Lille for New Year

<![CDATA[ALUSOARE - France]]>Mon, 14 Oct 2024 22:40:29 +0200Weebly<![CDATA[Tour du Mont Blanc]]>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/tour-du-mont-blancI enjoy hiking a lot not only for my mental health but also for the wonderful landscapes and the people you would meet on they way. This post will aim to give you a few insights of the trail. I will have a separate post on the way we structured the route to make it in 7 days.

What did I prepare before the hike

This is a long hike that covers multiple days so you need to be prepared to wake up and put a step in front of the other despite possible soreness.
I personally did not prepare in any special way for the trek. I workout daily (mix of strength + cardio) for several years, thus I did not need anything extra on top of what I was already doing, but if you don't workout daily, make sure to walk for several km every day, do a bit of cardio and ensure to strengthen your lower body.

Packing Info

You should pack as light as possible.
Everyone is different on what they would need with them, but make sure to stay under 10 kg(water included)
Keep in mind that everyone smells so don't worry about a lot of changes of clothes you will not need them. I hiked most of the trail with 1 pair of shorts and changed only my sports bra and t-shirt.

Osprey Kyte 36L: perfect size, very comfortable
I would take less protein bars you can always buy more
I had much more sunscreen than I needed
I would take 1 pair of long leggings & 1 t-shirt (instead of 2)
A sleeping sleeve is a must

A small overview:

Important to know is that I live in Belgium so we came by car to Chapieux from where we started our route.

TMB done 7 days - 170 Km
We started on a Sunday from Refuge des Mottes and walked about 30km all the way to Refugio Bertone. After the downhill into Courmayeur I injured my knee (external ligament on right knee) so it got pretty complicated from then on for every downhill. Keep in mind that that downhill is pretty intense, if you know you have bad knees consider the cable car, or take a lot of care while going down.

Luckily my uphills were still at pretty high speed so could compensate managing to finish in the planned amount of days.

Given my injured knee I decided to skip a bit of the road:
I had to take the bus from Ferret to Issert given the long downhill (and yeap there were a lot of others like me in the bus) and I had to also skip the La Flegere to Les Houches bit (I did do the long version via Lac Blanc though) but the weather was crap and as I would have not made the cable car from Brevet into Chamonix it would have been impossible for me to do the downhill from Brevet.

The good of my injury was that I met a lot of super friendly people that tried to help anyway they could, from a good word to different types of advice … was basically a great conversation starter
Staying at refuge places was very nice as generally you could meet a lot of people and chat over dinner.
I did not find the route busy, did anti-clockwise. I would say there were actually more people doing the clockwise version.

My Takeaways:

1. Take care on descents. A lot of people get injured by underestimating them (me including)
2. Get trekking poles it makes such a big difference if you have them.
3. Prepare for all weather but don’t overpack. In most refuge places you can wash you clothes and dry them on the backpack.
4. Most days you can easily buy food from somewhere or you can ask for a picnic at the refuge
5. Staying at refuge places was fun as gives you the chance to meet a lot of people (there are exceptions of course)
6. Waterproof trail sneakers instead of boots (lighter and provide enough ankle support)

]]><![CDATA[A weekend in Marseille]]>Tue, 16 May 2023 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/a-weekend-in-marseilleLong weekends are simply great (you can imagine I would immediately vote for a 4 day working week :) ) so we decided to go and check out Marseille.

We heard a bit of mixed comments about the city more towards the negative, but we had an absolutely great time. I was coming just after the Tour du Mont Blanc, with my knee still in pain, but slowly we managed to cover at the end of the first day 20 km. So let's see what's there to explore.

Getting there

After researching train options from Brussels, we ended up taking a plane from Charleroi Airport. I really wish the governments would come with some initiatives to reduce the prices for trains as it's at this moment in time for most lanes unaffordable.
Once in Marseille airport you pick a bus which gets you to the train station and then easy peasy get to town.

Accommodation

As we were arriving super late, we decided to book a hotel close to the station: Meininger Marseille Centre la Joliette. It's a good stay and they also offer buffet breakfast against a reasonable price.

Day 1

This is a long walking day, but don't worry we made sure to stay with our bellies full.

1. Oursjayet

Our first stop was to take a selfie with a giant "teddy" bear created by @artjayet representing the biggest bear in the world. The sculpture measures over 5m and 6 tones. You can find it close to Cathedral Saint Marie Majeur de Marseille.

2. Promenade

From there we walked along the promenade enjoyed the views over the port and of the Notre Dame de la Garde Cathedral.

