We met our friends Sandy and Alain in Reims, the capital of Champagne. We’ve been there three times now, but always concentrated on the champagne houses. Of course we visited the cathedral and the Bishops Palace as they are both UNESCO historical sites. I prefer the Cathedral in Reims to Notre Dame in Paris. Apparently 25 past kings also agreed with me as they chose Reims for their coronation.
“Rabelo tied up in Reims.”
“Meeting Sandy and Alain at the train station.”
“A mother duck looking after her chicks.”
With a little extra time we did some exploring. The most interesting place we visited was General Eisenhower’s Headquarters during World War Two. It is also where the Germans officially surrendered on May 7, 1945. I knew about the map room, but to actually see it just the way it was during the war was electrifying. It’s hard to imagine what it must have been like: life and death decisions, tension and frustration everything coming down to orders given without enough information. Talk about work in a pressure cooker. If you’re fortunate enough to make it to Reims make sure you visit Eisenhower’s Headquarters.
“The map room as it looks today.”
“The map room on May 7, 1945.”
“Some grim statistics from WWII.”
We also saw a wonderful light show projected onto the cathedral. It was a laser display, and one of the better ones we’ve seen, though it still didn’t compare with the one we saw last year in Nancy.
“The Reims light show.”
“The Reims light show.”
We went to an open air market where we bought some nugget and handmade sausage. More important I found the love of my life. For 37 years Lisa has been a wonderful wife, and I love her dearly, but a man has to do what he has to do. My new girlfriend Plastique works in the medical field. When I mentioned that I wasn’t feeling a 100% she offered to take my temperature. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a thermometer. Now that’s a girl who comes prepared. When I opened my mouth she gave me this sly grin and said, “What are you doing? Bend over.” Do you think I have anything to worry about?
“Buying nugget at the open air market.”
“Plastique, it was love at first sight.”
-Tom Miller
Author of “The Wave” – a Chuck Palmer Adventure novel
JUL
About the Author:
Tom Miller graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. He is a consummate adventurer with over 1,000 dives as a recreational scuba diver, and an avid sailor who has traveled 65,000 miles throughout the Pacific including the Hawaiian Islands. Miller has also cruised the canals of Europe on his canal barge and given numerous lectures on cruising the canals of Europe, as well as sailing in the South Pacific. Piloting is also an interest of Miller's, and He has completed over 1,000 hours flying everything from small Cessnas to Lear jets.