Spring Break Part Two, Continued: Oyster and Calvados-Hunting in Normandy

After sniffling somewhat regularly throughout the night, we were once again up bright and early to drive to Mont-Saint-Michel, an island a few hundred meters off the northwest coast that is surrounded by tidal flats. We grabbed a quick (and extremely cheap) from the charming bakery next door, and then headed off first to the grocery store, to get me medicine for my burgeoning illness.

You cannot tell me this is not a scene straight out of a movie.

Pegasus bridge 2.0, which was installed in 1994.

Full cultural immersion! Fun fact: this grocery store had a countdown to when it opened. Also it turns out the only people who go to a French grocery store when it opens are French senior citizens. And us.

Soon enough, we were approaching Mont-St. Michel! So actually, you have to park quite a distance away, and then take a bus, which then drops you off on the bridge from the mainland to the Mont-St. Michel, since walking across the salt flats is unsafe even at low tide. Nevertheless, it is still a sight to behold as the island, and especially its famous abbey, draws closer and closer.

Upon reaching the island, we promptly headed towards the famous abbey. We were a bit short on time, but you can easily spend a whole day here. If I had more time, I would have definitely tried the famous omelet at La Mère Poulard. I guess I will have to come back. Also, I would spent more time just roaming around the beautiful abbey.

After walking around the abbey, we refused to repeat the same mistake we made yesterday of forgetting to allot time for meals, so we grabbed some buckwheat crepes. Not quite the same as the omelet at La Mère Poulard, but it would have to do with our time constraints.

Then, it was sadly time to say goodbye to Mont-Saint-Michel, and zoom off to our next adventure, of attempting to find a calvados distillery we could visit, a shockingly hard task for a region known for its apples and calvados.

Just a guy on a tractor driving through town on his way to work.

I managed to find one that we thought would potentially be open. No one was picking up our phone calls, but we figured we would give it a go. At that point, I was so tired it was honestly probably more helpful for me to not talk than even attempt to navigate, so my friend released me from navigating duties, and I promptly fell dead asleep. When I woke up, my friend had finally found the calvados place, which, after some attempts to knock at the padlocked gate, appeared to be closed. At least it was a pretty detour.

Luckily, the next place we tried, Distillerie Garnier, was open. Unfortunately, what I forgot was that because my friend was driving, the calvados tasting was essentially me downing shots of hard liquor while the owner and after 1ish tasting, my friend, watching, which was a tad awkward. However, definitely super cool to taste a liquor that had been aged longer than I had been alive, although the flavor from the oak barrels was a bit too strong for me. We wanted to buy some, but unfortunately, he only took cash, and our bills were too large for him to accept, so he told us to a quick detour to a nearest commune, Tinchebray-Bocage, where the post office might exchange our bills. We then went on a wild goose chase where someone directed us from the post office to the bank to another bank. Eventually we gave up and just withdrew more money and got meringues from a local bakery.

A very helpful chart for someone who knows next to nothing about alcohol tasting notes.

Look at the size of those meringues. Yum.

After finally successfully purchasing calvados, we then headed to our final stop, La Calvadosienne, for another Normandy specialty, oysters.

Another first on this trip: first oyster vending machine!

I shucked the oysters with a cheap oyster knife we also bought from the store, using the yellow safety vests that came with the rental car to protect my hands, and then drizzled some vinaigrette on top. Because it was too cold and windy, we ate them in the car, but I have to say, these were probably the cheapest and best oysters I have literally had. Truly, I don’t think I have ever felt so content watching as I was slurping oysters and dribbling briny oyster juice everywhere as the sun set over Gold Beach.

Me hard at work, attempting not to slash my hand.

what a beautiful scene.

Actually unreal.

Right after I took this photo a hare ran across the road and then the field. Again, straight out of Pinterest.

After our amazing snack and sunset, it was finally time to head back to our hotel for dinner. After a leek and potato soup amuse touch, I got the salmon with aubergine, and salad with a soy dressing to start, which was pretty good.

For my main course, I got confit pork cheek with potatoes, which to be honest, was just okay.

Finally, for dessert, I got the frozen soufflé with mandarin oranges and kalamansi, which was also pretty good, but my friend got an apple sorbet with calvados, which in reality ended up being Calvados slightly diluted with apple sorbet. The French really do not kid around with their desserts. On the bright side, this set us up to have an excellent sleep, which we would need for once again early morning departure, except this time back to Paris.