Don't forget to take a selfie with the M from Marseille.

And of course make some funny faces in the mirror of the L'Ombriere de Norman Foster.

3. Take a Break in Place de Thiars

If it's as hot as it was when we went, you will thank me to remind you to take a break for a cold drink while people-watching

4. Sweet tooth

To get some more energy head to Twistavenue where you can enjoy some Kurtoskolacs with a twist. If you've been to Eastern Europe you will know what I am talking about. If you have not been you need to go, this is one of the best deserts out there.

5. Shopping

While enjoying your Kurtos, you can pass by the shopping street and buy something. As my friend Dana says, whenever you wear that item you will remember you bought it in Marseille.

6. Walk towards the Cathedral Notre Dame de la Grande

Keep in mind this is a serious uphill to get there, so take your time and enjoy the architecture around.

7. Cathedral Notre Dame de la Grande

The Cathedral offers amazing 360 views over Marseille. I was very surprised to realize how big the city is.

8. Head towards Kennedy street

When going down take the alternative road (you will find it, don't worry) and head all the way to Corniche Du President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Walk alongside the sea for gorgeous views.

9. French Cuisine Dinner

We ended up in an Corsican Restaurant (Chez Marinette - 27 Rue Joel Recher) which was absolutely delicious.

10. Head out for drinks

if you still have the energy head our for drinks around Rue D'Endoume.

Day 2

After an intense first day, let's relax a bit :)

1. Take a Boat Trip to the National Park of Calanques

A beautiful day trip is a boat ride to Calanques National Park. Just go to the old port in Marseille and get yourself a ticket. I would recommend taking the morning tour as if it's hot and sunny, it will not be as plesant to enjoy.

2. Lunch & Ice Cream Break

By now you might have gotten hungry so why not a small lunch topped with a special ice cream. We had lunch at Opera Zoizo followed by Black vanilla ice cream at Vanille Noire.

3. Lazy on Plage de Catalans till sunset

This city beach is a must in Marseille. Not because it's pretty, as it's not really, but because of the cultural experience. What I found absolutely amazing is how well everyone seems to be integrated. Depending from where you are when reading this, it might seem like a no brainer, something normal or something out of the question. We enjoyed seeing groups of friends of mixed ethnicity & religion.

4. Best Pizza in town

Since the lockdowns in 2020 and into 2021 I developed a new hobby. if you are on my IG, you would know that I have pizza every Friday (I can be flexible with the day) and try to make sure to try all best pizza's in Europe.

The best pizza in Marseille is double trouble and I mean it with all the positive power of it. The pizza is delicious and the location is outstanding.

Splendido pizzeria belongs to the Big Mamma Group which they tend to open pizzerias in very special locations, and this one in Marseille is absolutely gorgeous.

And so the weekend flew by without even realizing. I enjoyed a lot the Marseille vibes, and I am sure you would too.

]]><![CDATA[Lille: little Flemish town in France]]>Tue, 09 Oct 2018 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/lille-little-flemish-town-in-france

It is always hard to pick where to spend NYE, it is so much pressure, and I honestly can't figure out what is the point of the forced party everywhere around. Well, we initially thought to head to Italy and maybe explore Genoa and the mountains, but then as some friends had to work till the 30th we decided to stay closer to home and so selected Lille. Have a look at what we checked around.

We went to Lille for NYE and so I did not follow the normal organized approached that I usually have when I go somewhere, but this time, I simply tried to capture as much as possible in a sort of random way

The Train Station area

Accommodation:

Stayed at Citadines City Centre Ville Hotel which is located right next to the train station. The area itself looks far too industrial for my taste but you are 2 min walk from the center where everything changes

Porte de Roubaix

"the Porte de Gand was built by Pierre Raoul under the Spanish occupation. On its outward-facing side it lost its battlements and its decoration, but its severity recalls that walls and ramparts must above all impress potential enemies, and that Lille was then frequently an object of envy. It was in the 17th century that Vauban doubled the defensive elements whose remains can be seen in the gardens. The interior facade is more attractive, patterned with polychrome bricks and with a high roof and stone-framed windows." (Source)

Train Station: Le gare de Lille Flandres

"It is the main railway station of Lille, capital of French Flanders. It is a terminus for SNCF Intercity and regional trains.. [...] The station was built by Leonce Reynaud and Sydney Dunnett for the CF du Nord. Construction began in 1869 and ended in 1892. The station front is the old front from Paris' Gare du Nord and was dismantled then reassembled in Lille at the end of the 19th century; an extra storey, as well as a large clock, were added to the original design. Dunnett added the Hotel des Voyageurs in 1887, and the rooftop in 1892." (Source)

Streetart

Also spotted one of â€‹Monsieur Chat designed :)

Saint Maurice Church

"construction began at the end of the 14th century and completed at the end of the 19th century. [...] A hall church in the Gothic style, it was made a monument historique in 1914.(Source)

Grand Place

"Considered the second pretties grand place of France" (Source) "The Lillois' favorite meeting place offers an interesting view of the architecture from the 17th to the 20th century."(Source) .

