Lazy days resting

The campsite turned out to be the best one we stayed at so far so we'll be here one more night. It rained last night and the temperature is now 85 which feels great and Mom is starting to wake up from her heat coma............

Because of the extreme heat last night we had an awful night and didn't get up early to do the bike ride to the castle and get back before the heat hit us. So change of plans we drove as far as we could and parked to walk the rest which as it turned out 2 km......It was already getting hot so we both started to dread the return walk. 

No worry, Mom said by the time we're ready to go back the buses have started to run..............ok great I thought.

Until this sign popped up....................Don't worry Mom said, we'll figure something out

Oh Noooo I hope it's not going to be a scene.

We are at the UNESCO-listed Mont-Saint-Michel.

It's looming dramatically on the horizon and defying some of the highest tides in Europe. It was for centuries one of Europe’s major pilgrimage destinations and today, 2.5 million tourists from around the world flock here every year and we're doing our best to beat all that

This was one long walk 2km (1.25miles) but the good part is no crowd, but .............8 am and it's already hot. Mom better figure this bus ride back out ,scene or no scene.

Through the medieval period, several other imposing monastic buildings were added to the site and the main abbey became a center of learning, attracting some of Europe’s greatest minds and manuscript illuminators. Scores of pilgrims visited but English forces were kept resolutely out by ramparts at sea level.

Mont-Saint-Michel is almost circular (about 3,000 feet [900 meters] in circumference) and consists of a granite outcrop rising sharply (to 256 feet [78 meters]) out of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay Most of the time it is surrounded by vast sandbanks and becomes an island only when the tides are very high. Before the construction of the 3,000-foot causeway that connects the island to land, it was particularly difficult to reach because of quicksand and very fast-rising tides. The causeway, however, has become a barrier to the removal of material by the tides, resulting in higher sandbanks between the islet and the coast.

We loved the narrow steep streets with restaurants and shops on each side but at this early hour, only coffee bars had opened

  two hours later this street was PACKED......

We continued walking up and up me pulling Mom of course   

and here it goes again the "No dog" sign to get into the abbey

The island was originally called Mont-Tombe but became known as Mont-Saint-Michel in the 8th century, when St. Aubert, a bishop built an oratory there after having a vision of the archangel St.Michael It rapidly became a pilgrimage center, and in 966 a Benedictine abbey was built there. In 1203 it was partly burned when King PhilipIIof France tried to capture the mount. He compensated the monks by paying for the construction of the monastery known as La Merveille (“The Wonder”).

The island, which was fortified in 1256, resisted sieges during the Hundred Years' war between England and France (1337–1453) and the French Wars of Religion (1562-98). The monastery declined in the 18th century, and only seven monks were living there when it was dissolved during the French Revolution (1787-99). It became a state prison under Napoleon (who reigned from 1804–15) and remained a prison until 1863. In 1874 it was classified as a historic monument and restored.

Well, we didn't get to see the abbey which was unfortunate so the only solace for that is to stop and eat something preferable sweets according to Mom  Me? anything goes

So many walkways to explore besides the abbey so we were ok with that after a coffee and a delicious sherbert and a liter of cold water 

Before all the tourists came Mom started to fantasize about how it would be living like this and then found out it has 

a population of at least 50 people.

there's a hotel here and it would have been really cool to stay overnight and experience the island at night

Some of the buildings in the village houses a community of nuns and monks.

It's 11 am and time to get back before the worst heat and there are the bus.............. let's see Mom work your magic now.

Oh no, don't ask THEM!

Here's the magic.............

Mom bought the biggest bag she could find in a store, and put me inside with a strict command about keeping still and quiet.

She put the bag on her shoulder and her hand on my head ready to push my head down if needed. 

I got it and stayed still and quiet to fool people I was a stuffed animal.................it worked splendidly

It's Wednesday afternoon just relaxing and making new plans for tomorrow.

Feeling good 

wet kisses Henry