Approaching
As we approached Mt. St. Michel, it loomed large on the horizon above the farmland
Mt. St. Michel
We're at the site
Walking into the village
Four French Femmes
Warm café
We had a really nice time
It really snowed
This was the scene
The Skinny Street
Michelle reacts in mock horror at the very skinny space between buildings.
St. Michel the Archangel
Defeats the dragon
As we continue to climb
The view
From the steppes
The Davids
Aymone, Didier, Patricia, and Isabelle
Snow on the steps
The road
This road deserves an explanation. When I took this photo, it was low tide. There is a lot of land showing. At high tides, the waters of the English Channel come right up to the sides of the road. During storms, the water actually laps over and wreaks havoc on the road. It is planned to close the road in Dec. 2005 because scientists predict that the road will eventually be unpassable.
Rare Sun
A bit of sun, after the snow
The many amazing sights
The secluded garden
We listened in rapt attention
View
During medieval times, this entry would have been closed off to prevent the monks from seeing outside. There is a plexiglas plate in it now, for tourists to gaze out from.
The figures
The French revolution caused great destruction. Rebels captured the abbey, imprisoned the monks, and destroyed anything that looked like a holy relic. These carvings are destroyed.
Watering the garden
The rebels were not against beauty, and left this gardner tending his vine. it probably represented Father God tending his faithful children, the vines, but the rebels were unaware of the significance. Note that the petals along the top are unique - no two are exactly alike, and there are hundreds of them.
Dining room
Monks ate in an unheated dining room, to continue the theme of suffering and want.
Meeting Room
One floor below, the meeting rooms for kings and bishops was more well-appointed.
Wheel
This room shows a huge wheel, where the prisoners were placed inside and forced to walk to raise products up to the abbey via ropes.
Final chambers
Not sure what this room was used for
Late Afternoon
I was waiting as long as I could, hoping for the sun to break through the clouds, but it never did.