We could see it from miles away. I thought it was an island, I was expecting to have to take a boat to get there and I thought we would be able to see the ocean, but when we got there it was just a big rock with a city built up around it. All around it was a desolate wasteland, what I heard was that they are working on making it an island and they are going to destroy the bridge so right now the water is dammed up. So there was tons of construction going on and scaffolding everywhere which made it not as fun to photograph but I don't think you can tell in this picture. Despite the drawbacks it still felt like a fairy tale town, especially when we got inside. I loved it.
our whole group!
Our tour guide didn't speak English so she did the tour in very slow French without a microphone. Thus it was very easy for me to zone out and just enjoy the sights around me.
Apparently only 30 people live in the city-there's not even a grocery store. Its main attraction is the monastery at the very top of the rock. It has been a pilgrimage sight for hundreds of years. We saw lots of nuns, I think they were just there on vacation because they all had backpacks and maps and were carrying baguettes.
We spent most of the time inside the Abbey..
The best part of the day was hearing the monks and nuns sing inside the chapel..this crappy iphone video does not do it justice but hopefully you can enjoy it nonetheless.
We learned that the round columns were in the Roman architectural style, while the pointed arches and higher ceilings, which allowed more light, were in the gothic style.
on the right is the monks' dining room
this is a little courtyard outside the chapel, called the 'cloister'. it reminded me of hogwarts.
We were literally up in the clouds. It was so pretty. And cold.
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