Sunday 13 May
The next morning I awoke with a very bad taste in my mouth and it wasn't just the salad of the night before. Keith went to get bread from the boulangerie in Brece and we set out the breakfast in the living/dining room, but the others decided to eat outside as the weather and surroundings were so lovely.
Keith and I left early and drove to Domfront with the children. We parked outside the Town Hall and walked into town which was busy with the locals going to church. Most of the centre of the town was undergoing repairs to the road surfaces and it reminded me of scenes in the film, Saving Private Ryan! We ambled around in the sunshine examining menus (always a favourite pastime) and admired the Norman architecture. We then explored the mediaeval part of the town over an ancient bridge. There were spring flowers everywhere and I photographed Sophie sitting amongst them. Michael slept the whole time we were exploring the town, which was something of a relief!
Before we left we met Mum and Dad who were enjoying the sunshine at a pavement cafe so we joined them for a drink, watching the bustling town which was completely different to the Domfront at the top of the hill!
After we left the town, the weather turned overcast and chilly so we made the decision to drive to Le Mont St Michel. It took us about 45 minutes to get there, passing several more pretty villages and a large town called St Hilaire du Harcouet.
Our first view of Mont St Michel was spectacular and as we drove nearer it became more impressive, literally looming out of the sea. The island is a tourist hotspot so there were crowds of people there and an area full of coaches. Keith took Sophie out onto the beach but I was worried about the quicksands so I urged him to come back in. Lunch was taken at a small cafe at the beginning of the town which was a maze of narrow crowded streets lined with tourist gift shops.
After lunch we walked part of the way along the steep street but when we came to some steps we turned back and put both children in the pushchair which they loved!
The journey back to our gite was very quiet with the towns deserted. We were on the lookout for a good restaurant but even Gorron's hotel was closed so it was looking pretty desperate! A restaurant that had been advertised as being on the main road turned out to be a factory!
We had no option but to eat in again and before dinner the men took part in a boules game that seemed to break the ice a bit! Sadly, it was the only time it was played over the holiday but the American party in the next gite took part and gradually the temperature between us and the other two couples warmed up.
Dinner was salad again and although both Sophie and Michael were still up, they didn't cause any problems. However, at 10pm David said he was tired and they all left to go back to their own gite - maybe the children were more of a problem than we thought!
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