The day started with more promise than yesterday with no rain but still a very strong wind. The forecast for the remainder of the day seemed good so two parties set out, the majority heading north to visit the beaches while Sylvia and I decided to go South West to visit France’s second most popular tourist attraction, Mont-St.-Michel.[See previous blog entry – A Normandy Quiz]
There appears to be no direct route from our cottages to the Atlantic coast, the choice being either to head North to Caan and then back down or a tortuous route heading in basically the correct direction. We choose the latter.
We only made one slight mistake in our navigation but as this entailed the first proper “u-turn” of the holiday we can forgive ourselves. The countryside was beautiful and we had plenty of time to enjoy it as we encountered a series of slow moving vehicles. Sitting on the wrong side of the car when driving makes overtaking on these roads almost impossible so we had to be patient.
Mont-St-Michel rises magnificently from the sea and can be seen from miles away, the first views are certainly impressive. It had taken a journey of around three hours to get here.
The area leading to the island is very commercialised with many restaurants and fast food establishments and the traffic got very busy as we approached. We parked about 3/4 miles away from the entrance alongside several hundred other cars, and made our way to the Abbey.
On the way we swopped cameras with another couple to take the standard photographs. The sun was shining but the wind, coming off the sea gave a chill to the air.
Inside the place resembled a Disney attraction and it was difficult to believe that this was over a thousand years old. The narrow streets leading up the winding steps to the Abbey were crowded spoiling slightly the experience. Even getting across to the shops was difficult as one has to push through a moving line of people, which made getting something to eat an almost impossible task! We therefore decided to make our way back and find somewhere on the return journey, after a last photo opportunity in the sunshine.
Mont-St-Michel is a wonderful place to view from the outside but far too busy to really appreciate the inside.
We took the quick route back stopping at a service area to get a snack which we both thoroughly enjoyed.
Talking of enjoying food, the two youngest members of our party seem to love the evening meals, competing as to who will make the biggest mess.
Round One to Joey I think!!!!!!
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