No work today - play time

 Thursday 1st May - Labour Day

Beautiful warm weather today. It is a public holiday and very quiet. We had hoped to get into the city by bus (after the nightmare traffic yesterday), but no, it really is a holiday for the workers and there was no public transport. Today we picked a different parking area, a bit further away from the city parking, and bonus, 5 hours free parking.

Champagne centre of France - haven't indulged yet.

One of the old Roman gates to Reims.

We think this 'hole' contraption is designed to get your boots off
- but I'm willing to be corrected.

Hotel de Ville - town hall.

We visited the Notre Dame cathedral - really lovely. They had plenty of information in English. The cathedral was used in the past for many coronations. In more recent times the reconciliation between Germany and France was signed here in 1962. A few tourist groups in town, but certainly not the crowds we saw in Avignon.

These windows are by Marc Chagall
- we have seen other of his windows and artwork on previous visits to France.

The clock inside the cathedral - it has figures that move when it strikes each hour.
We were lucky enough to be there at 11.

Spent a while just wandering the streets. Remember to look up. There are so many beautiful buildings.

Statue to the memory of Louis XV.

And of course, always time for coffee in the street and people watching. Seemed like many of the French people enjoyed their day off meeting up with friends and dining/drinking out. When in Rome.....

Chow chow - Kerry has one of these, but the black model.

And another gorgeous dog - so well groomed for his day out.

This couple arrived at the cafe with their dog on a lead,
and cat on a lead in a handbag.

I've commented in the past that toilet seats in France seem to be an optional extra.
This cafe had one but never mind if the seat is not the same shape as the bowl.

An Aussie in France - beer in hand, BBQ, friends
- and have a chat is enjoying himself.

The hosts of this apartment are lovely. A youngish couple with 4 young kids. They speak good English which has made for an easy stay. There is a couple with 2 kids in the next door apartment - they are from Ireland. They have gone to Disneyland for the day - only an hour on the motorway apparently. When we arrived back from our morning out the owners were sitting in the garden with friends and all the kids. They invited us to sit with them and have a drink.