05 – First sight

... And There it is.!...

My hunger sated by a bountiful breakfast of fresh meats, cheeses, eggs , breads and hot chocolate – and following a most enjoyable tour of the splendid chateau at Carrouges (yes,  I WILL cover that later) we re-boarded the coach. Eagerly pressed up against a window, my camera at the ready (for readers of Paris…In My Pocket! I had by now gone digital) and having ensured easy access to left, right and rear coach views, I anticipated my first sighting of the mount. I half hoped it would lie over the horizon of a hill, and would unexpectedly and instantaneously loom in all its full majesty into view as the hill was crested. But no – little by little the distant outline of its familiar silhouette revealed itself. At first I saw a small but unmistakable shape on the horizon, and then gradually, as the kilometres passed by it grew as if in slow motion.  We’re nearly there.

The day was relatively clear. Against the streaked azure blue of the sky and the verdant green pastures of Brittany, the stone of the mount and its abbey stood out quite clearly from quite some distance. Occasional glints of gold flashed from the top of the spire. St. Michael was surely beckoning his next batch of pilgrims as he has done for the millions before me – for with some 3.5 million visitors each year Mt St Michel is second only to Paris on France’s list of ‘must sees’.

Have you ever wished a moment could last forever, and yet be over at the same time? 

That was how I felt. I wanted to be there at once to start my exploration, and yet the getting there is a great part of the enjoyment of any travel experience (as much as some airport authorities today try to ensure that it is not the case ;-)

02 – the Mondiale

The motor show ....

It may seem strange to start my story of Mont Saint-Michel with an insert on the exhibition centre at the Porte de Versailles, but on this trip I had come primarily to visit the Mondiale de l’Automobile (Paris Motor Show). If you followed my first Parisian visit through Paris…In My Pocket! you will have realised I wouldn’t need much of an excuse to return to the city.  

Beyond my childhood dream of seeing Mont Saint-Michel, one of the other items on my personal ‘bucket list’ has been to do the three main European Motor Shows (Paris, Geneva and Frankfurt), and this was the year for Paris to have her turn (Paris and Frankfurt politely alternate hosting two of Europe’s major motor exhibitions). With my Audi due for replacement and the four ringed German marque having just revealed it’s then still controversial new face PLUS - with the model of the RSQ Concept (seen in the movie iRobot) being Audi’s guest of honour - AND a rumour that the next Le Mans supercar prototype (now known in production as the covetable R8) may be on display - this seemed the obvious year to check that particular motor show box.

But that would fill a day, or probably two, leaving my planned week long visit with quite a few days open to fulfil some other long held wishes. Of course I’d have to revisit many of my favourite Paris city sites, but the further choices I had made were to visit:

Chartres (for the legendary stained glass windows of the cathedral),

Some of the Loire Valley châteaux and champagne estates

… and of course …

Mont Saint-Michel.

That image from the stamp just would not go away.

Not that I wished it would!