Welcome to our Book of Adventures

When I heard that my brother was taking a trip that Nate and I have been discussing, I jumped at the chance to interview him and get every.last.detail. My brother lives in Denmark and his adventures are AMAZING. I’m so lucky to have a direct connection to a faraway place!! I can’t wait to hear about where they go next year…

This particular trip is focused around France, specifically the Champagne province. I am thankful for the interview, this trip sounds wonderful and the tips are exactly what us travelers aspiring to go over there need to hear.

Why did you pick the French countryside?

We love champagne and have always dreamed of going to the wine region within the province of Champagne which is in the northeast of France. Reims and the town of Épernay are popular locations with lots of commercial production. We are also big fans of the café del mar albums and we have a tradition where we listen to the music drinking champagne…so, it has always been on our bucket list. We knew that moving to Denmark would allow us to travel around Europe. Then…Covid hit and grounded us for a year and a half. When we talked about where we would go first once we felt it was safe to do so, we unanimously decided that “our first trip will be to France and drink champagne….” Coincidentally, our Danish class forced us to think about where we would vacation because of a class assignment which is what started the whole conversation.

How long did you stay there?

We stayed 4 nights, 5 days. Decided to spend 1 day in Paris and then went to Champagne (wine country). We did this because flying to Paris was the best option and we wanted to stay there to get a burst of Parisian culture before we left on a train out into the countryside.

What towns did you visit?

From Paris we took the TGV to Reims, which is the capital of Champagne… lots of Champagne houses within Reims which meant that there was little travel involved once we were there. The grapes are grown in the fields outside of Reims but then the wine and champagne are brought into the city. One thing to note here is that there are huge underground caves in the middle of the city. Also visited Épernay which is a mecca of famous champagne houses. We were drawn to beauty of this town, not just the champagne… large mansions and neoclassical villas are everywhere.

Where did you start your trip and where did you finish? Was there a reason for that?

We flew in and out of Paris only for ease of transportation. Getting from the airport to Reims was tricky…the TGV from the airport to Reims is very expensive and time tables are tricky. Charles De Gaulle airport is known for delays, so there was concern that we would miss our train. It wouldn’t be a European vacation without a little transportation anxiety! Luckily, we made our train. We had no issues getting back to Paris when the trip was over.

Was there required Covid testing?

Not as someone coming from Denmark, and not returning to Denmark either. Air France did have a page where you uploaded proof of vaccination, and that meant there was no further work required.

Were masks required at any point during your trip?

Yes, on public transit they are required, on the trains, in the stations, on the flights, but not in the wineries or restaurants. If you are going to travel here, definitely read up on the current status of things. We would suggest bringing a mask with you at all times just in case.

What were some of the excursion/adventures you did?

This was really the best part of the trip!

When we arrived in Paris, we did the River Boat lunch cruise which took us down the Seine for lunch and drinks. This was wonderful and such a relaxing thing to do right away. We booked the romance package because it came with alcohol and a window seat AND a delicious pre-fix menu. You get to see the Eiffel Tower up close and the original statue of Liberty, which was amazing to see….and also very humbling.

We booked another excursion thru Trip Advisor – a private wine tour. Someone drives you around with this tour which is PERFECT when sampling 15 different types of wine. One of our favorite parts was the exposure to small house wine…. which means small growers. Big growers are owned by corporations so small growers are appealing because it feels more grounded and approachable like the wine is for anyone, no pomp and circumstance. Small growers do not have mass production and strive to maintain the artisanal wine and champagne. Small growers have room for experimentation, too, and their wine/champagne has more personality. We loved this tour because there was no coordination required on our part, and we felt it was an incredible value and very safe. The tour guide spoke English well, it was a wonderful experience. We even got to meet the families of the small growers. Some of these families have been making wine for 400 years!

Did you feel like the culture is friendly? Any issues with not speaking the language?

It was surprising…we have grown up thinking that the French were rude and did not like Americans. This is absolutely and completely wrong…. everyone was so helpful, so friendly, so warm….we truly felt it. If you are planning to visit France, learn a few key phrases…Start out with “Excusez-Moi and Parle Anglais?”

Last but not least, are there any travel tips for someone thinking of traveling here?

In Paris, wear comfortable shoes…and bring band aids to keep your feet in good shape. Don’t break in a beautiful pair of shoes on an explorative in Paris. You are taking lots and lots of stairs. Ladies: resist the urge to strut around in your new Laboutin heels 😉

Also, the train system is very complex…do your research on the train system and know where you want to go prior to being there. We also recommend learning to speak French by taking audio classes to familiarize with how to ask for basic things…enjoy your trip!

Profitez de votre temps en France!

Thank you so much Christian & Andy! Amazing trip, amazing pictures…

#GoAdventure