Dimly lit back alley...I love this!
Misty morning and the graveyard.
KC, Julia, Pam and John had rooms overlooking the party patios Gen,
myself, Ginnie and Kathy had.
They're standing in the fireplace!
Buddy introductions
Watching the shadow of the monastery spire grow longer and longer at sunset!
Mont St. Michel was one of the top sites I was looking forward to on the entire trip! I love
all things medieval like castles, monasteries, and such. The magic
started when Rene dropped us off at the beginning of the causeway. We
approached the city on the causeway and watched it grow bigger and
bigger. It is truly an impressive sight to behold!
Once in the city, there was a massive crush of tourists walking the main route. I can see how it is a tourist trap during the day, but the real magic starts as night falls and the tourists leave. The lonely alleys and dimly lit corridors beckon for exploration!
We arrived mid-day so we did have to slog through the tourist laden afternoon, but Gen and I lucked out and got one of the best rooms of the group. We had a gigantic patio overlooking the town and the tidal plains. In fact, we had our buddy intros at Ginnie and Kathy's room next to ours (which had the same patio view). Patrick supplied sodas and the local specialty alcohol -- hard apple cider. The tide rolled and pigeons played as we were "formally" introduced to our travel buddies.
After buddy intros, Gen, myself, KC and Julia wandered the streets for a bit and then headed for dinner. The place we chose was decent but nothing to write home about. Then again, of course, keep in mind that Mont St. Michel's appeal isn't really the food, its the place. Savor the nighttime experience while you can!
Wandering the streets and alleys at night reminds me of Venice at night. The peacefulness and mystery of a dimly lit, deserted alley hold an intense allure. That and the fact that you can't get lost - you either end up at a dead end or in the sea.
I have to thank Gen for putting up with my night wanderings and photography. That night we wandered various alleyways and headed back out the causeway to get a photo of the floodlit Mont St. Michel in all its glory.
We ran into René on the causeway. Gen, being Gen, managed to get the majority of his life story while I took pictures. René is an interesting and fun guy. The ladies on the tour definitely took an immediate interest in him. He's from the Netherland but was currently dating someone...
The next morning, we took a tour of the abbey. Our local tour guide was Margaritte. We managed to start early enough that the hordes of tourists hadn't arrived yet. The tour of the abbey was quite fascinating although after a while some of the rooms began looking alike. Even so, I thought it was an interesting insight into the lives of the Dark Ages monks that lived there. After the tour we boarded the bus.
Next stop Amboise!
Once in the city, there was a massive crush of tourists walking the main route. I can see how it is a tourist trap during the day, but the real magic starts as night falls and the tourists leave. The lonely alleys and dimly lit corridors beckon for exploration!
We arrived mid-day so we did have to slog through the tourist laden afternoon, but Gen and I lucked out and got one of the best rooms of the group. We had a gigantic patio overlooking the town and the tidal plains. In fact, we had our buddy intros at Ginnie and Kathy's room next to ours (which had the same patio view). Patrick supplied sodas and the local specialty alcohol -- hard apple cider. The tide rolled and pigeons played as we were "formally" introduced to our travel buddies.
After buddy intros, Gen, myself, KC and Julia wandered the streets for a bit and then headed for dinner. The place we chose was decent but nothing to write home about. Then again, of course, keep in mind that Mont St. Michel's appeal isn't really the food, its the place. Savor the nighttime experience while you can!
Wandering the streets and alleys at night reminds me of Venice at night. The peacefulness and mystery of a dimly lit, deserted alley hold an intense allure. That and the fact that you can't get lost - you either end up at a dead end or in the sea.
I have to thank Gen for putting up with my night wanderings and photography. That night we wandered various alleyways and headed back out the causeway to get a photo of the floodlit Mont St. Michel in all its glory.
We ran into René on the causeway. Gen, being Gen, managed to get the majority of his life story while I took pictures. René is an interesting and fun guy. The ladies on the tour definitely took an immediate interest in him. He's from the Netherland but was currently dating someone...
The next morning, we took a tour of the abbey. Our local tour guide was Margaritte. We managed to start early enough that the hordes of tourists hadn't arrived yet. The tour of the abbey was quite fascinating although after a while some of the rooms began looking alike. Even so, I thought it was an interesting insight into the lives of the Dark Ages monks that lived there. After the tour we boarded the bus.
Next stop Amboise!