Reims. Arrived yesterday. Had a great day trip to Epernay today. Heading back there Saturday. 
Bill, I hope you're having a great trip. I'm curious if you are finding some places closed? A few years ago we went to the Loire region in late November-early December and found some gites and many restaurants were closed for the season. I should note we made very few reservations before we arrived, preferring to play it by ear.
From freezing Germany. I am studying here now and life is not easy at the moment at all. No idea what i would do without services like that https://writinguniverse.com/fr...dustrial-revolution/. Probably would not even have time to sleep.
@steve8 posted:Bill, I hope you're having a great trip. I'm curious if you are finding some places closed? A few years ago we went to the Loire region in late November-early December and found some gites and many restaurants were closed for the season. I should note we made very few reservations before we arrived, preferring to play it by ear.
Hey Steve. I hope all is well with you. The houses we planned to visit were all good. Tried Henriot but they weren’t taking visitors for a few weeks. Did cave tours at G.H. Martel, (LOVED their wines) Veuve and Moët. Latter two aren’t houses we are fond of but the visits and tours were excellent. Just about every place on the Avenue du Champagne in Epernay was open for tastings. We tasted with some great small producers and for the most part really liked everything. Restaurants have been a bit of a challenge, especially today (Sunday). And coffee shops don’t open until 8 or 9 in the morning - WTF? 
There was a one day rail strike in Paris last Wednesday when we landed. Instead of getting pissed trying to figure out how to deal with getting to Reims cheap, we ended up taking an Uber. I will often pay $ to remove pain in the ass factor from my life. Got a nice drive through the countryside, at times approaching 170 km/hr.
Plan was for a day trip to Strasbourg yesterday, but return tickets in the evening were sold out. So instead we made a second trip to Epernay for the slightly insane Luminaire festival. If I don’t get Covid after that, then I’m for sure never getting it.
Billhike: That Uber must have cost a bundle, and too bad you didn't make it to Strasbourg. These rail strikes in France are common and irritating as heck. They have reduced the number of trains, so they sell out quickly. Enjoy the rest of the trip and have a safe trip home.
@irwin posted:Billhike: That Uber must have cost a bundle, and too bad you didn't make it to Strasbourg. These rail strikes in France are common and irritating as heck. They have reduced the number of trains, so they sell out quickly. Enjoy the rest of the trip and have a safe trip home.
Yeah, it wasn’t cheap. Much smoother transport back to Paris. 34 Euros each for 1st class seats on the high speed TGV.
What did you drink at Moet? We were there in 2018 and had the 2009 Dom from a magnum.
Just the Imperial Brut and Rose after the cave tour. It was late in the day and the tasting upgrades weren’t available. When we were done they started locking up behind us. Never intended to stop there but it was on our way back to the train station and still open, so…
From Austria at the moment. Was just driving through Austria Alp and must admit that this country is magical. The only two things which have to be remembered here - all the cars need to have a vignette austriavignette.com and they have speeding cameras everywhere.
Recently back from the trip of a lifetime- a 2 1/2 week safari in East Africa visiting the national parks of Amboseli, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire. Camps were incredibly luxurious with wonderful food and service and a nice selection of South African wines. The one Tanzanian Chenin Blanc we tried was forgettable.
St Simons Island
Heading up to Deep Creek Lake today for the long weekend. Last weekend the wind chill up there was minus 37, with the actual temperature under 0. This weekend it will be in the 50 degree range. Go figure.
@bman posted:As one who has offlined several times with Haggis I say without hesitation that one should travel to wherever one must to offline with him! Though Ithaca is one of the loveliest towns in upstate NY and so worth a visit even if Haggis wasn't (occasionally at least!) there!
Sorry that I missed this until now! Anyone who wants to hold an Angkor Wat, or other, offline in Ithaca, just let me know!
Thank you bman, my friend, for the kind words. Ithaca is an even lovelier town when you and your better half are here
New Orleans
@jcocktosten posted:New Orleans
Sorry.
Going to the 2023 Wine spectator grand tasting in Las Vegas and when buying VIP tickets there is a link about unlocking a secret code for tickets. I used VIP2023 and it opened up but then ask for a promo code, any suggestions??
@wineismylife posted:Sorry.
We had an excellent time in Nola. Lot of good wine bars and wine lists on that town
@jcocktosten posted:We had an excellent time in Nola. Lot of good wine bars and wine lists on that town
…and great food to enjoy with the wonderful wine list as well.
No doubt on all accounts. It just happens to be sitting in the middle of a shithole.
A wonderful wine list in the middle of a shithole...
While it does give me pause, this must be the embodiment of the oft-maligned descriptor "barnyard." I know a few forumites who like to associate that descriptor with the stank of a fine Burgundy, y'all. 
Phoenix AZ
Blue skies, bright sun, moderate temperatures, about perfect for a Canuck escaping the freezing winter chill of home.
Seaquam, visiting or wintering? We live not too far from there now.
Mountainman! 😀 Long time!
We were just visiting, 8 days. Home now. We’ll likely return next year.
Best to Piper.
@mountainman posted:Seaquam, visiting or wintering? We live not too far from there now.
Moved again
Richmond, VA
Naples, FL
On a cruise, just off the coast from Marathon Florida. We left Miami 26 hours ago. Wednesday we drove through Marsthon on our 3 hour drive to Miami from Key West. Go figure
Lost Wages, NV
Berlin. Tomorrow off to Prague. Brrr. Cold here
@jcocktosten posted:Berlin. Tomorrow off to Prague. Brrr. Cold here
It ain't the Keys, you know.
Greeting from Asia at the moment
On the road from Prague to Vienna.
Munich trying to get home from Budapest. Missed flight to Charlotte. Now on plane hoping to get to Newark tonight. Home to Key West a day late hopefully.
Taiwan.
Here for 2 weeks, some in Taipei.
G-man (and Powell, if he were still around) might like this: I'm going to spend some time on Lanyu Island (aka Orchid Isl.) and learn from some of the Indigenous communities here. TINY island with 6 villages and 6 languages (or dialects, depend on your linguistic bent).
Our bags finally made it home from Munich. For some reason, one took a detour to Chicago. Would have like to accompany it to see some folks and drink some wines.
Back in Taipei after several amazing days on Lanyu Isl. I learned a lot about the Indigenous cultures, traditional knowledge, language. Fascinating and humbling.