It was getting late when he took the boat out for a spin.

He shut off the engine to lay back for a good look at the night sky.

That's when Alan Lightman tells us something happened that he'll never forget.

I felt like I was connected to the... something happened that he'll never forget.

I felt like I was connected to the stars profoundly.

It's part of the long thread of human connection to the world.

Coming up, we'll hear how searching for stars influenced in MIT Professor's view of the universe and his place in it.

When you travel to the northeast of France, you can join the Brotherhood of the Saber by decanting a

bottle of champagne where you use a sword instead of a corkscrew.

And you have the sword carress, the bottle to the rim.

And the top of the bottle comes off with the cork.

With no spiel.

Guides from France introduce us to the traditions of Champagne.

And listeners tell us about the places

they've been that really stoked their spirit. It's all just ahead on Travel with Rick

Steeves. In just a minute, Alan Lightman tells us how having free time alone with the night sky

allowed him to get in touch with something mystical,

something people have wrestled with throughout the ages.

Listeners tell us about some of the places they visited that boosted their spirits.

And find out how what Dom Perignon said was like tasting the stars has fostered festive traditions

in the Champagne region of France.

That's all in the hour ahead on today's travel with Rick Steve's.

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