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12. Mont St-Michel
Thursday, November 29 |
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We stayed one night in Tours. It has still been raining in spite of a light
rain now.
How is the weather at Mont St-Michel where we are going in the distance
of 266 km north spending 3 hours and a half?
The bus drove splashing and the front wiper was busy as if giving strong
support to our worry hopelessly.
However, lucky!
It stopped raining just when Mont St-Michel came out to us.
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Lunch first. The specialty dish in Mont St-Michel is said to be "Huge
Omelette" started by Madame Praal for pilgrims.
We entered the original restaurant "La Mere Poulard". The omelette
served was not huge but rather small, and the taste ..... Anyway a topic
of conversation. |
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| Views of Mont St-Michel |
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| From right, the local guide, the attendant and myself |
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| About Mont St-Michel |
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| The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since
the 8th century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws
its name.
The commune's position? on an island just a few hundred metres from land?
made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, but defensible
as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned would-be assailants.
The island remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small
garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. Louis XI recognised the reverse benefits of its natural defence and turned
it into a prison. The abbey was used regularly as a prison during the Ancien
Regime.
One of France's most recognisable landmarks, visited by more than 3 million
people each year, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are on the UNESCO list
of World Heritage Sites.
(English Wikipedia)
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We looked around the Abbey in detail for 2 hours.
Especially,
* La Merveille -- the part including the two 3-story buildings to the north.
* The cloisters on the top floor.
* Terrace on the west side -- wonderful view. We were able to see Blancville
on the opposite shore. |
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| Other Pictures |
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We stayed at St-Malo, a port town 60 km west from Mont St-Michel.
The hotel along the stone-paved alley was just near the port facing English Strait. The avenue was a shopping mall with a slight smell of the sea. It had a comfortable atmosphere.
Dinner was at the hotel restaurant. Fresh oysters were to be a specialty
here, so we tasted them paying a lot of money. The oysters were unexpectedly
thin and also the taste..... |
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