When we woke this morning, we were served a continental breakfast by Odile, our hostess. Juices, coffee, tea, fresh pastries and bread, and of course, cheese. Fresh fruit was plentiful including the cherries that T and H picked last night.
After breakfast, we said au revoir to Odile et la ferme and headed to Mont St Michel, an island abbey on the Normandy coast. The day was foggy but it burned off some by the time we left. We were early enough that we beat the heaviest crowds. From AD708 until 2001 this abbey was home to the Benedictine Monks who lived in this high spartan spot in an effort to be closer to God. It is hard to imagine how such a place could have been built - an engineering marvel. We all really enjoyed seeing this abbey and the cloisters and of course the views out over the water and to the grazing sheep.
Leaving Mont St Michel, we headed to Honfleur where Monet painted the harbor. Cute little town with some small art galleries - we found a sculpture we wanted by DeVille Charbrolle - only cost 14,000 euros! T and H found a cute gelato place, so all were happy.
Rouen, a large city where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the 1400s in front of the Cathedral in the city square, seems to be a little down in the dumps. The Cathedral of Notre Dame, a beautiful structure with a very unique spire, was damaged severely in 1944 when the Allies bombed the city to rid it of the Germans. Though obvious work has been done, there is much to do still; it even seems dirty and unkempt, as does the city itself. Glad to have seen it, however. Long, circuitous ride back home. Another great day!
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