Le Mont-Saint-Michel & Saint-Malo
Continuing our journey through France, we had an opportunity to pay homage to the American lives lost on D-Day before heading to Saint-Malo. Situated in Brittany, in France's northwest, Saint-Malo is a charming port city with a rich history. The old town is surrounded by giant granite walls that were once used as a stronghold for pirates. A beautiful cathedral stands tall in the center of the old town, built with Romanesque and Gothic styles.
On the fifth day of our journey, we went on a field trip to the tidal island of Le Mont-Saint-Michel. The island is a mainland commune in Normandy, France, with a famous gravity-defying abbey situated right at the top. To get to the island, one can choose between two pathways - a footpath or a shuttle that runs very frequently and is about a half-mile ride to the island. Due to the warm weather, we opted for the shuttle path. The shuttle ride offered us breathtaking views, and once we arrived at Mont-Saint-Michel, our tour guide gave us a brief walking tour of the island before taking us to the abbey at the top.
To explore the abbey, visitors must climb upwards, and then it is all stairs coming down as well, so it can be a bit painful on the legs. However, the tour of the abbey was very educational, and we were fascinated to learn that it was founded at the request of archangel Michael by the Bishop of Avranches, Aubert. The first sanctuary was consecrated on 16 October 709. The abbey was later used as a prison during the French Revolution but was restored towards the end of the 19th century.
Today, the abbey is open to the public so that everyone can discover all the spaces dedicated to daily life, religious life, and the reception of pilgrims. One of the most beautiful areas within the abbey is the cloister. This rectangular gallery with small windows serves as a covered garden allowing the clergy to grow medicinal herbs and get some exercise during the mild and warm days. After the tour, we had the rest of the day to explore the island on our own. It is worth noting that to explore the rest of the town, visitors must go down many stairs from the top of the abbey. We stopped at some gift shops along the descent and picked up a few souvenirs for ourselves and our loved ones. By the time we reached the bottom, we were famished. We stumbled upon a restaurant called La Confiance, which means "trust" in English. The name proved apt as the food was amazing, the prices reasonable, and the staff very friendly and welcoming.
With some time to kill before meeting back up with the group, we took some exterior shots of the island and town. The island looks like something straight out of a movie. For Harry Potter enthusiasts, some of the exterior shots and the shots of the cloister in the abbey will truly make you feel like part of the movie and part of Hogwarts, even though none of the movies were filmed here. Overall, we had a fantastic time exploring this unreal town and community and couldn't wait to see what Saint-Malo had in store for us.
As we arrived in Saint-Malo, we were immediately struck by the beauty of the city. The stunning architecture, the cobbled streets, and the city walls all made for a truly breathtaking sight. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we were eager to explore the city. We had arranged for a quick walk-through with a tour guide to get our bearings before our main tour the following day. As we wandered through the narrow streets within the city walls, the tour guide regaled us with stories of the city's history and culture. It was fascinating to learn about the rich heritage of this beautiful place.
After the walk-through, we were free to explore the city on our own. A few of us decided to have dinner together at Café de L'Ouest. The restaurant had outdoor seating, and we were lucky enough to be seated across from Hotel De Ville, the city's official town hall. The ambiance was perfect - the warm evening breeze, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore in the distance, and the soft glow of the streetlights all combined to create a magical atmosphere.
The food at Café de L'Ouest was simply amazing. As a port city, we knew that the seafood would be fresh and delicious, and we were not disappointed. I ordered the scallops with mushroom-based risotto, and it was the best meal I had ever eaten outside the United States. The seafood soup that we shared was also heavenly. We ordered a bottle of white wine for the table, and as we chatted and laughed, the night seemed to stretch on forever.
For dessert, I couldn't resist trying one of the delicious-looking crepes. I opted for the chocolate crepe with whipped cream, and it was divine. It was a very large dessert dish, and I shared it with my friends. We loved the restaurant so much that we ate there twice during our stay. After dinner, we decided to explore the city some more. We stumbled upon a local pub called St. Patrick Irish Pub. The pub was small but cozy, and its walls were adorned with jerseys of teams from all over. We took a baby Guinness shot before continuing our walk. We found a little area overlooking the water and watched as the sun set along the water. The view was breathtaking, and as we stood there, it was easy to forget about the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It was a truly magical moment. As the sun finally set, we made our way back to the hotel to rest for the night. We had another busy day ahead of us, but we were excited to see what else Saint-Malo had in store for us.
On the sixth day of our trip, we had an early start as we were excited to explore Saint-Malo with a local expert. Walking through the city's walls, we were immediately struck by the medieval-styled buildings and the cobblestone streets that added to the area's charm. Our guide took us to the Cathédrale Saint Vincent, where we noticed bullet indentations from 1944, a stark reminder of Saint Malo's turbulent history during the Battle of Saint-Malo.
From there, we were directed to Maison du Québec, a medieval-style home that honored an intrepid explorer who discovered Québec. The stunning views of the North Atlantic Ocean from the lifted walking path left us awestruck, and we spotted Fort National from a distance. We had enough time to explore all the monuments in the area before heading to a unique store called Mystère & Cie that sold trinkets and merchandise related to the Harry Potter movies and books.
After that, we grabbed a quick bite to eat, and some of us went on a tour to explore one of the beaches linked to Saint-Malo, while I went on a hike to get a tattoo from a local place, Merlin Tattoo. I always get a tattoo on every EF trip I've been on because it's a fun memory to make and brings me much joy. I had always wanted a tattoo that said "La vie en rose," which is one of my favorite songs growing up and is featured in most of my favorite movies. With the help of my amazing friend and roommate, we were able to create a beautiful sketch that combined my idea with the art and words. Once the tattoo was done, I met back up with some friends and we had dinner at Café de L'Ouest, which marked our last night. We then went back to the same pub for some drinks and enjoyed each other's company, preparing for our next day of admiring the castles of France. Stay tuned for the castles of France, where fairytale dreams do come true!
