Mont St. Michel "Let build an abbey in the middle of the ocean!"

Mont St. Michel is a demi- island, meaning at high tide it's an island and at low tide it's part of the mainland. Well, now there is a causeway that connects it all the time but for a long time you had to time your trip just right or get stuck. So, it's very small, with one street and a lot of stairs and of course very touristy but that doesn't stop it from being breath-taking.

Look.

But it comes with perils. A tide you can't outrun, winds that will blow you over strong currents and of course the dreaded quicksand. So, maybe this picture is more of my shadow, but notice I'm almost up to my knees in quicksand and it only took 2 seconds to sink that far. But luckily that's as far as it goes otherwise we wouldn't have this picture.

And then the mud. These are not rocks they're mud pebbles. It thought they were cool. The mud here in the bay has this strange property of sticking to anything. I still have mud on my shoes even though I've washed them twice and worn them for two days now.
That's a buoy at low tide. I'm about mile out from the Mont.
Also, at low-tide people draw things in the sand. There was ever a marriage proposal.
Then there's high tide, that comes up an surrounds the Mont.
But from the causeway you can still get pretty pictures.
Other things to note. Lot's of seafood. mussels and clams are literally strewn about in the water. I even found a small crab in my bed at the hotel.

Beaudacious Bayeux

So, I really like Bayeux. Yes it is a town of old people, most veterans and their families but I still like it.

First, there is the Cathedral. One of the better ones I've seen. Pretty and gothic on the outside but still a managable size and very light and airy on the inside. No dark , cold pulpit （ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｉｔ　ｄｉｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｃｒｙｐｔ）Ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｉｎ　ｕｓｅ．　Ｉlitterally walked into a wedding. Then there is the tapestry. Created soon after the war in 1066 (when William the Bastard of France kicked Harold of England off the throne of England. and so became William the Conqueror- this is where modern English and England comes from when the plebian Saxons were culturized and suppressed by the French Normans) (Can you tell I'm intrested in this time period?) Any way the tapestry is surprisingly amusing and takes 70 meters to tell the story (complete with virgin slapping, naked people and hands of gods) If you go to Bayeux go see it!
Then there is a more somber part of the city. Bayeux is about t10 mins. away from the Normandy beaches. Here is the shell- riddled cliff of Pointe du Hoc (American Rangers climbed a cliff to under German fire to take possession of the machine guns here and secure both Omaha and Utah beaches)
Then of course Omaha beach. Even with people sun- bathing (it's a very nice beach aside from the history) it makes you tear up when you see it.
And finally the American cemetary. It's built like capital hill but even so everyone in my tour group cried walking through it. (tour group was four Aussies and three people from Pine Hurst all over the age of 60 though none were veterans)

So, the weirdest thing, I found this name on the missing persons wall.

If it won't play (Bland George W S Sgt 119 Inf 30 Div North Carolina)
His name, rank and home place. Any one know who this guy and how he's related to us. (Because he has to be)

Ｓｏ，　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｃｏｎｓｔｒｕｃｔｉｏｎ　ａｔ　Ｃｈａｒｔｒｅｓ　Ｃａｔｈｅｄｒａｌ．　Ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｗｏ　ｔｏｗｅｒｓ．　Ｉｔ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｂｕｉｌｄ　ｓｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｙｌｅ　ｃｈａｎｇｅｄ．　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｅｃｏｎｄ　Ｃａｔｈｅｄｒａｌ　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ．　Ｉｔ　ｈｏｕｓｅｓ　ｔｈｅ　Ｖｅｉｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｖｉｒｇｉｎ　（ａ　ｒｅｌｉｃ）　ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｓ　ｍｉｒａｃｕｌｏｕｓｌｙ　ｕｎｈａｒｍｅｄ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔｃｈｕｒｃｈ　ｂｕｒｎｅｄ　ｄｏｗｎ．　Ｓｏ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ｂｕｉｌｔ　ａ　ｂｉｇｇｅｒ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ　ｏｎｅ　ｉｎ　ｈｏｎｏｒ　ｏｆ　ｈｅｒ．　
Ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｏｌ　ｔｈｉｎｇ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｃａｔｈｅｄｒａｌ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　Ｌａｂｙｒｉｎｔｈ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｄｄｌｅ．　Ｙｏｕ’ｒｅ　ｓｕｐｐｏｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｗａｌｋ　ｉｔ，　ｓｌｏｗｌｙ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｌｉｆｅ．　Ｉ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　Ｉ　ｆｏｕｎｄ　Ｊｅｓｕｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｄｄｌｅ　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｏｄｄｌｙ　ｐｅａｃｅｆｕｌ　ａｎｄ　ｄｅｔａｃｈｅｄ　（Ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　１０　ｍｉｎｓ，　ｉｎ　ｃｉｒｃｌｅｓ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｄｏ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｏ　ｙｏｕ） This peacefulness went away though when I found out the Veil wasn't on display. ( I really like relics)



