Day 13: M O N T ST. M I C H E L

!! 8 am breakfast call! Who is on holiday here?

We've discovered at breakfast, the egg poacher. It's all about figuring out how it works and what is the optimum time. We are really getting good at poaching at this point in our trip!

It takes three hours to get to Mt St Michel from Rennes. We have a quick pit stop along the way (a desperate plea to a gas station that was about to shut for a two-hour lunch break) and the sights along the coast are beautiful. Weird to think that England is just across the water way!

Along the horizon we finally get a glimpse of Mont St Michel at 11. 30 am. It's an old fortress, now an abbey, surrounded by a little "village" at its base. The entire complex is built on an island and can only be reached during low tide. When we arrive the parking lot is unbelievably full! The walk to the base of the island is surreal as you imagine in just a few hours where you are currently walking will be filled with water. Crazy! The view of Mt. St. Michel is also spectacular!!

And it is crazy as you approach the "gate" of the "city". There is a steady climb as you head up towards the abbey and it's very very narrow. On top of that there are shops on either side of you trying to sell you stuff...and on top of all of that the narrow walk way is CRAMMED PACKED with tons of people .... everywhere. ZANNY!
This is the most packed tourist spot we've seen so far! I mean, there are A LOT of people here!

We enjoy amazing views of the sea, the land and the sky once we get to the top of the island (the abbey is at the peak). The abbey itself is quite impressive. It's a real "working" monastery so there are pilgrims making their way up and then, there are the curious, like us. An interesting mix of people which makes for interesting people watching!

Finishing our tour of the abbey, we make our way down and decide to have a lunch late. Eventually we make the descent back towards the car park. There is nothing about moving quickly to write about here! It's a very slow snakey walk down the hill. You are at the mercy of this packed, snail-moving crowd! Our group gets separated on the way back to the car so it takes some time to find everyone again but we manage. And then, before we know it, we are back on the road at 4.30 PM.

Our destination is Deauville/Trouville. Clearly, this area is famous for their seafood (and strippy shirts!). There is also a swanky casino in Trouville. TONS of restaurants which are located across the street from the fish market! Very cool. We have a walk and decide on a restaurant. What a seafood feast. Joad discovers that, alongside steak and frites, he really likes, "moules"! A great discovery (for him and us!)!

After another serious walking day, we are all sacked and head back ready for a nice long rest...but not before a quick turn of the casino!