Each moment is a place you've never been. ~Mark Strand

So today we visited one of the wonders of the world, Le Mont-Saint-Michael, where an abby is built on the rocks overlooking the sea. During certain times of the year Le mont is entirely surrounded by water and impossible to get to. It was built after a local priest had a vision of the arch-angel Michael, demanding an abby be built in his honor. The priest didn't believe he was worth of such a visit and it took three dreams and Michael burning a small hole into the guy's skull for him to finally believe and begin construction on the Abby.

The abby has been worked on up through to the 13th century, and it is absolutly breath-taking... literally. It's quite a climb to get up to the top of the abby where the actually church is. It's up the mountain through meandering stone stairs and pathways. The views are amazing. All the views face the ocean or a garden or some other part of nature to keep the monk's focused on God's work and not the material things.

It was amazing seeing how they lived, and where they slept, ate and worked. And we actually saw a few nuns and monks who are still there moving around and setting up for Mass. The place was so spectacular and other-worldly, it's hard to believe something so massive could be built on top of a stone mountain, not to mention the water all around it.

It took fourish hours from St. Michael to get back to Paris, and despite really wanting to go out to celebrate Bastille Day eve, I decided to stay in and study and check up on some homework. I'm kind of regretting it, but mid terms start tomorrow and I know I needed to stay in to study. I will be going out tomorrow for fireworks and dancing though, I've already made the plans and picked the places for the most part!

I've been really enjoying lately sitting at little cafes with some tea and just relaxing. It's a great way to spend the time and now that it appears the weather might be warming up, it will be great to sit outside the cafes and just watch the people go by!! I'm so excited about tomorrow evening!

Bon soir!