Family Visit Part 2

Tuesday morning, Lisa joined us in the car for a two-day trip to Lower Normandie. We started off the day seeing the Bayeaux Tapestry (at normal viewing speed for me instead of break-neck), a little bit of town, and the Museum of the Battle of Normandie. In the afternoon, we travelled out to Brecy so my family could see the first place where I worked and meet Michel and Katie that I spent so much time with. We also got to meet Kelsey, who just graduated from the University of Georgia and did her first month of the internship at Acquigny. She hardly speaks French at all, so we dragged her along with us for the tour of the gardens so she could get some time in English. The little kitten that I had found before had grown a lot in a month! He definitely still remembered me though. We stayed and chatted with Michel and Katie for a good while after the visit. I miss them!

After Brecy, we drove back to Caen to see if we couldn’t fit some visiting in before the hotel. We found Abbaye aux Hommes without too much trouble, but it was too late to get inside. Afterwards, we found some lovely restaurants next to the ducal castle, and then headed to our hotel. 

Abbaye aux Hommes

In the morning, we struck out for Mont St. Michel! It was a bit of a drive, but totally worth it! I’m pretty sure the whole island outside of the abbey at the top exists purely for tourisms sake, but that doesn’t make any of it less striking. 

Approaching with the car

Gutsy seagulls abound in the typical island views

This abbey is HUGE, and the photo is from the TOP of the hill

Me, mom, and Aunt Carolyn looking out

Beautifully done chapel

The double layered columns added great dimension in the cloister

And had such detailing!

Hamster wheel for the prisoners to haul up
provisions and stones for building the abbey

We didn’t want to hang out too long after we had toured the abbey, so we made it back to Caen in time to explore the ducal castle, eat dinner, and see the exterior of Abbaye aux Femmes. My Aunt Carolyn really loves the history around the time of William the Conqueror, so she gave us all some history lessons. We got back to Acquigny late that night.

In the ducal castle in Caen

Everyone loves castle ruins!

View from ducal castle ramparts

Abbaye aux Femmes

Abbaye aux Femmes

Abbaye aux Femmes

Thursday morning, we headed back to Rouen so my family could see some of the sights. It was a pretty abbreviated tour, and we got a little lost in town in the car. But we hit all the big sights, and made it back to the train station in time to turn in the car, though we got on separate trains. It was a hastier goodbye than we had hoped for, but I’m just glad we got to visit and see the sights in France together at all!