Alyshia's on the Computer and Lauren is Playing with Toy Ducks and Giving them Voices

May 21, 2008

T-minus 3 days until my birthday!

I think today might have been my favorite day so far on this trip. We left incredibly early, when it was 40 degrees outside, and we were told to wear shorts. Of course, we though our professors were one step beyond insane, so we layered up. The bus ride to Mortain took a little over an hour, and when we got there we toured the mountain that was home to the Battle of Mortain and saw where German soldiers lay in wait for Americans climbing up the hill. There were some terrific views, but it was nothing we hadn’t seen before.

On Mortain

Very old church on Mortain

After that we went to a little town to buy lunch for a picnic; I had a delicious baguette with Gruyere cheese and some strawberries.

By then it was close to two o clock (there was a lot of driving today), and we were set to begin our walk to Mont St. Michel.

Mont St Michel is a huge abbey that was built in the 8^th century (708) in the bay between Normandy and Brittany. The tide recedes way far out; at least a couple of miles, and you’re able to walk the 6km or so to the abbey across the bay itself. It was really muddy, knee-deep in some places, and we had to wade through some rivers of water with deep currents. Best of all, there was quicksand! It was so weird-feeling; kind of like rocking on a wooden plank, or standing on a “water mattress” as our French tour guide described it, which meant that whenever we found a patch we shouted “WATER MATTRESS!” and all jumped in it. You don’t sink too fast so it was really fun to play in it. All in all it was definitely an experience. We got to the abbey after around a couple of hours and took a tour. I will post pictures and a map later; I can’t write too much because I am tired.

Love!