Le Mont St. Michel: The Giant Hamster Wheel

I had been wondering, as I wandered through St Michel, how in the world they managed to get all that stone up the hill.

The answer was a giant hamster wheel.   The ropes in the photo were perhaps 2" in diameter.  And the wheel was 12-16' in diameter.

Here, slaves, prisoners or monks would walk to bring up supplies and building materials via the ropes.

And, I thought I had a bad job!!

Le Mont. St. Michel: A Corridor

It is difficult to fathom how many thousands of people have walked these halls over a thousand years.

Christmas Eve: 2018

My sincere hope is that all have had a wonderful 2018.   And that tonight, you can go to bed, rest, and be thankful for what you have.

Keep safe and warm.

And enjoy those around you.

Le Mont St. Michel: The Interior

Arched wooden ceilings!

I am amazed at how all the stone was moved to the top.

Le Mont St Michel: The Top

At the top.

I am uncertain when this was completed.   But, I know it was started in the 8th century as a monastery.  It was so well positioned from a military perspective, that even during the 100 years war, a small garrison held off a full attack by the British in 1433.  The tide would wash away and drown soldiers in the tidal flats.

Louis XI turned it into a prison.    I don't think anyone ever escaped.  Although, I wonder if the escape were timed to hit at low tide, a person should be able to make it!  Assuming, of course, they weren't caught in the mud!
 

Le Mont St Michel: A View from near the Top

One can see the tidal flats

Le Mont St Michel: Well, Hello There

I met this when rounding a corner on a circular stairway!

How in the heck could anyone move and fight in that!

Le Mont St. Michel: The Rooftop Perspective

There were a number of small circular stairways that left the small path.   Using them, one you get to the top a bit quicker.  But, it was a steep and very narrow climb walkway!

This wall was over 40' high.  It was mammoth!   Amazing!  I can't imagine the engineering efforts and manual labor it took, much less the years, to construct this!

Le Mont St Michel: Narrow Streets!

Three things to know about the streets on Mont St. Michel.

They are very narrow.  No cars are permitted.

There isn't a flat spot anywhere.   It is all uphill..or downhill.

And, it is crowded!~

The Cows of Le Mont St Michel

I wasn't really expecting to see these.   But, to be fair, they weren't exactly in (or on, as the case may be) Mont St. Michel.  They were in the small town where you had to park before you could take the bus to St. Michel.

This would have been something I would see in St. Paul.

But fun!

Le Mont St. Michel: My first view

It was a cloudy and drizzling day as we drove to Mont St. Michel.   I wasn't sure what to expect.

Then, in the distance, I saw it.

Returning from the American Cemetery in Omaha Beach

It is hard to be giggling and fun after seeing the American Cemetery.

The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach

It is a sacred place.  Quiet.

I didn't know what the monument was or the names on the wall.

They list the names of the missing.   They list the names of those who landed ashore, parachuted in, and were never found.

No words to say.   Just stand in silence and not forget them.

Touring the American Cemetary in Normandy

It was a honor to walk with this man for a while.

He had friends to visit.