Old Stock Exchange

I LOVE this building, I find it absolutely gorgeous. I guess you can see it as I took pictures from all angles :P

"It was built by Julien Destree in 1653 whose commission was to build an exchange to 'rival that of any great city'. [...] The result is a quandrangle of 24 privately purchased, ornately decorated yet identical houses surrounding an interior rectangular courtyard where trading could take place. [...] The wealth of Flemish Renaissance style decoration includes cute chubby cherubs, garlands and marks that frame the windows." (Source)

"The four entrances are marked with cornucopias, symbolic of wealth and happiness; Turkish turbanned heads tell of their Eastern markets and the Lions of Flanders signify that Lille once belonged to the Netherlands. Under the arcades there are medallions and tablets in honour of great men of science."(Source)

I just loved the architecture of this building

Deesse statue

In the center of the square you can see the "Goddess commemorating Lille's resistance to the Austrian siege in 1792." (Source). "The sculptor responsible for the Goddess (built in 1845) was Theophile Bra from Douai, also responsible for the two bas-reliefs on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris."(Source)

Theatre du Nord.

"built in 1717 by Thomas Joseph Gombert" (source) it was "used to house soldiers from the sentry guard, it houses now the Theatre du Nord" (Source)

Theater Square

"The square appears off the Grand'Place and is named after a theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1903. In 1907" (Source)

Opera House

"Originally situated in the center of the town of Lille, the former theater was completely destroyed by a fire in 1903. So the town launched a competition for the construction of a new building. The famous architect, Louis-Marie Cordonnier's project was successful.[...] Inspired by the neoclassical style, at the time known as the "Grand Theater", the Lille opera house was situated on the Place du Theater. The construction was almost finished when the First World War broke out. The Germans took over the building and used it for many performances of works by German composers: Beethoven, Wagner, Mozart.... After this German interlude and renovations, the "Grand Theater" finally gave its first French performance in 1923!" (Source)
"On the facade is Apollo surrounded by his muses. To the left is a depiction of Amedee Cordonnier allegory of Music and on the right Tragedy by Hector Lemaire. (Source)

The chamber of commerce

" The architecture of the building and the belfry is neo-Flemish: we can find the image of the prestigious Hotels of Ville de Fandres. The richness of the decor with vegetable patterns and volutes, imitates the architectural style that was appreciated during Louis XIV time. Inside, a majestic entrance hall greets the visitors with its huge cupola: it is decorated with frescos and its galleries line with columns." (Source)

"The belfry is 76metres-high. It dominates the opera with its height. It is decorated with four clock faces. It is to note that the belfry has 25 bells that regularly ring northern typical songs like Le P'tit Quinquin." (Source)

Paul bakery

Paul again chose a wonderfully beautiful building to have it's bakery adding an extra class to their products .

Notre Dam de La Treille

"Few persons know that, but the cathedral of Lille looks like no other. A mix between gothic traditions and contemporary art, Notre-Dame de la Treille is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. " Works started 1854 due to lack of means "the building was completely achieved in 1999. Made with slabs that take the color orange with the sun, the front is over hanged by an original rose. Representing the death and the resurrection, the front is also decorated with surprising symbols like ufos, cosmonauts, the belfry of Lille or "E=mc2". (Source)

The litle streets & squares

Place aux Oignons is part of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lille.

The Place aux Oignons

Aux Merveilleux de Fred

" The merveilleux (marvelous) is a small cake that originated in Belgium and is now found in France and some U.S. cities. It consists of a sandwich of two light meringues welded with whipped cream which has been covered with whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. A candied cherry sometimes decorates the cake. The confectioner and chocolatier Pierre Marcolini developed his own version, as did the French confectioner Frederic Vaucamps." You can find the shop of Fred also in Lille on Place des buisses 1.

