Jour 9- La Merveille- Mont Saint Michel

Who wouldn’t want to wake up to a buffet of croissants, pain au chocolat, fruit, madeleines, platters of cold cuts and cheese, pancakes, granola, yogurt, and of course french coffee and fresh juices? Rolling away from the table, we boarded the bus for the drive to Mont Saint Michel.  The Abbaye dates from 708, when the Archangel Saint Michel visited the archbishop Aubert in a dream commanding him to build an edifice.  Two dreams and a hole in the skull later ( ask your kids to recount the story) Aubert installed a community of monks on this rocky island in the bay between Normandy and Brittany.  The difference in sea level between reaches 14 meters routinely.  As you can imagine, both regions claim ownership although the Abbaye technically lies in Normandy.  Over 2.5 million visitors come each year, as many as 10,000 per day in the summer.  The Abbey is a stop on Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route in France. We braved the steep, narrow, winding path and 350 steps to a breathtaking 360 view.  Our guide did a wonderful job of explaining the complicated building process.  On the descent we explored the shops and of course the local delicacies. We all agree, we need to return.  A quick stop at a biscuiterie to load up on butter cookies and we headed back to Senlis, tired and content. Upon reaching the border between Normandy and Oise, a rainbow, and eventually a double rainbow, greeted us!