Today, we are on the cruise line excursion to Mont Saint Michel. We do not normally do the ships excursions but I could not find a private excursion at a reasonable price. As it is, this excursion was $179.00/person...but this is some place I've always wanted to visit. The day started out overcast with a threat of rain. As we approached the Mont a light rain started and continued thru most of the day.
A description is as follows:
Take a pilgrimage through the Normandy countryside to explore the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, built on a rock perched above the ocean. Connected to the mainland by a permanent causeway, Mont Saint Michel became a holy place of pilgrimage and worship in the Middle Ages following the appearance of Archangel Saint Michel to the bishop of the region in his dreams. Legend says there are 365 steps from the bottom to the top of the Mont...I BELIEVE THAT!!
Once in Mont Saint Michel we walked uphill through the twisted cobblestone walkways, passing old houses to the top of the rock crowned by the Abbey Church.
Completing this 30-minute walk, I was exhausted but I guess the view worth it! The Abbey is a masterpiece of Norman architecture. Inside, we saw how the monks lived, by visiting their famous dining hall, and the beautiful gothic cloister, which appears to be suspended between sky and sea.
This was a very strenuous excursion but I'm glad I did it. The weather was probably as bad as I have ever had on a shore excursion...light rain for most of the day ending with walking long distances in torrential rain. Not very much fun.
Unfortunately, probably the worst thing about the day, one of the people on the excursion got lost. Her husband was frantic. The bus waited a little while but would not wait any longer. It was so pitiful. The couple are about our age. The husband refused to leave her, as I would expect, but I thought the "ship escort" should have stayed with him but she said she would be fired if she didn't return to the ship! I wonder what her "escort" responsibilities are.....must be a free excursion for her because she obviously isn't here to help the passengers. As we started to leave the parking lot, another passenger insisted on getting off the bus and staying with the gentleman. We are 3 hours from the port.....and 4 hours from Sailaway. Doubt they will make it back to the ship. That woman that got off the bus to stay with the man is a hero to me. I'm writing this on the bus on the way back to port....hopefully, everything will turn out all right.
UPDATE......The lady was found and they all returned to the ship in time. I guess this really hit me hard thinking that this could happen with Charlie...
No comments:
Post a Comment