Rue de la Monnaie

HOSPICE COMTESSE MUSEUM

"Located in the heart of Old Lille, the museum is housed in the hospital which was founded in 1237 by the Countess Jeanne de Flandre and which remained in service until 1939. The present buildings date back to the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries." [...] Since 1962, these buildings are the setting for a collection of paintings, tapestries, wood sculptures and porcelain from the region, thus creating the atmosphere of a 17th century Flemish small convent." (Source)

I did not go inside but i found the entry gate stunning.

Remains of Mill Saint-Pierre

"A red wall is what remains of the Mill Saint-Pierre, an old water mill in Vieux Lille on the rue de la Monnaie near the Musee de l'Hospice" (Source: Instagram text). This water mill was a gift from the Countess Jeanne de Flandres to the Hospice Comtesse, its first construction dates back to 1237. (Source: translation)

View from the top

The Belfry

"One of the architectural symbols of the region Nord is the belfry. In Lille, the belfry is attached to the City hall and dominates the city by its height (104m). With its typical architecture, it is the highest of the region Nord Pas de Calais. Made in bricks, the material used at this time in the region, the belfry of Lille was unveiled in 1932." (Source)

On the right you can see a picture of the St sauveur church, built between 1898 - 1902, in 2017 due to damages caused by water infiltration.
From a different angle you can see the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, not easy to figure out the building but some google maps zooming helped ;)

Gate to Paris

"This gate, the most impressive of the three gates, served as an 'Arc de Triomphe' (though much smaller), was constructed between 1685 and 1692 in honour of the capture of Lille by Louis XIV. The arch is decorated with the Coat of Arms of Lille (bearing only lilly) and the Coat of Arms of France (bearing 3 lillies). The top of the arch is crowned with two angels whose role is to tell the world about the Sun King's conquest. The portal has a statue of Hercules - symbol of strength highlighting the power and magnificence of the king - on the right, and Mars, the god of war, on the left. Place Simon Vollant was named after the architect of the Porte de Paris." (Source)

Food & Drinks

Dinner @La Bottega - Pizza & Antipasti

Totally recommend if you are in the mood for pizza. Like the taste and the quality of the food.

Lunch @ La creperie

a lot of options, interesting combinations, was a great idea to try this out.

Breakfast @Coffee Makers

Happy with the coffee, disappointed with the breakfast. for France, this coffee is really good, so I enjoyed a lot my flat white, unfortunately the breakfast has very limited options and it is annoying you can't order any of the lunch options even if they are available before 12:00

Cocktails @Le Dandy

These cocktails look super artistic and are very good, not cheap though

Beer @ O'Scotland Irish Bar

Here I also met â€‹chaussette #loveatfirstsight

At the end: a bit of background on the title of the post

Tell any person from Flanders, Belgium that you go to Lille, and here it starts :) " did you know that Lille used to be part of Flanders...." If you check Wikipedia then you can also see under Origins of the city " The first mention of the town dates from 1066: apud Insulam (Latin for "at the island"). At the time, it was controlled by the County of Flanders" and reading through the Lille tourist website you find out that it only became part of France on 17th August 1667.
But what made me see it more as a Flemish city than a French one (and I do apologize for anyone not having the same opinion as mine) is the architecture and maybe the fact that they have Belgian beer everywhere you look :P

]]><![CDATA[Epernay, the capital of champagne]]>Tue, 25 Sep 2018 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/epernay-the-capital-of-champagne

Champagne all day sounds good, right? And so we did for one day in Epernay, we decided to treat ourselves and enjoyed champagne throughout our stay in the city.

It has to start with champagne

We arrived in Epernay somewhere around 2 PM so it was time to snack something, but as we were in the champagne town we looked for a place where we could also get some champagne. So we stayed a C.Comme and enjoyed some assiettes de fromage et jambon next to a bottle of champagne

Portail Saint-Martin

"The Portail Saint-Martin gate is a remnant of the Church of Notre-Dame, one of the oldest structures in Epernay. This Renaissance structure designed by Reims sculptor Pierre Jacques and built in 1540, became a listed historic monument in 1908. Worth noting are its charming stone garlands, intertwined with motifs depicting love, Hercules and a variety of animals, among which those of salamanders unquestionably identify this gate with the Francis I period." (Source)

Republic Square

Is the roundabout that connects all the main streets of the city, from here you can start your trip on Avenue de Champagne

Former bank , now a restaurant

La Banque restaurant is located in the former banque of France. I found the architecture of the building interesting so this is why I add this to the post, the food itself seems not to be very good (I did not try it though)

Breakfast @Paul

Paul is a French chain of bakery/cafe restaurants established in 1889 in the town of Croix, in Nord, by Charlemagne Mayot.(Source). You can find it in a a lot of cities around the world.

