September 17

Probably the most physically challenging day of the trip, why? Climbing by stairs and cobblestone paths to the top of the rock on which is built the abbey on Mont-Sainte-Michel.

The area that the abbey is built on is a tidal area but full time access is from a bridge that is unobtrusive and blends in well with the landscape. Visitors get to the base of the rock by a shuttle bus, only the few residents and tradespeople, get to drive a car there. We got there early, so going up we didn't have to contend with people coming back down.

 

 

 

 

 The cool thing we were there at a time where the sun cast a shadow of the top of the abbey on to the sea.

 

 

 While there are mechanized buses, these carriages with horses also provided a way to get back and forth from the mainland.

After lunch at which I had the local omelette of La Mere Poulard, which I found to be bland and not at all interesting. It was advertised as a souffle-omelette, and its cooked over an open fire. Except for adding pepper, it was flavorless, no additions like cheese, meat or mushrooms to give it some flavor.

Then on to Concale which is a center for oysters which I don't do as raw shellfish and I don't get along. But I drank the wine that goes with having the oysters and then walked through the village.

 

 Tradition is that you toss the shells back to the seas to provide nutrients for more oysters.

 Be aware, there is a ginger cat guarding this place! Even sort of looks like Ducky! I was getting to miss my little guy.