Oh, the bubbles!-- putting brakes on to report

In one of the world's most beautiful and diversely entertaining places, (France) I find it difficult to say no after two events a day, and I am trying to slow down.

Three days in Reims was like being hit by a fire hydrant of champagne and history.  A fraction of the sights I took in:

Oui, la Pucelle, the Maid of Orléans passed this way to see Charles VII crowned King of France. Not long before her martyrdom in Rouen.  In Reims next weekend is a huge festival on the anniversary of her death.

Bubbles of sculpted bushes mirror pleasure of such gardens.

Urban renewal view of Basilique de Saint-Rémi, where a few French kings were crowned.

Doggie rest area--park beside the Basilica.

Limestone that makes for tasty champagne grapes soft and erodes badly, many statues have been restored, but this guy had shelter.

Tasting, perhaps the Blanc de Blancs or the Blanc de Meunier

Cathedral of Notre-Dame where Joan of Arc crowned her king, and most other kings crowned here as well, including Clovis, at whose baptism the miracle of the Sainte Amphore, brought by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove for the anointing.

From  the top of the Cathedral after many many steps up an escalier en colimaçon, vineyards in far distance

A street near the cathedral named after a fourteenth century author born nearby, touched upon briefly in my. French Studies, but who contributed much more than I realized.  Here is a group singing music he composed (I think!): Organum singing Mass by G. de Machaut