Mont Saint Michel today! And it’s just as beautiful as expected.
Since I knew we wouldn’t get to Mont Saint Michel very early, I wanted to arrive late, after 4pm as Rick Steves suggests. So we stopped in Caen along the way and visited the Memorial Museum for Peace. I didn’t take any photos while I was there. It didn’t seem right, somehow. And I know this might be an unpopular opinion, but I didn’t like the museum. That’s not to say it’s not incredibly educational and well put together – it absolutely is. This is a must see for WWII buffs, and it’s very educational – we saw several school groups there, and I think the museum did a very good job of putting all the information together in a wonderful way.
The drive through Western Normandy was spectacular – I absolutely loved the countryside. Rolling hills, towns nestled in valleys or on hillsides, wind turbines and cows and poppies along the roadside – it was beautiful. I took some photos from the car, but of course, they don’t do it justice.
Mont Saint Michel – wow. Wowie-wow-wow. We caught a glimpse of it from 10 miles away – floating “like a mirage on the horizon,” indeed. I took entirely too many pictures, but here are just a few:

We bypassed the main street and went up along the ramparts, as suggested. Glad we did – we missed the crowds and the kitschy shops. This is looking down on the main street-
It was absolutely gorgeous, and I definitely recommend you visit!
I loved our visit to MSM. We went in late September and the crowds were minimal so we could just meander through and take our time. It was lovely. I was also captivated by the mudflats that disappear with high tide. And is there a lovelier place than the French countryside? I don’t think so. 🙂
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