Avenue de champagne

The street where you can find all the champagne houses has a self-explanatory name: champagne street :) Left and right how you walk the street you will find bigger or smaller name of champagne produces. I would not go through all, but I invite you to have a look, the architecture of each of these house is impressive

Buy yourself some champagne

It's clearly not cheap, but if you are anyway there why not buy a bottle or two for your collection at home or as a special gift to a friend who knows how to appreciate champagne. We got a bottle of the CHAMPAGNE BRUT 'Princes' Blanc de Blancs De Venoge. It is made out 100% pinot noir from which the skin was extracted to keep the white color of the champagne. One bottle was 58 euros and it was really good. The bottle has a special shape, which people tend to use afterwards as a water bottle for the table

So next time in France, put some money aside to treat yourself with this delicious drink #champagneallday ;)

]]><![CDATA[2 hours in Montmartre, Paris]]>Tue, 28 Aug 2018 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/2-hours-in-montmartre-paris

How often does it happen that you are in a place but have almost no time to visit? Well, it 's always better to see something than stay in your hotel room and see nothing at all. So here is what I got to see & do in about 2 hours hours around Montmartre.

There is a special feeling about this neighborhood in Paris, all the stairs around

Au Lapin Agile, which has an interesting story
"One of the true survivors of Monmartre's bohemian heyday, Au Lapin Agile has weathered its illustrious 150-year history remarkably well. When tracing its past, it can be hard to separate fact from legend â€“ in its infancy, the venue was known as the 'Cabaret des assassins' for the band of killers who supposedly broke in and killed the owner's son. What's more certain is that its current name derives from its insignia: a rabbit jumping out of a saucepan, painted in 1875 by Andre Gill (whose surname was later corrupted to 'agile'). By the turn of the 20th century, Au Lapin Agile was the preferred spot for struggling local artists including Picasso, Utrillo and Modigliani â€“ the former two of which captured the place on canvas, thus eventually propelling it to global fame." (Source)

to the beautiful ceramics that you can find @ Iterios Galerie d'art ceramique montmartre

All ceramics are handmade and created by the ceramic artist â€‹Violeta Jerma

To the cool posters @ Galerie Butte Montmartre
"Editions Ephi was born in Paris on 1967, editing Jazz performances pictures from music players like Miles Davis and Ray Charles. That initial activity evolved into editing French's Arts Nouveaux poster art items from artists like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Theophile Alexandre Steinlen.[...] The gallery focuses on French's Arts Nouveaux poster art items from 1900's Paris but also on Barcelona architecture." (Source)

oh, the view

Sacre Coeur, which during the day you can't drop a pin
"Sacre Coeur is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Sacre-Coeur is a double monument, political and cultural. [...] The Sacre-Coeur Basilica was designed by Paul Abadie. Construction began in 1875 and was finished in 1914. It was consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919" (Source)

even the streetart (although by night)

a glass of wine as we are in France :)

Maybe a few other buildings and squares around

and to finish the night a drink on a rooftop with a view

and so, my 2 hours passed by and it was time to go back at the hotel.

]]><![CDATA[Bordeaux in one day]]>Tue, 10 Jul 2018 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/bordeaux-in-one-day

It is the land of wine but on top of this, Bordeaux is a lovely city with beautiful architecture and a great vibe, check out what you can do in just 24h.

Bordeaux was a great place to start our North of Spain experience and yeap, we did in it style......by Train from Brussels. So make sure before booking your flight to Bordeaux to look into the train options, it is so much fun!

We booked a random hotel close to the train station as we were leaving towards Spain by train as well. To start the day: what is France without the morning coffee with croissant and macaroons.

and after getting energized it was time to explore the city

Keep an eye on the Streetart

Collaboration between Selor & Rouge not far from the Train Station (above) and some random walls below.

Church of the Holly Cross

is a Roman Catholic abbey church and annexed to a Benedictine abbey founded in the 7th century, and was built in the late 11th-early 12th centuries. The facade is in the Romanesque architectural style.

the details on the entrance are incredible, so I felt that a close up would be appreciated.

