I am excited to fly to France in two days.

[drray23]

We are going to visit family and tour around. From where we are based (near Nantes), we are going to be driving around to various spots. In particular, I want my wife to experience a place that is magical. I went there as a kid with my parents. It is Mont-Saint-Michel, now a UNESCO world heritage site. This is a near island (used to be, but now you can drive to it) that is a medieval city.

It has this incredible Benedictine abbey (circa 9th century, upgraded over the centuries) that you can visit. I booked a nice hotel inside the walls of this little medieval city (Auberge Saint-Pierre : https://www.auberge-saint-pierre.fr/en/ )




I am taking my sketching and gouache painting kit.

That is one of the wonderful things about France. Pretty much from anywhere, you are within three to four hours of wonderful locations, given that it only takes 10 hours or so to cross from top to bottom.

[CousinIT]

1. Beautiful place! Safe travels! n/t

[Pas-de-Calais]

2. Family on my father's side are from the

Pas de Calais region

Hence my user name

[True Dough]

9. Not one of the places you wanted to be during WWII,

but that was true of many locations in Europe at that time.

[BarbD]

3. Is gouache similar to watercolor?

You'll have plenty of inspiration.

[drray23]

4. Gouache is basically opaque watercolor.

It has a binder which makes it opaque. It is a water based medium. They do make acrylic gouache which behaves differently. Traditional gouache can be reactivated by water. It dries fast so you can keep layering as you go.

[BigmanPigman]

11. Gouache is my favorite to use,

Better than oil, water colors or acrylics as far as my technique goes. I'm an illustrator and do not paint well but gouache is great, especially with glazes.

I went to Mt. St. Michelle in 1997 on a tour of France and our guide told us that school kids visit on field trips and a few times the tide came in so quickly they got stuck. I hope you're in good shape since it is really high and some people on the tour couldn't climb all the steps.

[erronis]

5. I'm sure you've seen Old Cranks posts on Mont Saint Michel (and many other places)

Here's a recent one: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1036159856

Since I'll probably never get in an airplane (and rowing takes too long), please take pictures so we can live vicariously.

[Old Crank]

6. Sounds great.

I have just recently been there. Pictures on the DU photosite, Mt. Saint Michel, about 3 entries. We took the tour, worth it.
We had dinner at the Auberge Mere Poulard. I don't recommend it. Their breakfast buffet was good and it came with our room. We had lunch at the creperie La Belle Normandie, savory and sweet crepes.

If you have time, Saint Malo is close to MSM. We stayed there 2 nights at. The Hotel Universe. It is inside the walls. You can park outside the walls for really cheap compared to the underground place. I also have pictures in Photography, St. Malo.

Any questions just ask or dumail. I'll answer as best I can.

[drray23]

7. I just saw your thread on mont-saint-michel.

Great pics. I know Saint-Malo quite well. Been there many times. My wife, who was born in America (I am a dual American French citizen), never experienced these places, She has been in France many times but usually we would hang out in the south. This time we decided to go drive around Normandy.

[Old Crank]

8. We finally got us there in Feb.

Normally we have been in PAris, Lyon and the massif Central area. 3 bike tours down in that area and the Dordogne.

Very nice, HAve a great trip.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. wow!

[paleotn]

12. Ah, Mont-Saint-Michel! On the bucket list.

Been on the other side of the Channel several times. But not the French side. Back in the 90's my sister and I tried to get Dad to go back to Normandy and we'd go with him and mom. It was a thing then with WW2 vets. Dad declined. He'd seen the Normandy coast and countryside and didn't care to see it again. I haven't had the opportunity since but will go before I expire.

[HeartsCanHope]

13. Safe travels!