Mont St. Michel

Legend says that the archangel Michael appeared to St. Aubert in 708 AD and instructed him to build a church atop the rocky outcrop of granite that sits just offshore the coast of Normandy in northern France. The Benedictine Abbey, which sits at its peak, is surrounded by a small medieval village at its base.

Mont St. Michel is circled by the sea and connected to the mainland by a causeway. The area is unique for the high tides (the highest in Europe) which quickly wash into the bay roughly 36 to 48 hours following a full or new moon. Victor Hugo once described them as coming "as swiftly as a galloping horse." Some areas surrounding the area are like quicksand so walking the beach/bay area is not recommended. An aerial diagram and other photos are on this Wikipedia site. The monastery is also featured in the Bayeux Tapestry.

To learn more about the history of Mont St. Michel, go to the official web site and click "History." It celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 1966! It also served as a prison during the French Revolution. The sites to visit are the abbey, the museums, and the parish church (click "Places to Visit). For a printable map of the island, go to this map. After the map of the area loads, then click on "See the interior plan" in the "You Can" pop-up box.

The bus will take us via the causeway to the main gate, however travel on the island itself is by foot only. The walled city at the base is full of shops and cafes (their specialties are fluffy omelettes and saltmarsh lamb raised nearby-although expensive), but escape up to the steep ramparts and get a fabulous view of the mudflats.

Searching for Articles on This Blog

You will notice that not all individual titles for articles are listed in the left column but are archived under the month it was published. If you would like to find a specific article without having to go back and search each month, then you can search for specific "labels" which are attached to each article. These labels are found at the end of each article.

To conduct an easy search, go to the far top left and type in a search term in the white box, then click "Search Blog." I try to make the labels simple. Some labels used so far are: luggage, packing, passports, itinerary, roommates, money, comments, labels, billing, London, Chartres, Bayeux Tapestry, etc. Some articles have multiple labels for cross reference if more than one applies.

Since you will be making your own decision as to your destinations in London, any article on London will just be "London," then you can pull up all articles at once. Also every article on a ny place to visit will also be tagged by "itinerary," so you can search by that label and get all stops on the itinerary.

Remember, take note of the "Labels" at the bottom of each article for future search references. And if you can't remember where something is, or can't find it, just email as I have a master index of articles and will help you find it.

Packing Toiletries

The Transportation Security Administration requires that carry on toiletries (liquid, gel, and aerosol) be limited to 3-ounce containers placed in a one quart clear zip top bag, and TSA only allows one bag per traveler. It is known as TSA's 3-1-1 and is meant to speed screening and minimize liquid volume.

Medications are not included in this and should be declared separately for inspection at the checkpoint. The zip bag of toiletries must also be placed in the bin separately during inspection. For more information on 3-1-1, then click on the left links on the above site to learn more about permitted and prohibitive items and more details on 3-1-1.

Now is the time to start shopping for those needed travel size items which are not always so readily available especially if you must use a specific brand. Be on the lookout and start stocking up now. An online resource is Minimus.biz. Here you can find all kinds of toiletry and food travel size items. They have free shipping for orders over $20.

Also check with your cosmetics provider as they sometimes have travel sizes available. For example, Mary Kay provides several travel size products as free promotionals. Also pick up the travel size toiletries at hotels where you stay. Even if you do not use that type of shampoo, you now have a disposable travel size bottle to put yours in.

If you must bring a larger size toiletry then it must be placed in your checked bag. Just remember that carrying around ALL your regular size toiletries will take up a lot of space in your bag and a lot of extra weight for you to have to carry...think small!

London: Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey has been Great Britain's coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. It is the site of famous weddings, coronations, and funerals. It has a 1,000-year history connected with British royalty and other famous Britains.

The Abbey is open from 9:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (but the last admission is at 3:30 p.m.). However there are other buildings included with different opening times. Adult admission is 12 British pounds: that's about $24 in today's exchange. You can opt for a Verger-led tour for an additional 5 pounds or get an audio guide to go at your own pace for 4 pounds...or just wander around on your own after having done your home research of the Abbey. Note that the Abbey is home to many special services and may be closed with no notice.

This site also includes a floor plan of the Abbey with links on the right that provide more information. Print out your own map and guide and save a few dollars. These links also contain many photos of the inside and outside of the Abbey. Click on the thumbnails for larger photos.

Also here is a map to locate the Abbey. Note that photos and filming are not allowed in the Abbey. Click on the St. Margaret's Church tab at the top and learn about the nearby chapel known as "the parish church of the House of Commons."

Money Saving Tips

The U.S. dollar still doesn't fare well with the euro in France or the British pound. But planning and knowing some money saving tips may save you a few bucks in Europe. Travel guru Rick Steves offers some tips for budget travel in this article, "20 Ways to Stretch Your Dollars in Europe."

If you want to keep up with how the U.S. dollar is doing against international currency, use this Universal Currency Converter. It uses live up-to-the-minute currency rates. You can track how the dollar is doing globally at any time. Although our hotels and most transportation and meals are included with our tour, smart planning and thinking ahead can save us money next summer.