This is a long day I had!
So I separate it into 2 posts
What an exciting day!~
I went to visit Reims Cathedral and the Champagne region
I choose something comfortable to wear today.
Because I am visiting 2 places with very different atmosphere, so I wore Antique beasT's floral dress with some Moitie and cross accessories.
Reims Cathedral. This is a cathedral that is as famous as the Notre-Dame in Paris. It was where all French kings are coronated.
表面上是建造在人間上一座最接近天堂的建築物, 但最後因為人性的醜惡,
HIGH GOTHIC設計變成主教們之間炫耀的工具.
花盡人們的奉獻而建這些當年能劃破天際的教堂.
Compare to Notre-Dame in Paris that started its construction in 1163, Reims Cathedral started its construction in 1211. With the later date it signifies that Reims is "higher" in the high Gothic architecture design.
High gothic style is popular back in the medieval days was not a matter of trendiness. At first, the appearance of high gothic design was the desire to build an architecture on earth that would connects the heaven and the earth symbolically with its height. In the end, that height became a mean that clergymen used to show off among themselves, thinking that whoever has the tallest cathedral would be the closest to God. This personal desire for fame had wasted much of the offerings collected, and ultimately contribute to the corruption of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
下面更有多一只,
教堂內面也佈們著雕塑.
This is an extravagant church of its days.
Other than the high rise and long lines that presents in high Gothic architecture, there is also the symbolic rose (stain glass) window. And in the Reims Cathedral we have two, not one, rose windows! as well as the inner wall of the west facade is completely filled with sculptures.
風琴就在教堂北面
The church organ is placed in the north of the cathedral.
但想想, 人性本來就是要人向上望的.
尋求的除了名利之外, 還有智慧.
物質的擁有是一山還有一山高的.
今天你擁有了一個名牌手袋, 你覺得自己很了不起.
之後別人告訴你她環遊世界!
那人覺得她能擁有你沒有的"旅遊經驗"所以很了不起,
所以嘲笑其他沒有環遊世界的人.
特然, 有位學者走出來,
笑說...."袋可以買, 有錢就可以. 地方可以去, 因為有錢也可以做到.
但學識, 重學習過程之中的那種煎熬到體會到最後那智慧的結晶,
因為錢只能為你避開那為了得到智慧而出現的"煎熬", 令你好過點.
但最後得到的只是一張有名無實的紙張.
不過, 這不代表我要停下來,
因為這些證書和評價都不是我學習和進修的目的.
Although these magnificent churches are builted on the grounds of personal fame, they nevertheless represents a trait in humanity - we always try to look for a place higher. This might be a notion aids to the conversation on survival of the fittest, but I think there is something far beyond the physical in here. We look for fame and power in the form of money, yet wisdom is above all.
One will always be out-famed, or outperformed by others if one only focus in materialistic matters. Say you bought a brand name handbag, thinking you are above others because you own a luxury item that other people you know don't. And another person you know comes along and told everybody that she had just finished traveling around the world. She felt she is above all because she has that "traveling experience" others don't. But then comes along a scholar who commends, "You can buy any of those brand name bags, all you have to do is have money. You can go anywhere, everywhere you want, as long as you have money. But wisdom, you can not buy. Wisdom comes from all the burdens from searching for wisdom. One had to endure before one to be enlightened."
That's why I always stress the importance of education. Knowledge and wisdom comes from constantly try to challenge oneself to succeed in a limited, constrain environment ( like school...I hated it). Wisdom is not about giving up (and give yourself reasons to!) when you are been challenged. Persistence is always the key to wisdom.
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After visiting Reims Cathedral, it's time for Champagne!
This is another place other than Giverny that I really want to visit.
一到酒莊區就令人非常精神!
My energy level boosts whenever I visit vineyards!
I will be visiting a boutique winery before I go visit Moet et Chandon.
Just like most vineyards, this boutique winery is also a Grand Cru.
提子農會把多余的樹葉剪掉,
那麼提子就能充份接觸陽光, 慢慢成熟.
Grapes are growing healthily! ヾ(＠°▽°＠)ﾉ
用來發酵的不鏽鋼桶和木桶
CHAMPAGNE是混出來的就, 不但用上3種提子~
PINOT NOIR, PINOT MEUNIER,和CHARDONNAY,
而且會跟據不同酒莊這3種提子的份量組合也不一樣.
之後有些酒會在木桶發酵, 有些會在不鏽鋼桶發酵, 之後又會混起來.
但還未混完!!!!
釀酒師會把酒裝存有, 不同年份的酒再混起來,
進行能產生BUBBLE的二次發酵.
看! CHAMPAGNE的藝術就是去混!
The above is the stainless steel tank, the bottom are wooden barrels for fermentation of the first still wine that used as the base of Champagne.
Champagne is a wine of blending. Not only it uses 3 grapes~ Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. According to different wine makers in different vintage, the % of the grapes will be different. some grape juice will be fermented in stainless steel, and some will be in wooden barrels according to the wine maker. But blending doesn't end here. The wine maker will also blend the wine with reserve wines from previous years!!!! Like this winery I visited, their oldest reserve wine dates back to 1970's. Initially the more involved in the blending, the more finese it will achieved. And then the wine is seal off for secondary fermentation.
As you can see the art of Champagne lies in the blending.
我們來到地下酒窖
就是二次發酵和待酒成熟的地方.
And we came down to the underground cellar, it is where secondary fermentation and all the aging happens.
一部品的存酒~2005的ROSE
Wines aging quietly here....this is Rose from 2005
酵母菌是CHAMPAGNE的BUBBLE和味道的母親
除了在二次發酵過程中令白酒變成有BUBBLE之外
酵母菌在酒精下死亡(AUTOLYSIS)而便成的沉澱物
能令CHAMPAGNE的味道更複雜.
Yeast is the key to Champagne's bubble and its flavour.
During secondary fermentation, the CO2 produced by yeast are traped in the heavy duty bottle that can handle the pressure. With alcohol build up as yeast consumes the sugar in the wine, yeast will die, a process called "autolysis". The wine is aged on these dead yeast cells for a more complex flavour.
到WINE TASTING的時候了!
可能我被品酒老師的就寵壞了, 這支還算可以~
但而16歐元來說的GRAND CRU, 那就真是太抵飲了!
所以我也入手了幾支可以PARTY用或帶回加國去.
And it is time for wine tasting! my favorite part!!!!
I think I am too spoiled by my sommelier teacher with her great wines, I find this Champagne around average~good - quality. But with 16 euro for a Grand Cru Champane, it is a valuable buy! So I got couple of them for an up-coming party and also as souvenir.
午餐~到CHAMPAGNE區這個小鎮去.
像歐洲很多小鎮一樣, 鎮中心都有家漂亮的教堂
I had lunch in the little town of Champagne.
Just like every other towns in Europe, there is always a pretty church in the middle of the town
三文魚當頭盤
但這頭盤感覺像一頓主菜!
Salmon for appetizer. But portion wise it feels like an entree!
主菜~白汁雞胸
這是我吃過最好吃的雞胸
又軟又滑....而且那白汁充滿奶香
很平平無其的一道菜竟然是那麼美味
Main course is chicken breast in bechamel sauce.
I have to say this si the best chicken breast I ever had in my life. It is so soft, moist, and smooth. And not to mention that bechamel sauce that is so ricj and full of milky flavor.
This is a simple dish loaded with delightful flavors!
午餐過後會出發去MOET & CHANDON
下回待續
謝謝收看!
Going to head to Moet & Chandon after lunch.
To be continue
Thank you for watching!
*:..｡o○☆ﾟ･:,｡*:..｡o○☆