Wow! Wow! The WB mamas have always wanted to see Mont Saint-Michel, and we were extremely lucky – unusually for October and for the region, we visited on a fine, clear day. The Mont made a striking appearance when we were still some distance away – rising up from the otherwise flat landscape as if it were some kind of floating mirage. At the risk of using too many superlatives, it was a truly incredible sight.

We parked in the designated area and caught the free shuttle bus to the Mont. We could have walked, but having been cautioned about the steep climb up to the abbey itself, we wanted to save the little WBB legs and also our backs from having to haul two little boys up like sacks of potatoes. We’d like to to pause here and thank our friend Natasha from the bottom of our hearts for lending us her Ergo baby carrier – we would not have survived without it.

Once at the top we gave the littlest WB time to recover and then spent some time clambering around exploring the abbey. The plain, soaring stone architecture combined with the spectacular views create a feeling of tranquility despite the steady flow of sightseers. It would be horribly cold and isolated in winter – the determination required to build the abbey in the first place must have been quite something. However, while we were there the sun shone brightly and it was hard to imagine a finer way to spend our day.

It was time to head down and conquer more stairs. We bribed the boys with promises of sustenance. At the bottom of the hill Little WB begged for a return ride on a horse drawn carriage – he made it half way back before falling fast asleep, tired out from our adventures.