day trippers

Looking back on things, it seems that I’ve – with the exception of Florence – failed to mention any of the daytrips we’ve taken. There have been three – to Versailles, Mont St. Michel, and Altea.

Our day to visit Versailles turned out to be rain-drenched and miserable. We waited in the downpour for an hour-and-a-half while groups of travelers cut in line and pushy Germans (not stereotype, reality of the day) wedged themselves between people to get closer to the door. And this was the reservation-in-hand line. Things got no better inside: the floor was slick, and despite the vast grandeur of the palace, there were so many people crammed into the thing that I felt like I was in some anachronistic French aristocracy mosh-pit. Oh, and don’t get me started on the audio guide. 8 euro I think it was, and the person basically read aloud the placards in each room. Thanks. If I can get to Versailles by train and identify 8 euro to pay, chances are I can read. And the hall of mirrors I found somewhat dull. And the gardens were wonderfully designed, but nothing was in bloom. Versailles is much more impressive in film, and I’m happy to leave any future interactions with the place to that medium.

Mont St. Michel, on the other hand, was incredible. Seen from miles away, it rises out of the flat Normandy coast like the unfinished base of Babel. It looks dropped – as if the giant delivery man of abbeys and castles, bag slung over his shoulder on his trek east to the German Rhineland, unknowingly lost one along the way. It is a thing that should be admired from a distance, because it is truly amazing so: within the walls I thought it lost much of its grandeur and majesty. But it was still fun walking around the cobbled streets. A word to the wise: the omelets there, while famous, are not quite what you might be expecting. More like an eggy foam. And the special apple omelet: eggy foam with apple slices. The drive was long – four hours each way – and we booked with a tour company and it was just the two of us and the guide, so it was interesting – but worth it.

The town of Altea was a short drive outside of Benidorm on the Costa Brava. A very quiet town in sharp contrast to the swarming and loud tourists of Benidorm. The beaches were rocky and abridged, but still topless. But it was actually somewhat relaxing, and had we more time and better weather we probably would have visited more of the coastal towns.

So there you have it. The daytrips.