Best view in town: Saint Michel's bell tower

The people of Bordeaux call it "La Fleche" (The Spire), and it measures 114 meters high and soars slim and light toward the sky.

and yeap, the view :)

The water miror

"Located across from Place de la Bourse, between Quai de la Douane and Quai Louis XVIII, this spectacular pool, designed by landscape artist Michel Corajoud, alternates a mirror effect and artificial misting in an extraordinary way." (Source)

The Mirroir d'eau is listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by Unesco

The wine museum

you definitely need quite some to visit the museum at it is big. We spent most of our time in the temporary exposition about Georgian wine

just for you to know, after this tour and our food experience in Vilnius at a Georgian place I have added Georgia to my bucketlist

at the end of the tour, you can go at the top floor and get a free glass a wine with a view

The little streets

and at the end of the day, we saw this couple at a cafe...it looked so cutely French, right? :)

We shall come back to Bordeaux as one day is not enough, but at least you manage to get the flavor of the city

]]><![CDATA[Riquewihr, Alsace]]>Tue, 20 Jun 2017 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/riquewihr-alsace

Do you believe in fairy-tales? and do you like wine? if yes is your answer to both questions, then pack your things jump into a car and go to Riquewihr....it is soooooo nice. I literally think it is one of the cutest places you could find.

Riquewihr looks today more or less as it did in the 16th century.

and all houses are decorated in a very special way

and you can spot cute cats all around

they have a Xmas shop all year round

and last but not least.....the food & wine. The most traditional wine in the area is the white Riesling. We did go for rose for some reason at the restaurant we ate and it was delicious . Try the traditional Rosti . We ate at La Taverne Alsacienne. Other things to try are the Brezels and the Nougat

I got Roesti with chicken, really good. as I am big fan of Brezel, had to buy some

and here how good the Nougat looks. I did not buy as I could not decide which one.

and i'll sum up with the endless wine yards....imagine how it looks in September! I hope you added the place on your bucket list now

]]><![CDATA[Annecy]]>Tue, 16 May 2017 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/annecy

named one of the prettiest villages in France, Annecy surely rises to it's expectations. I will let mainly the pictures tell the story of all the pretty around :)

and then you have the castle

and afterwards we rented bicycles. It was 20 Euro per day, you can rent it for less time also. Ideally, if you actually would like to pick a bike, you should reserve in advance.

and we went around the lake....37km

but then at some point we needed to rest

and we stopped to eat

and then the massive uphill came along and we had to push our city bikes till 1156m. None of us is actually a real cyclists, but I guess from the picture you can see how the bike tour looked like. It took us 5h with all the stops.

and after such a nice intense sunny day....what is the best thing to do? ... yes! HAVE a BEER!!!

With this being said, I hope you will pack your luggage and go to Annecy this weekend, what do you think? :)

]]><![CDATA[Reims]]>Tue, 11 Apr 2017 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.alusoare.com/france/reims

it all started with a great breakfast at Pain & Cie Reims and continued with a wonderful walk around the city.
Reims is situated in the champagne area and is the house of 3 exceptional UNESCO World Heritage sites. So we started our tour around the city. First stop was for a tiny bit of street art :)

followed by reaching the first World Heritage site the 1275 finished Notre Dame Cathedral, which was the place where the French king were crowned. At the moment (may 2016) the center part of the cathedral is under construction, but you can still admire the lovely design of the cathedral.

One of the nicest parts of the cathedral is the exceptional stained-glass windows which mix styles from the Middle Ages until the 20th century. In 1974, Marc Chagall (1887-1985) created, with the collaboration of the Jacques Simon Workshop, three stained glass windows for the axial chapel of the Cathedral. [...] The central window evokes the history of Abraham and the last moments of the Earthly life of Christ (the Passion and the Resurrection), that is, the foundations of the Old and New Testaments: the sacrifice of Abraham heralding that of Christ.â€‹(Source)

next to the cathedral on the right hand side you can find the other Unesco Heritage, Palace of Tou which is the Residence of the bishops and then the archbishops of Reims. It was closed when we were there so we did not enter.

Cute chairs at the tourist office :)

In the opposite direction the the basilica we found an solar clock. It's very interesting to see how it works.

going further to towards the Saint-Remi Basilica we stopped for a nap in the yard of the Basilica under the blossoming cherry treas

This Romanesque-Gothic abbey church has been built in the 11th century in order to house the holy ampulla and the relics of Saint Remi, the bishop who baptized Clovis in 498. (Source)

and a particular thing we spotted around the city is the fact that the asphalt has some sparkling elements inside (maybe from broken mirrors)

we had dinner at the brasserie right next to the cathedral and at nightfall we had a nice surprise. Light and show REVE DE COULEURS at nightfall from 1 May. Check online for more details.

and our road from Reims to our next stop looked a little bit like this! :)

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