Monday

Mont Saint Michel

We met our guide (Hélène, whom we have seen every exchange) at the entrance to Mont Saint Michel at around 9:30.  As opposed to the summer when you can barely move in the crowded narrow street (there is only one), we were the only ones there except the fork lift drivers bringing the day's food/water onto the islet and the chefs and restaurant workers preparing for the day.  This made it possible for Hélène to lead us up to the top via the narrow passages through the "residential" part (and by residents, I mean the 28 full or part-time inhabitants) which one does not normally see.  Many, many (did I say many?) steps later, we reached the top with an expansive view of the bay.  The bay of MSM is known to have the greatest tidal differences in Europe - a difference of 6-15 km between high and low tides.

After visiting the public parts of the monastery at the very peak and the various chapels and crypts,we wound our way back down for a leisurely look in the gift shops and cafés.  Then, we went off to meet our guide for the afternoon, Bertrand, who met us with a trunk full of rubber boots in each of our sizes (which we had provided ahead of time).  Once we had donned this fashionable footwear, off we went hiking across the salt flats that surround the MSM during the neap tide.

We crossed rivulets and undulating sands, identifying the landmarks around the bay and learning of its ecology.  The most memorable part for the students, I am sure, was the opportunity to walk/jump on sand that quickly became the consistency of a waterbed or trampoline.  After jumping and playing for a certain number of minutes, Bertrand gave the order to move to solid ground to avoid sinking and getting stuck in the mud.  Once on a new piece of firmer feeling sand, they could start the process again.  They sure got a kick out of this activity!

The day did include a great deal of climbing steps and hiking, so we headed back to our rooms to relax before dinner and then turn in a bit earlier than usual after dinner.  After a good night's sleep, we will board our bus and meet Hélène again to go visit various sites of the D-Day campaign as well as the American Cemetery, after which we will head to our hostel in Paris for the next 2 nights.