Western Europe Trip 2 - Page 3 |
 |
|
 Mont
Saint Michel is east of Brest and heading back toward the Loire Valley and
Paris. I don't know if there is a way to stay on the Mont itself but
I stayed in town and took a bus over (if I recall correctly). This
is a bit like a little Medieval town with tiny shops and narrow
alleys. The top of the Mont is surmounted by a
cathedral.
This area is noted for it's rapid tides. I watched the tide come in from the Cathedral area. It was pretty impressive - advancing perhaps 3 meters per second. You have kind of a sense that the |
||
 Ocean
is trying to swallow up the island. It was overcast and cold when I
was there. It's a spectacular site but I don't really recall there
being much of interest to do.
So after a day - I headed toward the Loire Valley. |
||
 The
first chateau I came to was that of Chenonceau. I thought it was
very impressive and unique in having the hall built out over the
water. The reason was eminently practical - that being in the
summer, a cool breeze and the water acted as a kind of built in air
conditioner. The hall was one long open space where you could if you
were a duke or duchess entertain guests at dinner or dancing.
During one of the World Wars, they used the hall as a convalescent ward/hospital. |
||
 This
is the view from the other side and as you can see in slightly cooler and
cloudier weather.
I like to travel Europe in the winter. There are far less tourists and you get the place to yourself. Granted the downside is that all the lovely gardens are dried up and closed down for the winter. |
||