The Doyenne des Alpes Maritimes visits Mont-Saint-Michel
The oldest woman in the Alpes Maritimes, aged 111, visited Mont-Saint-Michel this week (March 18-20). For years, Maryse Lancioni had dreamed of seeing the 8th Wonder of the World and its immense bay with her own eyes. Her moving message appealed to the Latitude Manche agency, the elected representatives of the Manche département and the region, as well as Éric Vannier, owner of the Mère Poulard inn. After all, it's impossible for our doyenne to visit Mont-Saint-Michel without stopping off to taste Annette Poulard's famous omelette! Maryse Lancioni, who lives in Eze, the famous village above Nice, flew to Rennes on Monday March 18, before a star-studded welcome and a transfer to the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. She wanted to see the sea recede, so she took advantage of the high tide period to witness the impressive spectacle that isolates the Wonder on its rocky outcrop. Over the two and a half days, a busy but well-planned program was planned to fill our more than centenarian with wonder. On arrival, Maryse was taken to the edge of the Couesnon dam. From there, she had her first glimpse of the Mont before being shuttled to the edge of the dam. Maryse then passed by the famous La Mère Poulard inn to watch the preparation of traditional wood-fired omelettes. After enjoying a bite, our guest expressed her wish to return for lunch the following day. And so she did! After admiring Mont-Saint-Michel from the bay, Maryse Lancioni said: "It's very beautiful. The monks have done a great job. Mont-Saint-Michel is a unique place in the world. I can't believe I'm here. I really had to see it before I died." Maryse ends her visit with a trip up to the Abbey in a joëlette, an all-terrain wheelchair carried by volunteers for whom she has a few kind words and a willingness to leave them a "tip". Visiting the abbey with site administrator Xavier Bailly is an important moment for our centenary: "The Good Lord has left me my whole head, I'm going to pray to him to thank him." Marys Lancioni still marvels at the marvellous view of Mont-Saint-Michel from her room at the Relais Saint-Michel, a 4* hotel on the mainland, on the edge of the bay. Delighted to have been able to grant her wish, Maryse Lancioni warmly thanked all those who had made her dream come true.