Back from and with Champagne!

After taking Elsie to the airport, we drove about an hour east of Paris, following the Marne River Valley. This is an area we visited in April to see ''Champagne Country'' and, of course, taste and purchase champagne.

ENORMOUS thanks to Lin
for loaning us her mobile phone
so that we could contact Elsie upon her arrival in America!

It was 11:00 p.m. on Thursday when we found out that Elsie had arrived safely in Minnesota and was, at that time, happily on her way to the Dairy Queen with Keith and Sue. We fell asleep feeling both relief and gratitude!

We stayed at a B&B (photo above) operated by an American couple. Bill and Meredith have lived in France for over 25 years! Their B&B is a beautifully restored old stone farmhouse with stunning hillside views over villages and vineyards of the Marne River Valley. It is located in the heart of the champagne region between Reims, Epernay and Château-Thierry. Click here for more information regarding their B&B. Bill and Meredith have an impressive website with loads of travel info, tips and links.

The Champagne Alain Navarre has been a family business for three generations. (Joelle and Alain Navarre pictured above). Their champagne house is located at Passy sur Marne, a small village in the valley of the Marne, west of Epernay. Their grapes are grown on sunny slopes ideal for all three Champagne grapes: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Chardonnay and Noir. Click here for their website. Prices for shipping, in France, are very reasonable!

Note to Min:
the rosé has been carefully stored in our cave just for you...

And note to Brian and Rosemary:
your precious cargo is also being well guarded!

Next week:
Paris!