Normandy Excursion - Day 4 - On the way home...

On Sunday morning we said Au Revoir to Le Mont Saint Michel and started our drive back to Belgium.

The half-timbered buildings in the Place du Vieux Marché

On the way back, we stopped to visit the town of Rouen, the capital of the Upper Normandy region. This is where Joan of Arc was tried and burnt in 1431

This signifies the spot where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake

Here we visited the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Gros Horlage (astronomical clock dating back to the 16th century).

After lunch in front of the the Palais de Justice, we walked over to the modern church of Saint Joan of Arc. The shape of this building was very unique. I read that its shape represents the pyre on which Joan of Arc was burnt, a maiden's hat, and/or an overturned viking ship. Ray thought it looked like Joan of Arc's helmet -- I actually think Ray is right! The cross in front marks the location where her execution took place.

Although the style of the church seems a little out of place amongst the half-timbered buildings at Place du Vieux Marché, once we stepped inside, it was quite beautiful. The massive stained glass windows inside this church date back from the Renaissance (1520-1530) and were saved in 1944 from the bombing of the nearby ancient Saint Vincent's church.

Lucky for us, there just so happened to be a gastronomical festival going on that day where several blocks of stalls were selling delectable Normandy delicacies and treats.

I stopped to buy some Le Roi Du Caramels, which were made with the creme from the region. They turned out to be the best caramels I've ever tasted.

Our Normandy Adventure was now at an end as we headed back for home. It turned out to be a splendid 4 days!

PS & DS in front of Saint Joan of Arc Church

Normandy Excursion - Day 3

Bright and early Saturday morning, we made the short trek from our hotel to Mont-Saint-Michel. Our hotel, Le Hotel Vert was conveniently located at the entrance of the causeway which made access to the Mont "easy-peasey". As we approached, the morning light reflecting off the Mont was truly breathtaking -- it appeared almost golden...

Le Mont Saint Michel is one of the most famous tourist sites in France and during high season, is jammed with visitors. We were lucky to be travelling during low season, however, and were blessed with beautiful weather, making our visit here truly magical.

This was once a tidal island connected to the mainland via a natural land bridge which was completely covered during high tides. Today, there is a causeway which allows you to drive across where you can park near the base of the Mont. Be careful where you park, however, as you may return to find your car completely surrounded by water (during high tides)! From there, we entered the gates on foot (no motorized vehicles allowed), walked through the charming cobblestone Grand Rue and up the many steps to reach the abbey which crowns the top of the island.

View of the causeway from the Abbey


Climbing up to the Abbey...

We toured the Abbey and marveled at the views from several vantage points throughout. The tides were low this morning, so we could see the vast mudflats engulfing the bay. The girls especially enjoyed spending time in the Cloister, where the Benedictine Monks spent their time in quiet contemplation and prayer. Not so quiet with our girls there, however...

View of surrounding mudflats...


Abbey interior...

The girls in the Cloister...


After touring the abbey, we had fun walking the ramparts of the island and stopped for a wonderful lunch at Chez Mado. With a view of the surrounding bay and the Abbey, it was the perfect spot for a mid-day break.

Ramparts of Mont-Saint-Michel

On the mudflats at base of Mont-Saint-Michel...


Later that afternoon, we drove to the nearby coastal town of Saint Malo, located in the Brittany region of France. This town is completely walled and walking the ramparts is a must when you visit here. We even had the chance to walk down to a lovely beach where the girls enjoyed playing in the sand and sticking their feet in the water. But, as the day was winding down and the tides were coming in, we walked into town and found a nice place to have dinner. By the time we made our way back to the car, that same beach was overtaken by the tides.









Our last stop of the day was to Mont-Saint-Michel to see it lit up at night. Really, really beautiful... And a perfect end to our day.

4 Splendid Days in Normandy, France...

As our Belgium Adventure is coming towards an end (gosh, it hurts to say that)... we are getting in those last few "must-see" trips before we go.

And since ISB was closed on Thursday and Friday, we decided to take this chance to visit Normandy, France.

For weeks, I was filled with excitement in anticipation of this trip, as this was someplace I have always wanted to go. To be honest, I didn't think this trip was going to happen as we only have a few more months here and the weather is now "hit-or-miss" since it's so late in the year.

With the exception of one cloudy day, we were blessed with beautiful weather! And due to a carefully planned itinerary, we were able to visit Etretat, Honfleur, Omaha Beach, Pont Du Hoc, Mont-Saint-Michel, St. Malo and Rouen. This trip was extra special since we were traveling during low season with hardly any crowds!

Although the entire trip and each place we visited was spectacular, I will never forget seeing Mont-Saint-Michel in person. Truly a destination you must see while you are in France...

Stay tuned to hear about our trip...