We made several brief but interesting stops on our way to Paris. Reims‘ Cathedral was bombed in WWI, hence contemporary stained glass by Chagall.

It’s important because it’s where the French kings were consecrated and crowned by the pope.

It contains the relics of St. Nicosius, whose miracle was carrying his head to the cathedral after his beheading, hmmm.

Reims is also the site of the first signing of the German surrender ending WWII on May 7, 1945 – in this room in a high school where Eisenhower had secretly set up his command post. Eisenhower refused to sign in Reims because there wasn’t a Nazi present of equal rank. Eisenhower’s signature came the next day in Berlin, now celebrated as V-E Day.

The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial honors WWI veterans and is a beautiful, deeply poignant hill where over 1000 Amerians were killed in the Battle of Belleau Wood on a single day of fighting.

You probably know that only sparkling wines made in the Champagne Region of France to specified standards can be called Champagne. Prosperous Épernay, the self-proclaimed capital of the Champagne region, is home to many of the world’s most celebrated Champagne houses. The usual suspects have incredible properties on the Avenue du Champagne built over storage in cellars dug 200 years ago.

The song says You gotta have a gimick and Eugene Mercier built a huge champagne barrel that holds over 200,000 bottles of champagne to display at the 1889 Worlds Fair in Paris.

Mercier has over 18km (11.2 miles) of underground tunnels which they feature on an educational and engaging tram tour.

and  Mercier (unavailable in the US) is generous w/ their tasting.

After circumnavigating France for over 2000 miles, finally PARIS!