Today we headed off to our first stop the Moet and Chandon Winery. We had a full tour and then tasting. The tastings here are full glasses - luckily is was very nice champagne. I guess that’s the difference between a $20 bottle and a $200 bottle.


Then it was off to Reims Cathedral. Like all cathedrals here it was very impressive but hard to compare to St Pauls or Notre Dame.

 

We then went to Mont St Quentin to see the 2nd Division memorial and the trenches and fields where the Australians captured the hill from the Germans. The woods are as they were left over 90 years ago. Mat McLachlin our historian was very descriptive and you could image the conditions and fighting that took place here. The memorial is not the original one as it was a soldier with a pitchfork through a German eagle. During the 2nd world war the Germans took it back to Germany and melted it down. The new memorial is a very imposing typical Australian soldier looking down from a pedestal.


We finished our day at Ypres where we are staying at the Novotel about 100mtr from the Menin Gate. We went down for the ceremony tonight but tomorrow night we are officially taking part and Ian will be laying the wreath. Tomorrow we have a day around Ypres.