The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining us and welcome! Since there is a handful of people who would like to know how Aramis and I are doing on our trip to and in England, I decided to start a blog, comment on our progress and share some of the pictures I took.

We started our journey at 7am this morning and even though I had planned to take a one or two hour break at some point, I did not stop anywhere for longer than 15 mins. Thanks to the aircon, Aramis was not too hot and once he had realised that this was going to be a longer journey, he settled and went to sleep.

We arrived at our hotel in Reims at 2pm, about two hours earlier than I had anticipated. We checked in and took a short nap. As there was still plenty of time and as I had never seen Reims Cathedral, I decided to leave Aramis in the hotel room and visit this icon of Gothic architecture on my own. Despite not having done much else than napping in the boot of Gudrun-Paco (name of the car, long story) today, the journey seems to have taken its toll on my canine and he did not even try to join me when I left. That’s why there is only a single picture of Aramis today.

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A first glimpse of Reims Cathedral.

 

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A closer look.
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Two interesting beasties on the front portal cuddling or fighting.
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Inside Impressions.
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Little lights in the dark. Candles of faith and of hope.

These lights made me stop in my tracks. I became rather sentimental when I saw them, and took them as a reminder of the various burdens many of us have to bear in our lives. In such troubling and emotionally challenging times I hope that everyone may find themselves surrounded by kind friends who will offer consolation and support. People, who turn darkness into light, by just being there and standing with you.

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When I saw these windows they immediately reminded me of those in Zurich’s Fraumünster. They too were made by Marc Chagall.
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A 1911 statue of Jeanne d’Arc, who in 1429 led Charles VII to Reims for him to be crowned king in the cathedral.
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Gothic arches.
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When in France…
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Entrance portal. Note the (rather modern, but wonderfully quirky) Rhino gargoyle.
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Another shot of the Rhino gargoyle and another one of its gargoyley friends.
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A headless Saint.
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This is what happens to sinners: a vision of hell.
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I’m intrigued: what are these naked people in their boxes and pots supposed to represent?
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Hello stranger!
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Upon my return, Aramis barely lifts his head to greet me – he is a very, very sleepy dog.

Tomorrow, we will cross the Channel and travel to Cambridge, where we will spend the night.