Mont St Michel 2

After showering this morning, I went in to dad's room to see if he was alive. He was, thank goodness, but he told me he didn't sleep well because he was freezing and also dehydrated and therefore got cramps throughout the night. A bad night's sleep wasn't what his jet lag needed :/ He only ate a banana for breakfast because it was 2 in the morning for him. It had still been over 12 hours since he'd eaten, but whatever!

We burned a huge pile of branches today. That's really all we did..it doesn't sound like much, but the pile was huge. I raked the bowling court it whatever it is and dad trimmed a bush and burned it. We took a break at noon to email (dad) and make lunch (me). While we were eating, it started to pour and it steadily came down for about an hour. We weren't going to get any yard work done in the rain, so we decided to go to Mont St Michel.

We were both so tired. I had no excuse, but he obviously does. When we stopped working we got real tired. We yawned and yawned on the drive to Mont St Michel, but once we got there and climbed up the millions of stairs we woke up again.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we filled up with gas and it was about $80 for one tank! Dad asked me like three times if the price was in euros. He also didn't know that they pay per liter..so he needed to times the advertised price by four to get the euros per gallon. Since that felt like a billion dollars, we decided to skip the six euro parking fee and pilgrimage from the mainland to the island. In the pouring rain. And mud. We felt like truly dedicated pilgrims though we did not know the exact purpose of our pilgrimage. Tredge on!!

We walked through some shops, enjoyed some nice views (minus the clouds), and went in the church. When I came with Roger we didn't go inside so I was really excited! It was really, really cool inside! We got to see what felt like dozens of rooms and chapels...the Harry Potter courtyard (I swear it was filmed there), and some of the prison (the abbey was a prison for a while). There were secret doors and passageways everywhere, and there were twelve foot by six foot chimneys built into several of the rooms. We saw a wheel that prisoners used to walk on like hamsters in order to pull their provisions up from below on a pulley cart sort of thing. Dad got a picture in the St Etienne chapel :)

Side note: Dad sucks at speaking French. He couldn't even read "suite" right and we use that word in English. He is probably just pretending..right??

When we left, the weather had improved and we retook our pictures with the island. We walked the 2 km back to the car and headed back "home". We both really liked Mont St Michel. Dad's jokes were by far the best part. I need to start writing them down.

Dad worked in the garden while I made dinner. Well, tried to make dinner. I have zero experience cooking big things of meat. I've watched Elise and she just throws it in the oven with a little water for like 40 minutes. So I had marinated it overnight, it was smelling good, I threw it in the oven and took it out after 45 minutes...it hadn't cooked at all. Like, at all. The potatoes were roasted and the veggie's were steamed so I was frustrated. Dad suggested I just cut them and fry them so I did and it saved a load of time. Good thing he was there to save me! Then he left to email and I overcooked them. My first pork experience was a failure but we made do. The tiramisu I made was good..I used the recipe from my Italian cooking class :)

Dad had to work some more after dinner.  He pointed out that he's never really had a vacation...he always works even while he's away anywhere...including FRANCE! One of the cons of technology I guess.  :(  We're now watching Master Chef with Roger. Dad is really trying to get used to the time difference, but he's tired. Real tired.

I will now let my dad post a little bit to let you know his thoughts about France, Mont St Michel, Roger, and whatever else he'd like to include:

DAD:  Greetings from France!

I see that Casie posted a few things about my trip yesterday but I do need to clarify a few things:

-  travel was a nightmare...no way am I going to admit that I was scared but when I found my phone would not work and the Hertz counter did not have any maps I seriously wondered if I should just go back into the airport and catch the next flight home.  I really can't believe I found Casie!

-  women already flirting with me...you may have read about my experience with the girl at the gas station from Casie but I need to explain further.  I approached the checkout stand and this cute, young, French girl immediately started talking with me.  I am pretty certain that she was commenting on my biceps in a flattering manner and of course everything was in French.  I can tell you she was impressed with me because not only was she talking with me but she was also pointing to a "power bar" display that was right there at the checkout spot.  Some may say that she was simply trying to sell me a power bar, but I think she was asking if I used the power bars.  As was mentioned I just gave her a big smile and told her I had no idea what she was talking about.  I am sure one of many young French girls I will need to tell that I am happily married!  I love you dear and miss you!

-  I like Roger...but it is so awkard staying in soimeone else's "home"...he does need a lot fo help and this became a bit of a service project.  I hope we can leave here with Roger feeling he is better off after our stay.

-  $80 for a tank of gas!!!  Are you kidding me!  This was a small good gas mileage car.  Add that price to the 20 euro tolls I paid yesterday and you can see why most people travel by train...

-  no suburbans...no 4 wheel drive trucks...lots of BMWs, Mercedes, and Audis...lots of small cars

-  Mont St Michel was very cool...definately haunted becasue it is so old and was once a prision in addiiton to the monestary...

-  yes...I have never had a vacation whewre I was not working...mobile devices, wireless, laptops, all make it so we are in constant contact...an 8 hour time zone difference makes things tricky...

-  I am VERY tired!!!!!!!

"or a vaw"...I mean, au revoir...

in St Etienne

Etienne in St Etienne

There are dead bodies down there, I swear!

The human hamster wheel

The track that the pulley comes up

"Sootay"

Harry Potter right?

Hamster wheel

Inside they have left some of the natural rockery to show how the buildings are built right into the rock

Harry Potter courtyard

Cloudy...Dad's first views of Mont St Michel

Fireplace

Dad was in awe at this candle cause it's a a REAL candle