Le Mont Saint Michel--one of the "must sees" in all of France, with a coveted three-star Michelin Guide rating. The ascent to the abbey was strenuous enough requiring about half an hour of stair-climbing in dismal rain. At the entrance Rose, Sim and Gilles electing to end their quest there. It was up to me to complete the visit, but with just an hour to climb and see the rest of the colossal structure, it was a workout reaching cosmic proportions.

This room (above) contained a presence that hung thickly in the cool, damp air. Haunting chants (from the monks who still occupy parts of the abbey) could be heard echoing around the walls. Few tourists explore the bowels of the abbey, so I was spared from the horde that stampeded through the monument. It was here, in just ten minutes of tranquility, that I touched the soul of le Mont Saint Michel.