On our trip to Normandy in early March, we first stopped at Chartres to see the cathedral.
The Chartres cathedral is famous for its blue stained glass windows...
And its labyrinth on the floor, which pilgrims walked on their knees.
You too can solve the labyrinth.
Here are some more windows.
The patron saint of pigeons.
Next we drove to the abbey of Mt. St. Michel on the coast: we arrived at low tide.
A closer view.
The street leading up the abbey is filled with touristy shops.
This is the view from the top of the abbey.
The shadow.
This is the view from the sand below.
Here we are in the bay, before the tide came in.
Watching the tide come in.
A little while later...
As we were leaving, the water approached the parking lot.
The famous sheep of Mt. St. Michel.
Next we stopped at Omaha beach, site of the D-day invasion.
The American cemetery.
The sand blew around us on the beach, but it was still fun.
Kicking up sand.
The mysterious sea creature.
The cathedral in Bayeux, where the tapestry originally was hung.
There was a freaky crypt in the bottom of the church.
The old  harbor town of Honfleur.
The famous clock tower.
We had lunch on the edge of the water...
...and were joined by a duck.
They even have Ben and Jerry's here.
On the way home, we stopped at the beach town of Etretat.
The cliff formations look like elephants dipping their trunks in the water.
This is the big elephant...
..and this is the little elephant.
The chapel on the hill.
The surfers.
Closeup of the little elephant.
The Etretat cows.
Sunset.
Etretat painting by Monet.
Link to another painting at the NC Museum of Art