Laval and Normandy 24 - 28 March

20160324 200152  24 March - I drove across France and met up with Chrisinte at Laval Virtual 20160324 200157  just in time for the Awards Ceremony 20160324 200356  where Christine announced the award for Best Enterprise AR application 20160324 200515  given to people associated with Airbus
20160324 204427  Everybody on stage! 20160324 204456  Christine in the front row 20160324 204513  for all to see! 20160324 212708  Post-awards apèro dinatoire
20160325 082129  25 March breakfast set up at the Chateau de la Mazure 20160325 095330  The Chateau in question 20160325 095020  The refurbished carriage house where we stayed 20160325 154800  What luck! Blue sky over Mont Saint-Michel!
20160325 155146  Entrance to the village via dark hole 20160325 155253  Inside the village, the empire of la Mère Poulard! 20160325 155610  From the lower village looking back to the causeway/bridge 20160325 160201  people gamboling around on the mudflats at low tide
20160325 160206  Norman house, looking east across the mudflats 20160325 160252  Abbey in Chinese 20160325 160930  The Abbey consisted on many buildings and gaps between them 20160325 161038  Bridge to mainland
20160325 161113  Exit from church onto plaza 20160325 161210  Looking down to the water running out to the sea 20160325 161246  Vast tidal flats with the Channel in the distance 20160325 161255  Windows we will visit shortly
20160325 161517  Entrance to church 20160325 161746  inside looking out 20160325 161842  Naif sculpture 20160325 162124  Cloister with massive chimneyx
20160325 162137  Openings from cloister, now filled with plexiglass, onto view 20160325 162149  One of many tidal channels seen through the plexiglass 20160325 162250  Cloister 20160325 162305  double columns
20160325 162350  Christine getting to the next item on the audio guide 20160325 162357  Double columnade 20160325 162523  Main meeting hall 20160325 162528  Windows hidden then reveal themselves
20160325 162632  downstairs to the refectory 20160325 162910  wonderful vaults and huge fireplaces 20160325 163117  six thick columns holding up the church 20160325 163906  an external "dumb waiter" sliding on wooden rails
20160325 163911  and lifted by six people walking inside this giant wheel to haul up the rope 20160325 164036  the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end IMG 2694  more vaults IMG 2695  hardly any stained glass - why?
20160325 170655  outside, more tidal flats IMG 2696  exiting at the lower level of the church 20160325 170921  Christine and tidal flats 20160325 170959  Walkway down the back of the edifice
IMG 2701  which rises high above us. IMG 2702  back through the village IMG 2703  into the light, into the light! IMG 2705  The light has changed a bit
IMG 2707  Close up of tidal channel IMG 2709  We walk back to the hotel along the road IMG 2710  Electric reversible shuttle bus coming back IMG 2712  Approaching the mainland
20160326 084024  26 March - going for good coffee and a croissant 20160326 085756  Hotel Mercure across the way from the era when the French copied in their way the American motel 20160326 085826  Giant fiberglass cows dwarf the child 20160326 104828  Post Leclerc in Avranches, view across the bay to MSM from Gênets. Foregrounds - prés salés (salt marshes)
20160326 104853  Pré-side architecture in Gênets: seems almost Irish 20160326 104901  Tourism Office in the chapel 20160326 114149  l'Abbaye de Hambye: we linked together all the recommended sites... 20160326 120003  parts of the Abbae have been removed, yet it still stands
20160326 120847  Norman looks English to me 20160326 131427  Later, after the 2nd highest summit in Normandy (Mont Robin), we visited the Unique site. If you fall off, your bad. 20160326 131517  The view down to the Vire 20160326 131538  La Vire river
20160326 131619  rocky outcrop next to about-to-open Crêperie 20160326 131635  Wild cherries? 20160326 131708  Thick hedge to keep crêpe eaters from falling off the cliff 20160326 131746  Panorama: it is green
20160326 131858  So much to do and to not do. 20160326 173041  Finally, we arrive at Blay where we deploy the gigot d'agneau. 20160326 175516  Apéro with a fire, though it was not cold 20160326 175522  Bayesté hears out Christine
IMG 2717  Sharing some kind of joke 20160326 203203  Cheese plate: I'd forgotten this feature of France 20160327 111142  Jacques pilots the Mercedes the next morning (27 March) 20160327 111155  Christine in her brilliant beach strolling outfit
20160327 111223  Me looking my years IMG 2325  Omaha Beach IMG 2329  Above the breach IMG 2333  In the shrubs
20160327 132949  Back at the ranch, awaiting the big blow IMG 2720  Fish for dinner IMG 2723  Maybe the spices were already affecting Bayesté IMG 2727  Jacques and me, with champagne
IMG 2730  The lovely hearth IMG 2733  Ambiance of Blay