the church
love the soft light from the wndow Today was a productive day. We had our champange tour, our last group activity before we split from the Goldwell group and move into our new apartment.I am really excited to move in, go to the local market and pick up our food for the week. I will update you tomorrow on how fabulous it is!
The day stared put early this morning. we took a bus out to Reims, where our first stop was the Notre Dame cathedrale. The outside was an amazing display of gothic architechture. I also think that this church has more gargoyles and statues than most other ones in Paris. The details on the outside are remarkable. The gargoyles themsleves have a spout where thier mouths are to act as a drain spout for rain. The inside is amazing as well with the detailed stained glass and carved wood. I love walking into churches first thing in the morning when the sun is spilling thru the windows onto the alters and creating a calming atmosphere. Although I am not religious, at all, I do love visiting churches and the energy that is emitted from them.
After the church and a quick stop for lunch,
before we headed onto the bus we found a little display booth adorned with the canadian flag in attempts to promote canadien / quebecois culture. It was very canadien indeed, maple syrup and a teepee with native indian wares. Very reminecient of stampede, i thought it was funny, but still interseting. I always wonder hos buying that stuff anyway.
So a half an hour later we arrive at the house of Moet Chardon in Epernay. Moet is one of the most sold champanges in the world, with the United States being the biggest importer. Also a quick note for those who may not know this but true champange can ony come from the region of Champange in france, otherwise it is sparkling wine. Inside the house of Moet Chardon, we learn the history of the brand and watch a short film, but me being a hands on learner, the best part was when we got to go down into the cellar. After only 5 steps downstairs you can feel the 10 degree difference and smell the humidity in the air. When you touch the carved out stone walls it is slightly damp. The cellar hosts all of the wine
that Moet produces for export all over the world. I can only imagine the dollar value of the champange i was about to be surronded with. I also wondered how easy it would be to slip a bottle into your purse, but in my head I could envision being grabbed by security and being exported myself out of France. I'm sure crimes against their wine industry would be similar to breaking tax law in Canada.
So in the carve out stone tunnels( all carved by hand) there is a maze of tunnels, and within these tunnel harbors small caves. these small caves have unlabeled bottles and bottles of wine, lying down end to cork, with a batch number on them. also written is how many bottles are in each paticular batch or cave. most cave we holding between 2000 to 9000 bottles of wine. Champange by law has to be aged for at least 18 months to develop the flavour. Moet ages for 3 years at least. I can't exactly remember sonja thinks its 5.
The whole process that the champange takes top become champange is pretty interesting. I also found it worthy to note that the process of
creating the bubbly is the addition of yeast and sugar creating a natural fermentaion process and you can actual see in some of the bottles still in develpment this sediment floating around. They end up taking the bottles from laying down to a process of having thier necks down and butts up , turing the bottles every day 1/4 turn to get the sediment toward the neck of the bottle. Then they invented their own process to get it out which I thought was rather interesting, they freeze the neck of the bottle so that all the leftover sediment if frozen into and ice sube, then in a very wuick process they open the bottle, the pressure from the champange expells the ice, and simutaneously the inject more wine and sugar to finish the flavouring process and cork the final product. I thought it was really intersting, probably more so because I was there. you may have found this to be boring, if so skip to the pictures.
So tomorow, new day, all on our own, finally no strict schedule and maybe i can actual get some sleep. I also would like to point out that I found it
rather interesting that when I sat down today to do my blog I was reading my comments, one from some random person, about americans traveling and why travel if you are expecting things to be like home. I am not exactly sure of the reason behind this, but am thinking it has to do with my starbucks comment on my last blog. I am also not sure if it was a jab against me for liking starbucks in Paris or what exactly their point is. I agree that travelling to different places, which I do a lot of, that you can;t expect it to be like home. I dont throw fits when ketchup doesnt come with my eggs and I dont make a big stink when things arn't americanized.(also like to point out that I am canadien)
I think travelling is about embracing different cultures and ways of living, and to marinate yourself so to speak in that places energy. But having Starbucks to me isn't really a disgrace to the parisenne culture. I also question whether this person has been taking french for the last 6 years and spends once a week with other like minded french "groupies" who
spend that 2 hours embracing french culture. Because I do. hmmm I suddenly feel like a chai tea latte with "soja'
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Auntie S.
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Do it your way!
1) gorgeous pix!! gotta admit I'm a bit green about you talent! 2) this is your trip, do it how u want,dont apologize for anything! (unless its illegal--then it may be a good idea) If u want chai tea from starbucks--have it, and enjoy it!!! Have a fabulous time while u r there, but do let us know that u have your luggage! ;)