Mont Saint Michel, a tiny granite rock island off the coast of the border between Normandy and Brittany, is one of the most famous and enchanting sights in France. It is home to a preserved Benedictine Monastery that dominates the summit with surrounding village houses.

Its humble beginnings were in the 6th century when Christian hermits settled there and by the 10th century it had evolved into a Benedictine Abbey. It has had a dramatic history of ups and downs and now has evolved into a national monument that attracts almost a million visitors a year. It really is a must see if you are touring the west coast of France.

When we arrived on the island by bus along a raised road, we climbed the steep steps up to the monastery in the rain and then toured the medieval monastic buildings circling and climbing up to the abbey church. The interiors were at once monumental and spare, grand and gray. There was certainly an eerie almost transcendental quality that impressed and oppressed.

Relief from the gray stonework that dominated the interiors and exteriors were the outside pockets of green. The cloisters around a garden created an emerald jewel in the gray and cold stonework.

The views of the bay from the windows, cloisters and other outdoor spaces were amazing. You felt as if you were viewing the bay from the eyes of a sea bird.

*First photo is from the Mont Saint Michel guidebook cover.

On December 31, the last day of 2013, we left Paris.

We took a cab to the car rental office, claimed our black Peugeot and off we went into the Paris traffic. Oh my, the roundabouts were like carnival rides; no one stayed in a lane, each car wove in and out to make their getaway out of the intersection and onto their chosen street.

Our saving grace was Allen, one of the best drivers I have ever ridden with. He had the driving skills of a race car driver and the navigational instincts of a homing pigeon. Never having been in Paris before, he drove right out of Paris and connected to all the right highways on our way to the west coast of France. It was actually fun.

Because I was the “assistant navigator” in the passenger’s seat, I wasn’t able to shoot too many of the views as we left Paris. I did however have time to shoot La Grande Arche in the business district on the western edge of Paris. The immense arch seemed to hover on the horizon line for so long as we were speeding down the expressway. The arch was dramatic and spare and modern with a huge hollow center creating a powerful focal point among the skyscrapers.

La Grande Arche was built in 1989; the hollow area of this enormous cube-shaped frame is large enough to hold Notre Dame Cathedral. The arch is on a direct axis to the Arch de Triumph so far away in the middle of Paris. What a connection and contrast between the old and the new in this famous city of history and design.

Most mornings we made two stops; first at a patisserie for a quick and oh soooo delicious pastry and then again for coffee.  This particular morning we sat down for a leisurely breakfast at a small, classically French restaurant.

When they served my breakfast, it was so attractively arranged and the butter pot was covered in vellum, printed with the name and address of the restaurant. I had to photograph it!

It all tasted as good as it looked and we were off to see the fine sights of Paris.

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The Sainte-Chapelle was built in the thirteenth century by King Louis IX. This royal chapel and reliquary (a shrine to hold religious relics) was originally connected to Louis IX’s palace. The adjoining present-day Palace of Justice is all that remains of the 13^th century palace.

It is a must stop for any Paris visitor. I can see why it is so famous because it is so extravagant! The transcendent beauty of colored light coming in from the stained glass windows and the richly colored and sculpted surfaces make you feel as if you are in a royal jewel box. The stained glass windows that soar up to the ceiling are encased in delicate gothic ribs. How these windows and narrow ribs hold up this tall structure seem impossible and gives the chapel an ethereal presence.

The rest of the ornate interior of carved figures and architectural elements are gilded and decorated with rich patterned surfaces. All the smooth surfaces between the sculptural elements are painted with unrestrained and highly decorative religious motifs matching the motifs of the stained glass and sculptures.

This religious imagery and sumptuous decoration was a visual feast and certainly a monumental achievement by man to build and to then restore and maintain for over 750 years. I so appreciated the statuary and imagery that reminds us of God’s Word and work on earth.

In the midst of this exquisite interior that was so rich and lovely, I was reminded that no matter how great the efforts and the results of man to create a place for God to dwell – it is still just a building made by the human hands and the only place that God dwells is in our hearts.

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Walking down Paris’ most well known and popular street, Avenue des Champ-Elysees, the vista culminates in the famous Arc de Triomphe.

When I was there a few days before New Years, the trees that lined the avenue were still decorated for Christmas and the sidewalks were solidly lined with Christmas booths full of food and gifts. We walked and walked, elbow to elbow, and made slow progress toward the arch. The traffic on the street was bumper to bumper and also moving slowly. The atmosphere was festive and frenetic.

I took this photo as we were crossing the street to catch the Metro back to our hotel. Maybe on my next visit to Paris I’ll get a little closer.