I adored this place. Located in Normandy, France, Mont St. Michel is a UNESCO world heritage site and is visited by about 3 million people each year. Travel in and out from Paris is a little difficult as trains to the nearest station are not that frequent, so you need to be prepared and organized (or spend more time in the west of France). I spent the night in a little hotel located inside the walls of the Mont, which happened to remind me a great deal of my late grandmother. Some may not enjoy that aspect but the pale pink decor and distinct smell made me feel so comfortable and at ease, I would love to return just for that. The actual Mont is pretty small and at the very top is where the Abbey is located, which is definitely a workout to get to! But the quaint little paths and the 360 degree views are unbeatable. There are 3 museums but the main activities here are shopping and eating. There is a more suburban tourist hub of shops and hotels in the nearby town at the base of the Mont but buses are needed from there. For me though, nothing beat coming out of my little hotel around 11pm and walking out into the dark stillness with the distance sounds and shadows of other visitors around and taking this picture. It was the second place I visited on my trip (Paris being the first) but the first time I felt I was actually travelling, that I was embarking on this life altering experience. I had first heard about Mont St. Michel from a picture on Pinterest and I decided right then I would see it in person. It really was a dream come true when I got out of the bus and looked up, I could hardly believe I was actually there! It really is something to see.

June 17-18, 2013