The Wonder of the West
Last weekend I went to France on a small mini-adventure to spend some time by myself, to reflect, process, and rest. My destination was Le Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy.
I had been there before, as a kid when I was about 18. I first got fascinated with the place because of a game I played: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, starring Jean Reno and Takeshi Kaneshiro. Throughout the game, you travel between modern France and old Japan. At one point you reach Mont Saint-Michel, and that’s when the place captured my imagination. I remember telling my parents I wanted to go someday. A year or so later, we did. My dad liked the idea because a lot of history is connected to the region, especially World War II. Normandy was the site of D-Day, and even today you can visit Omaha Beach, see bunkers, and walk through cemeteries tied to WWII.
The region is also known for its seafood. I had some good oysters there. This time, I also ate at Mont Saint-Michel itself. There are different little restaurants inside the walls, and I chose a less busy one since the prices are more or less the same everywhere. Be prepared though, it is expensive. Candy was 8 euros for 100 grams, and a beer cost 9 euros. I picked a local beer, and the price was similar to what you would pay in Norway or Sweden. For food I ordered moules frites (mussels with fries) for 28 euros, along with 6 oysters. By Belgian standards, that was an okay price. Here just moules frites can be 30 euros. The food was good, but the portion of mussels was small compared to what you would get in Belgium. There you usually pay a little more, but the serving size is greater, and the beer would also be cheaper. My advice: if you ever visit Le Mont Saint-Michel, eat outside near the small village of Le Mont Saint-Michel where you will find better value. I even remember seeing a restaurant that offered a full menu, starter, main course, and dessert, for 18 euros. Parking was not cheap either, another 18 euros.
Now, the positive and more fun part. I absolutely loved walking around Mont Saint-Michel. It was crowded, and the entrance to the abbey had a long queue, so I decided not to go inside. The entrance to the village and castle walls is free, but you have to pay for the abbey and museums. Since this was my second visit, I did not feel the need to repeat them.
Walking the main road inside Mont Saint-Michel feels straight out of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. Small shops left and right, from food to souvenirs. Staying in one of the hotels inside must be magical. The medieval houses, the ramparts, the little old church, the hidden courtyards. It all feels like stepping into a fantasy novel, or maybe even a Studio Ghibli movie.
I loved every minute. My inner child was satisfied, and all in all it was a good road trip, definitely worth the drive. Sadly, I could not take many pictures, so I probably will not put them on my website, maybe only on Instagram.
