We ended out trip by staying one night outside Paris, in the largest city of the Champagne Region. Reims is noted for the wine, and for the large Notre Dame de Reims cathedral, which towers over the surrounding countryside.
The Place Drouet d'Erlon is the main square under the cathedral in the city center, and we spent time exploring there among the lively restaurants and bars, statues and fountains.
We stayed in a private, garden house, with the Van den Borre family. They rent one room only, and we had a nice time talking with them. Mr. Van den Borre speaks English, and he recommended a café for us, called ahead to make reservations, and ensured that they had a glass of the best local champagne waiting. The café fronted the Place Drouet d'Erlon, so it was a great place to sit for a long, last dinner, lingering over wine and espresso, watching French life happen around us. I had frog legs, and they were excellent.
We didn’t stay out too late since we had to get back to the room and pack everything in tight for the trip home the next day.
We got up early, and Madame Van den Borre walked down the street to buy us fresh bread and pastry for breakfast.
After hugs all around, they bid us “adieu” and we set out, the last 130KM back to the Paris airport and our flight home.
It was the saddest day of the trip.