Mont Saint Michel a Medieval Town

Tuesday – Another early start as we had to get away to “Mont Saint Michel” as soon as possible. During breakfast the rain came down in buckets. We loaded the car quickly, in light rain, and drove the nine kilometers to the Mont Saint Michel car park catching the bus to the entrance of the Mont. We were amongst the very first there but were soon overrun by a bus load of Chinese. The number of visitors was quite surprising in view of the very cold wet weather and being the second day of the new year. Seeing Mont Saint Michel for the first time is quite breathtaking, ancient, historical and except for all the advertising billboards and tourist shops, time has stood still here. Disappointingly we couldn’t see the abbey because of a strike by the three public servants. Oh, so terribly French! After the strike was over the abbey was overrun by tourists, even with the bad weather and there was a waiting line snaking down into the village. These days there are only six monks, six nuns and three civilians who look after the Mont. We visited the Maritime and historical museum and then the Archeoscope followed by lunching on the famous Mont Saint Michel omelet which was far too big for us. We left Mont Saint Michel at 13:45 and had to wait for the next bus on the bridge in howling wind and driving rain and were delighted with the warmth and comfort of our car. The next stop “Dol-de-Bretagne” which turned out to be a bit of a disaster. After a walk around the pretty historic town and just as we were leaving, the van in front of us backed into our car, damaging the passenger side front end. At least the other driver was friendly, but he originally denied liability, and with Sylvie being French he quickly changed his tune. Having completed the necessary paperwork for insurance we decided to go straight to “Saint Malo” Avis where they exchanged the car with a replacement Skoda. In Saint Malo we had a hotel for two nights in the old city which is still enclosed by the medieval city wall. Driving to the hotel on tiny narrow cobbled laneways was demanding and a bit stressful after the accident. Having unloaded we had to find a carpark outside the city wall alongside the boat harbour. This was easier said than done but eventually we did find a spot. Dinner tonight was in a nearby local restaurant where I had a large potato salad and Sylvie a galette. Our hotel room is again very small but we are getting used to that and it is in a super place, close to everything. We are both contented and slept well.Read more