Tag: France

Scenes from Europe – Part Three – The Champagne Tour

~ Spence's Girl ~ 2 Comments

During our European trip, we stopped for a tour at Mercier Champagne Cellars.  It was fascinating. Here’s a few facts:

Mercier is a Champagne producer based in the Épernay region of Champagne. The house, founded in 1858, produces both vintage and non-vintage cuvée. Mercier owned the original rights to the name Dom Pérignon but gave the brand to Moët et Chandon in 1927. Today the house is under the umbrella of the LVMH group and is the number one selling brand of Champagne in the domestic French market. (source Wikipedia)

Inside the dome at Mercier Champagne Cellars
Inside the dome at Mercier Champagne Cellars

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A model of the 1889 Champagne cask pulled by 24 oxen to the World’s Fair in Paris France.

The actual cask from that 1889 World's Fair
The actual cask from that 1889 World’s Fair

After riding down in an elevator to the subterranean champagne cellars, you take the tour on a little red train, passing hallways filled with champagne.
After riding down in an elevator to the subterranean champagne cellars, you take the tour on a little red train, passing hallways filled with champagne.

Chalk carvings inside the champagne caves also help regulate temperature and humidity
Chalk carvings inside the champagne caves also help regulate temperature and humidity

Champange as far as the eye could see
Champagne as far as the eye could see!

Scenes from Europe – Part Two -Provence

~ Spence's Girl ~ 4 Comments

Stopped off for a cold adult beverage and this was our view over the French Countryside
Stopped off for a cold adult beverage and this was our view over the French Countryside

Said cold adult beverage
Cold adult beverage

A little French cat in the woodpile
A little French cat in the woodpile

A fabulous bistro where we had the most amazing lunch
Escargot
A lovely salad topped with two soft poached eggs – magnifique!

Charming
Charming
Lovely garden
A French kitten in the garden
Red wine for me, a beer for Spence

When we saw this, Spence stopped the car and I ran over and laid on the ground to take this photo.
When we saw this, Spence stopped the car and I ran over and laid on the ground to take this photo.

Still lying on the ground - a personal favorite
Still lying on the ground – a personal favorite

A storm rolling in, a black baby grand piano in front of a mansion. Just a typical French thing, oui?
A storm rolling in, a black baby grand piano in front of a mansion. Just a typical French thing, oui?

Scenes from Europe – Part One – Switzerland & a French Farmer’s Market

~ Spence's Girl ~ 10 Comments

A few years back, I was lucky enough to take the most amazing trip to Europe with Spence. It was one of those “bucket list” trips for me. Not Spence’s first trip there, he was in charge of making decisions about how I should experience it  – and he did not disappoint. It truly was the trip of a lifetime and I long to return there, frequently (and wistfully) scrolling through some of the 2000+ pictures I took.  It occurred to me that I’ve only featured a few of them in the blog to date.  Here are some of my favorites……encompassing scenes from Switzerland and a French Farmer’s Market.

I hope you enjoy them – stay tuned for more favorite photos from this trip in future posts….