Mont Saint-Michel

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the main reasons I came to France was to see Mont Saint-Michel.  But I didn't want to come as a tourist just to take pictures.  I wanted it to be a pilgrimage, a sort of holy trek.  Such a trek shouldn't be easy, so I decided to rent a bike in St. Malo and ride it to Mont Saint-Michel, about 50km away.  Although not very far, the journey was made more difficult by hilly terrain and my ignorance of the route (I had looked at maps before hand, but didn't have a map or internet with me).  Well, the journey was a good challenge; I began pedaling in drizzling rain, and quickly starting guessing on routes--I decided to take a short-cut through farmlands.  I made a montage of the journey that I hope portays the spirit of the pilgrimage.

Click on the picture to watch: 



https://youtu.be/5QV6YSJTIL4

St. Malo, France

After a dozen hours of flying and another 4 hours of train rides, I made it from Boise to Paris to St. Malo, France.  I did not know much about the city before I came, choosing this destination because it is the closest major city to Mont Saint Michel cathedral, which I want to visit.   

However,  I soon realized that St. Malo itself is worth the trip, an historic town on the coast of northern France, with a tragic history as told in All the Light We Cannot See (by an a Pulitzer Prize winning author from Boise).  The Old City of St. Malo is pictured on the cover:

After arriving at my hotel,  I walked to the beach.  This was the first sight I saw: one of the most breath-taking sunsets I have ever seen.  I ran out into the ocean, following the reflection of the sunlight on the water.  As I dove into the cold waves, I felt cleansed of all the stress of traveling.  It was all worth it.

The Last Hurrah

This week, I said goodbye to my two best friends.

Natty Nevada, a troubadour, left yesterday to serenade the Western United States, from Portland to Santa Fe, armed with an acoustic guitar and a robust beard.  I expect many hearts will be broken.



Baron von Ririe, a courtier, departed this morning to charm all levels of German society, from the homeliest peasant to the dandiest aristocrat.  His straightforward advances coupled with his backhanded wit form a potent combination.

Bon Voyage, Amigos.