75th Anniversary of Normandy Invasion

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Tuesday, 18 June 2019 - Rose early to catch the bus to Mont-Saint-Michel, capturing the quiet morning light in Honfleur. Explored the island's abbey, village streets, and fortifications, appreciating its medieval architecture, historical significance, and stunning coastal views. Returned to Honfleur by a peaceful bus ride, reflecting on the experience of this iconic UNESCO World Heritage site.

We were to head to Mont-Saint-Michel at 0700 hours - so Virginia Ann had to get up very early. Taking advantage of the early day I headed out to photograph Honfleur in the early morning light.

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The harbor in the rising sun. Such is a special time of day before the villagers and tourists awaken.
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The big ship which docked the day before.
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The city hall for Honfleur in still of the morning.
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The old harbor with glass like water.
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More than 20 years have passed since we visited the abbey of Mont Saint Michel. While I remember much about the walk-up to the abbey and the hundreds of steps into this UNESCO world heritage site, I feel that this time, is different. I am on a personal pilgrimage joined by the love of my life of 36 years, Cal, Elizabeth his mother, and Bill her husband - what a moment to cherish.
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The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, houses for fishermen and farmers.
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The island remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War with a small garrison fending off a full attack by the English in 1433. Then Louis XI recognized that the island's natural defense could also be used to keep people in so he turned it into a prison.
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Statue of Archangel Michael atop the spire
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Now a rocky tidal island, the Mont occupied dry land in prehistoric times. As sea levels rose, erosion reshaped the coastal landscape, and several outcrops of granite emerged in the bay, having resisted the wear and tear of the ocean better than the surrounding rocks. These included Lillemer, the Mont Dol, Tombelaine (the island pictured), and Mont Tombe, later called Mont Saint-Michel.
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The island of Tombelaine as seen from the abby. In between is a group of people on the shallow flats. While I watched them they did not move - looked like they were in some sort of ceremony.
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Gothic choir of the church-abbey
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One of the windows in a common room of the abby.
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Arches in the abby library
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Madona and child statue
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An old door - with an interesting peephole - not very inviting.
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The cloister columns are arranged in a unique pattern and were originally made of limestone from England but were later restored using stone from Lucerne.
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Abby spires
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Abby window with vegetation outside.
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Well underground in the abby complex is a room where you can see the island rock. Everywhere else it is covered up by buildings.
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Supporting arches under the abby.
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A lower courtyard garden.
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Looking across a roofline in the village out to the sea.
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Joan of Arc outside the chapel consecrated to St-Pierre, it is a very small church from the 15th and 16th centuries.
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A statue in a wall niche on the outside of St-Pierre.
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The alter of St-Pierre.
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I liked this statue because of the little puppy with the pilgrim.
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Saint Michael the Archangel venerated in the St-Pierre chapel.
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A wall in the village near the entry gate.
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The fortified walls of Mont Saint Michel
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Hard to stop taking pictures of the island.
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The island fortress/church is magnificent in the stormy weather.

Quite a trek to and up to the top to the Abby. A very quiet bus ride back to Honfleur.
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