Ｔｈｅｓｅ　ａｒｅ　ｔｗｏ　ｃｕｒｉｏｕｓ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｇｉｒｌｓ　ｗｈｏ　ｃａｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｂａｂｂｌｅ　ａｔ　ｍｅ　ｉｎ　Ｆｒｅｎｃｈ　ｗｈｅｎ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｕｐｌｏａｄｉｎｇ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔａｙｉｎｇ　ａｔ　ｗａｓ　ｔａｋｅｎ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｂｙ　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ａ　Ｊｏｈａｖａｈ’ｓ　ｗｉｔｎｅｓｓ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈ　ｇｒｏｕｐ．　Ｉ’ｖｅ　ｓｅｅｎ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈ　ｇｒｏｕｐｓ　ｈｅｒｅ．　Ｂｕｔ，　ｏｄｄｌｙ，　ｉｔ’ｓ　ｍｏｓｔｌｙ　Ｐｒｏｔｅｓｔａｎｔ　ｏｎｅｓ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ．Ｒｅｉｍｓ　ｋｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｓｔａｎｄｓ　ｏｕｔ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ．　
Ｂｕｔ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓｑｕe and just turned 1000, last year.


A bit of sculpture that has become popular . He's know as the smiling angel but I personally find him a bit creepy. (It's the smile) I was sad to find that he is missing a wing and an arm since the time they took post card photos of him. Chartres and Reims both survived the revolution fairly well, （ｏｒ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｒｅｓｔｏｒｅｄ）ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈｅｓ　Ｉ’ｖｅ　ｓｅｅｎ　ａｒｅ　ｍｉｓｓｉｎｇ　ｓｔａｔｕｅｓ　ｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｅａｄｓ　ｏｆ　ｓｔａｔｕｅｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｈｏｌｅ　ｗａｙ　ｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｈｕｒｃｈ　ｂｕｔ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｉｎ　ａｒｍ　ｒｅａｃｈ　ｌｅｖｅｌ．　Ｓａｄ．And here, the famous, original rose window.
I personally think the cathedral is much prettier from the back.

French Germany

I just lost all my pictures of Colmar so I had to go out again this night to take more of them. But it's o.k. there aren't many touristy things to take pictures of in Colmar anyway and I've been sick so here is what Colmar is really all about...

A parade of cute houses.







not cute just crooked.


And of course the one I stayed in.

I was told by Mom that the Petrees supposedly hail from the Alsace region. (the area I'm in now) I wasn't really convinced of this until I found displays of crockpots (originally used here) with the same designs as the one at home as well as when I stopped for lunch I ended up eating a chicken pot pie and a piece of mulberry pie. The guy I bought them from didn't even speak French, just German. Mom's family must be from this area.

The French Alps

So, I spent 3 nights in a small town in the French Alps called Chamonix. It's literally across the mountain from Turin (200? winter Olympics) Very cute but touristy. Many residents I met don't even speak French because it's just not required.
So, the first morning I woke up and walk to Les Praz, a tiny village next to Chamonix, and walked up the bottom slope to a chair lift and then took that up to the top.
The top was barren and looks like this. As you can see the glacier (there are glaciers everywhere) just receded in the last thousand years so primary growth hasn't really begun yet. (yay, environmental science)
So, then I walked down to Lac Blanc. Your basic glacier lake. Still very pretty though. I took lots of pictures but there were lots of clouds out ( I was in clouds for most of the hike) so none of them are very good.
But anyway, here's me at the lake.

