We are all foodies, but appetites come in many forms: ravenous, impulsive, artistic, disciplined, cultivated, refined, or simply passionate. And just as I have no doubt that everyone will discover at least one galette that makes them hum with delight, I also know that, after truly experiencing Brittany, three things will change forever: your relationship to crepes, your expectations of oysters and mussels, and your understanding of the miraculous role of salt in dishes. Oysters Is it the almost otherworldly shell, the promise of aphrodisiac powers, or simply a fashionable reputation? What’s certain is that oysters create fascination, if not addiction for some. I’ve never been a huge fan myself,…
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Mont Saint-Michel for the happy few
Everyone dreams of Mont Saint-Michel, the iconic abbey rising majestically from the sea. But most visitors will be swept up in the midday tides of tourism. The real treasure lies in mastering its rhythms. THE FIND The true magic of Mont Saint-Michel is revealed by visiting during specific tidal cycles and times of day. It’s about seeing the island fully surrounded by water, or conversely, walking across the vast sands at low tide, and experiencing it without the overwhelming crowds. This wisely informed decision transforms the tourist trap into a next-level, personal experience. You get to witness the dramatic power of the tides that shape its legend and enjoy the…
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Acqua Alta in Venice, a beautiful disaster
Like all great beauties, she is too much: La Serenissima is incredible, irresistible, fragile and dramatic, altogether. Venezia’s destiny as a forever-endangered realm of wonder has a tragic beauty to it, and nothing makes it more obvious than the acqua alta days. On October 29, 2018, an exceptional high tide flooded Venice. It was the fourth highest ever recorded, and the most dramatic in over a decade. Then, in 2020, the MOSE flood barrier system has happened, and everybody became more relaxed. THE FIND Acqua Alta in Venice, when the waters hold a mirror to her ancient face, revealing her resilience and dramatic vulnerability. During these times, the city transforms.…
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A story of tides: Mont Saint Michel, revealed
The mountain has always been a place of awe; beautiful and inaccessible, it caused many to perish at the mercy of tides. And as it happens with so many places of awe and beauty, it has always been a site of worship. In the early days of Christianity, monks were using Mount Tomb – that was the first name of the island – as a sanctuary. It was in 708 that Saint Michael appeared to the bishop of Avranches, commending to build an abbey on top of that mountain. The abbey was consecrated in Saint Michael’s name, and since anno domini 708, Christians continue their pilgrimage to the holy mountain,…
