Return to Paris

After attending a conference in Rennes, I was able to get on an earlier train to Paris and spend a few hours roaming around. I booked a hotel for the night in the Latin Quarter, which is the area I've always stayed in. It was nice to walk around the familiar streets, but it was surprisingly crowded. I just didn't think there would be that many people in November, but the Seine was right where I'd left it...

Notre Dame was under construction again/still. I think every time I've been there it has been under construction...

There were a lot of seagulls flying around...

I think I take a picture of this bridge and building every time. There's just something I like about them...

Lucky for me, the paths down by the river were not nearly as crowded as the streets...

I didn't remember the locks on the bridges, but apparently they're famous...

Nice and quiet by the water...

These old buildings have an incredible number of chimneys...

As I was roaming around I came to a place to get on a bateau and take a night cruise on the Seine, so I did...

Louvre...

Institut de France...

Reflection of the bridge on the boat...

Grand Palais...

Grand Palais and Roue de Paris...

A paddle wheel on the Seine?...

Musee d'Orsay...

Heading back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep...

Mont St. Michel Revisited

I'd visited Mont St. Michel on my way back from a conference a couple of years ago. This time a conference included a guided tour as part of the social activities...

There is a major project underway. Mont St. Michel used to be surrounded by water when the tides came in, but several decades ago, they built a permanent road out to it. The road caused sediment accumulate more quickly and the tides no longer come in as far. Now they are digging out the road and a bunch of the sediment and building a bridge that will allow the water to flow once again...

Part of the village on the way up the stairs...

Views from the top...

Many of the stones had symbols carved in them. We were told to that this is how the contractors got paid...

Our tour was a little rushed. As we moved from room to room a member of the staff came along behind us locking the doors. We had to leave so that the nuns and monks could begin their evening services...

The tidal flats are massive, but the scale is hard to grasp until you notice little dots moving around and realize they are people...

This wheel is attached to chains and a sleigh that was used to bring supplies up the very steep hill. What I didn't know from my first visit is that during the time that it was used as a prison, prisoners walked in this wheel like hamsters...