This is Bud my real-life- headbutting- not a lost sheep -mountain goat. I kept saying "Look at me bud." " And you're going the wrong way bud" Which is how he got his name. This is also the point where I started singing sound of music and wishing I had long blond hair so I could heard him and be called Hiedi. Let's just blame that on the altitude shall we?Oh, and so the next day it was finally clear. So here is a picture of the tops of the mountains. I think one of them in Mt. Blanc (highest point in France) but I can't tell you which one.
So, after climbing around for 8 hours in slip-on shoes in the Alps the next day I was tired so I thought I would do something other than climb. Here is a hint at what I did. Look at the background and try to guess.
So, the guy next to me is Fred. He was my PARAGLIDING pilot!
Yay, Jo ran off a mountain! So, after a long day in the Alps I went down to the bar to talk to people and have a beer (alcohol is highly effective at this altitude, just a note) So I started talking to this guy named Xandy (Alexander) a British guy who had come here 8 years ago and never left. We compared back injuries and he convinced me to try his hobby, paragliding. It was lots of fun. You're in a seat strapped to someone with a glider overhead. We were up at about 2,800 meters (level with the mountains) for about an hour. Though oddly enough not as much of an adrenaline thing as you would expect. If I ever go again I'm piloting myself and doing acrobatics.
These, by the way, are the shoes I hike around in (and paraglided in) and the socks were given to me by Air Berlin for the flight over. I was really unprepared, all the other hikers looked at me weird as they walked around in their boots, with their coats and their ski poles, but it worked out. These shoes are also apparently very visible in the air.

So, this post will be very long because I have a lot to post. It goes from the most recent to least, thus putting it in the order it would have been had I posted all along. Bon.

LYON

This is Lyon and is the view from my hostel. I hated that hill (mountain) when I was climbing it but I think this makes it worthwhile. A 700-year old clock. When it chimes it's like the Glockenspiel in Munich but more religious. People pray and the angels conduct the music. Very cute.
And me on a bridge over looking the Sahone.

So, everyone tells me Lyon is the food capital of France. So I decided to splurge on food while I'm here and document what I eat. This is a giant meringue cookie. Very cheap and my friend and I are still trying to eat it. No idea what the red things on top are but my guess is candied strawberries.
Guess what dish this is.
It's FROG LEGS! I had this today in a bouchon. It was very good. A lean, white meat. Kind of like seafood. You have to pick the meat off two main leg bones. And I'm not just saying this. It was good. I like frog legs.
And now some presents from Lyon
These two silk prints are for Alex Mellnik. For his buisness and pleasure.

I would like to virtually give one of these scaves to grandma, Sally, her mother, Aunt Billie Jo, Aunt Marian and Mom. You can fight over the colors.

Close up of the Bay of Angels, about a 10 min. walk from my hostel. The beaches were made of pebbles, so not very comfortable but very beautiful.
Jakob, Christy, Pete and ???
Joel and Dylan
So, here is a picture of the fireworks for Bastille Day. What was funny about this was that the barge that was out in the water shooting them off caught fire, some of the fireworks exploded on board and the crew was saved by the coast guard. All in all pretty exciting.

MONACO
I didn't take pictures of the cars 　（ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅｍ）　Ｉliked the buildings. The main casino. I went inside and really wished I had a pair of heals. Very posh.
This is basically the whole coast line of Monaco.
The yachts. A few of the guys I met in Nice worked on yachts. They say it's not as glamourous as it sounds, (sailing the world, with free accomodation, food and pay) I think I'll decide that for myself.
Proof of me in Monaco
MONTPELLIER
My new roommates in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Montpellier
Kirsten, 23 from Belgium
Axel, 16 from Mexico
aww, they don't want to do thier homework.
My last night in Montpellier with the rest of the Irish. Rosie, Siobhan and a new guy Leon. Wish I hadn't met him my last night.