Waiting for the cab to Central Station Amsterdam and the last time we have to climb these steep Dutch stairs. Ha
First hiccup in our grand plan to get to Bayeux in Normandy. My map I so dilignently put on my Ipad is not working. Haven't got this map thing down yet. We got lost trying to get out of Rouen. Finally Terry used her phone and put in directions to Caen which was the direction we needed to go. Somehow, we ended up on the right road but wrong direction. We were headed back to Paris. I exited the freeway to try and go the other way, but there was no on ramp going the other way. Oops!
After a while driving thorough the countryside, Terry got us going in the right direction and we were off to Bayeux. Arrived about 7:45 PM in the dark and finally found our hotel. We checked in and went a few doors up the street for a bite to eat before collapsing. I also needed a big glass of wine after our driving adventure.
Got a bit of a late start the next morning We breakfasted at the hotel which is lovely
The garden in back
we decided to go to Mont Saint-Michel for the day.
Ok, I've got this map thing figured out. I learned how to save the darn thing so it will work off the GPS and not wi-fi. Hooray!
Outside our hotel, the "Hotel D' Argouges" in Bayeux
Our first glimpse of Mont Saint-Michel. She sits on the flat horizon looking like a great mirage.
We traveled on around the road to a parking lot and then walked into the visitors center where you can catch a shuttle bus out to the foot of the rock. Previously there was parking lots across the flats just below the rock. Those have been removed. Today, the site is threatened by the progress of silt and sand around the Rock. This sand encroachment phenomenon in the bay is natural, but has been amplified by human activities around the Mont. The current access road will also be removed and they have built a new elevated approach.
The French government, Europe and local authorities have decided to join forces to preserve this gem in its original setting. Launched in 2005, the operation strives to put Mont Saint-Michel back in phase with the tides by 2015. I won't go into a lot of detail, but suffice it to say it will all look and be much more natural at the completion of the work.
When we got off the shuttle bus, we still had to walk a ways to get to the foot of the Rock, but what a sight.
The entry to Mont Saint-Michel. It's all up hill from here
Terry's ears were cold, so she bought a hat.
Okay, now we are headed to the Abbey which is on top of this big old Rock.
Getting to the top requires lots of stops for pictures (good excuse to rest)
A lovely little Chapel on the way up
I also got hot and had to peel off the down jacket
About here we came to the dungeon's and jail. This was a spiral staircase, up and down and a couple different levels and ends up at the foot of the Abbey. Terry decided she wanted to go up this way. Sandra and I decided we wanted to save our knees and opted for the more gradual climb, so we parted company.
As we made our way up the many many stairs, we came to the ramparts where we rested.
An impregnable stronghold during the Hundred Years' War, Mont Saint-Michel is also an example of military architecture. Its ramparts and fortifications resisted all the English assaults and as a result the Mount became a symbol of national identity.
Just one more set of stairs to the Abbey. I think I can make it
Resting and waiting for Terry
Ok, on to the Abbey. Did I mention there are different levels in the Abbey, so more stairs up and down. Oh our aching legs. Gonna need the Ben-gay tonight.
Before the construction of the first monastic establishment in the 8th century, the island was called Mont Tombe . According to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared in 708 to St. Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. Aubert repeatedly ignored the angel's instruction until Michael burned a hole in the bishop's skull with his finger.
In the 10th century, the Benedictines settled in the abbey, while a village grew up below its walls. By the 14th century it extended as far as the foot of the rock.
The Cloister was a place of meditation and prayer
It's a long way down. See the little black specks between the trees. People walking on the sand.
The nave is covered by a wood-panelled barrel vault
The Monk's hall
where they took their meals in silence. I assume the meals were prepared in this humongous fireplace
This great wheel was used as a pulley to bring supplies up to the abbey
We must now go down in search of a well deserved lunch.
After a light lunch, we headed back to Bayeux. Arrived about 6:00 and got ready for dinner at this lovely place.
The walk back to the hotel
More on the Cathedral tomorrow.
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