I got to Rennes in the evening and walked to my hotel. I went out to dinner and then just walked around to see what was around.
A large cross in Rennes
Remains of the ancient wall in Rennes
Canal d'Ille et Rance
Cathédrale Saint Pierre de Rennes
I like these style buildings
A pretty little church in Rennes
Monday, April 18
So I found out this morning that all of the museums in Rennes are closed on Mondays, so today was just an exploring and relaxing day. It was beautiful out so I didn't mind sitting in the park all afternoon.
Portes Mordelaises
ruins around Rennes
the other side of Portes Mordelaises
I went inside Cathédrale Saint Pierre de Rennes since it is open on Monday
Inside Cathédrale Saint Pierre de Rennes. Personally I prefer Gothic architecture.
Les Halles (the market isn't open on Monday).
An old building in Rennes
Eglise Saint Sauveur
Walking around Rennes
Palais abbatial Saint Georges
Another church in Rennes
Parc du Thabor
Enjoying the nature
Parc du Thabor
Parc du Thabor
There were so many beautiful flowers!
There was a sign saying not to go on the grass but behind me there are a lot of people sitting on the grass, so I figured I could too ;)
Eglise Saint Melaine, on the edge of Parc du Thabor
Today was such a beautiful day to sit in the park. There was even a café/restaurant in the park, so I just ate there for lunch and spent all afternoon in the park.
Tuesday, April 19
Today I got up early and took the train to Pontorson Mont Saint Michel and took a local bus to Mont Saint Michel itself. Thankfully it was another beautiful day. In the morning there were already a lot of people at Mont Saint Michel, but it was crazy how many people were at Mont Saint Michel in the afternoon. I'm glad I went in the morning and "beat the rush".
Mont Saint Michel
Entering Mont Saint Michel
Climbing up to the abbey
Abbaye du Mont Saint Michel
Made it to the entrance and I didn't have to pay to get in because I'm not 25 years old and I have a visa! The perks of being young.
Abbaye du Mont Saint Michel
Views from the top of the mount
Chapelle Notre Dame sous Terre
So I joined an English tour group because it was just two middle aged guys in the group and the tour guide didn't care if I joined or not. It was interesting to hear more about the history and architecture of the abbey.
The cloister in the abbey. The figures were damaged probably during one of the many wars.
the cloister
This large dining hall was only used for special occasions/holidays and no one would talk while eating. There would be one man reading/singing scriptures.
A sculpture of the archangel and someone else...I forget who she said the other man was. Maybe the man who started the abbey.
One of many little gardens around the abbey
This big wheel and others were used to bring up supplies for building and food when the abbey was used as a prison.
Another room in the abbey
Outside the abbey
Walking around Mont Saint Michel
Walking around Mont Saint Michel. I tried to go to the history museum, but it seemed to be under construction because any entrance I found was blocked off.
Some pretty flowers on Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint Michel
views from Mont Saint Michel
I had a really nice time visiting Mont Saint Michel since I don't remember the last time I was here, and I don't think we went up to the abbey then.
I took the train back to Rennes later in the afternoon and didn't do much else for the rest of the evening.
Wednesday, April 20
Today I went to the Musée des Beaux Arts de Rennes and the Musée de Bretagne since they are open on Wednesday.
A pretty tapestry in Musée des Beaux Arts
I liked this painting.
This painting was called something like Murder of the Innocent. It was very moving.
I love the impressionist art
In the Musée de Bretagne they had a special exhibit on drinking; not just drinking alcohol, but the "evolution" of drinking water and alcohol.
There were a lot of posters and pictures and interactive displays
I thought this set of a café was cool.
The regular collection the the Musée de Bretagne went through the history of Bretagne from prehistoric time to contemporary Bretagne.
They had these markers on the ground to indicate what section you were in, which I thought was an interesting way to do it.
Some sort of tapestry machine
Of course more displays of boats
Later in the afternoon I went to the movies and saw Allegiant in French since I didn't have anything else that I wanted to do, and I hadn't seen the movie.
Thursday, April 21
Today was my last day in Rennes. I walked along the canal a little bit and sat at a café for a while and read. In the afternoon I went to the planetarium, which was really cool to see and here in French since I haven't done something like that since I was a kid. It was just a video presentation, so I couldn't take any pictures.
Walking along the canal reminded me of when we stayed on a house boat for a week in France with our friends. Fun times :)
I took the train around 4:40pm back to La Rochelle. This next week is my last week of work and that makes me a little sad because I'm going to miss my students. It has been a fun year teaching English, and I can't believe it's already over! Thankfully my adventures in Europe aren't over yet! I will be going to London and Ireland in May, so look out for another post about my time there. Then my family will be coming, and we will be traveling around France for four weeks, so I'll have more to share later. I'm glad I still have more time here because I'm not ready to go back to the States!
