aroundtheworldwJudy: on the way to FRANCE, and Le Mont St. Michele

Sunset and a rainbow at sea, just before entering Antwerp, Belgium.

Once in a while we are in busy sea lanes and we have lots of company on the horizon.

Entering Antwerp Harbor early morning.

A train from the remarkable Antwerp central train station took us to France.

FRANCE: Le Mont St. Michele

Long ago when I was perhaps 14, I saw the typical travel poster of Le Mont St. Michele and my heart began a longing that was wonderfully realized this week.

Le Mont St. Michele does not disappoint!

First view, from the parking area.

In the narrow winding walkways of the tightly constructed medieval town with a majestic Abbey crowning the mount, it is difficult to take a poor photo. Every glance is astounding. The masonry construction of the town is organic and has evolved ingeniously in a three-dimensional geometry of stairs, arches, niches, odd angles, and breath-taking views.

Following the clever advice of my dear friend Karen, Louise and I arrived at Le Mont St. Michele later in the afternoon as hoards of day-travelers were departing. This left the whole of Le Mont St. Michele only to those with booked hotels. Louise, also Faculty on Fall 2013 SAS, is a kindred spirit and fun travel companion! By the following morning when all the buses of tourists were arriving, we were on our way back to our ship.

we could also see the bright Abbey above.

At first we were disappointed that our hotel room had a “village view” (which actually meant we saw only a nearby rooftop), but later, when the nightly illumination of the Abbey came on, we discovered we could also see the bright Abbey above.

The Cloisters of the Abbey

In the morning we were among the first to queue up to enter the Abbey. In addition to the large church of the Abbey, we strolled through the Refectory, the Scriptorium (where monks ardently copied manuscripts), the Cloisters, several high-above-the-sea terraces, a lovely garden courtyard, prison chambers, and, of course, the gift shops. Wow.

Louise

The causeway leading to Le Mont St. Michele was built about a century ago to ensure access despite the tides. Unfortunately, silt has built up considerably creating a wet, sandy beach-like area surrounding the Mont. France has now undertaken an immense re-construction project which will both provide an access road on stilts and simultaneously wash the accumulated silt out to sea.

Sunset from Le Mont St. Michele

….. and Honfleur, Rouen, and Le Havre ....

Oh yes, we also visited several other delightful places in Normandy.

Another failsafe place for views (and photos) is Honfleur: we stopped by this charming town on a sunny Sunday and it was brimming full of Parisians out for the day, as well as others.

Honfleur had it all for the tourists: café’s, street performers, a carousel, grilling-chicken-on-the-street, a reflective marina surrounded by medieval buildings, ice cream, and of course souvenirs.

We stayed in a sweet 2-star hotel in Rouen: The Hotel Bonaparte.

Jo-on-crutches, Louise’s daughter, was with us during these days in France.

Rouen, the site of the cathedral that Monet painted 30+ times is a pleasant city with wonderful 13^th –15^th century half-timber construction buildings in narrow cobblestone streets. Another point of interest in Rouen: this is the city where Jean D’Arc was tried and burned. There is a remarkable (perhaps questionable) memorial and church in her honor.

The sanctuary of the cathedral at Rouen.

I NEVER before thought of an artist looking or acting like this!

And finally, there were 2 days in

Le Havre.

This city was totally bombed in WWII .... bombed to smithereens by both the Allied forces and the Germans. What a shame.

The city has been re-built with little charm. Throughout the city there remain a few buildings that were not destroyed, and Iglesia St. Joseph is a magnificent memorial for the WWII destruction.