Normandie/Brittany

on our trip from nearly the center of the northern part of france to the coast of normandie, we had to take a scenic 4 hour drive to take, and with our ipods charged and stomachs full from various cuisine, the drive wasnt filled with boredom as we had though, but with sleep. we awoke in arromanches at the site of the official DDAY 6 JUIN 1944 Museum, filled with various uniforms, machinery, diaramas and a panaramic view of the sea, in whichcement causeways wer floating in a line. in town we found manty american, british, canadian flags among the frech ones and besides paris, this town has been the most english speaking we had been to. After that we went along to our hotel, which we could not find for a couple of hours due to some miscommunications, but we realized that it was only a mile or so from the american military cemetery on our small stop there. The crowd was mixed, and yes, there was a fair amount of people there, about as many french people as american and brittish, but the feeling was all the same, escalating as when you walked the thousands of headstones would align. There was a heavy wind from the sea that could be seen just over the forested ridge surrounding the place, and the centerpiece was the statue of Glory on a pedistal reaching up to the blue, blue sky.

After sleeping in a rather comfy hotel which we were convinced was haunted because of the moderatly creepy oval black and white portraits depicting dissapointed-looking people which adorned the walls, we started driving across a peninsula toward Mont San Michel andBrittany. It didnt take long at all but before we went across an artificial land bridge to the island-like formation, we ate at a nice resturaunt which featured a view of the Mont as its visual decor. We went on and walked into the fortress/church/butte which was generously filled with resturaunts, souvenier shops, one or two hotels, a museum, and of course, the real reason people go there, the church which lies on top. Anyway we saw many a suit of armor, bought many a trinket and descended from the mont for a great view of the bustling gaggle of bakeries and butresses, and then went on to the site of the next plae we would stay the night. Near the fishing town San Lunaire, we stayed in the house of Mimi's cousin, which had three floors but very low ceilings "because of the britons who build it" they said. That afternoon we went to the beach and played frisbee for a while, but the water was really too cold to go in.