Mont Saint Michel

Today we travelled to an abbey that was built on an island just off the North west coast of France, that building started in 709! You can only visit during certain times when the tide is low. When the tide is high the island is completely cut off from the main land. It is seriously awe inspiring sight which actually caused me to have a physical response. Tears sprung to my eyes, I actually was a little embarrassed by it. 

It was a steep climb to the abbey, which to my amazement is still a working abbey. Lots of shops and restaurants are dotted in the streets on the way up to the most spectacular sight I have seen in a very long time. The stone work alone is crazy and the view out to sea seems to never end. 

The abbey has a protective forté built around it, almost making it look like a castle from a distance. I can understand the forté as this abbey would have been left very exposed to attack from other countries back in the day where the constant fight for ownership of land seem to rule most people's lives. 

It was amazing place to experience and have the kids try to fathum the scale of this building and just how hard it would have been to build with no machinery to lift the solid stone. 

Emerson made friends with a Japanese couple. Emerson doesn't let any language barrier stop her making friends. The lady watched her write in the guest book and asked if she could borrow the pen and preceded to draw Emerson's face in literally three strokes. It was amazing and you could see Emerson's face in the picture 100%. 

We ventured down slowly and made our way back to the car by catching a horse drawn buggy. After a long day we barbecued for dinner and the girls again played until the sun finally fell low in the sky for he darkness to come. Tomorrow is going to be a lazy day which is much needed.