Arles
A mama pigeon was raising her two babies in a cavity just above us in the arena wall.
Our hotel in Avignon was near the train station, so taking a day trip to Arles was quick and easy. Our first stop was the Roman Amphitheatre where gladiators once fought wild animals and where bullfighting still happens today. We climbed to the upper level of the arena where we could see the unique tower designed by architect Frank Gehry in the distance. In the arena below, we watched teenagers learning to use swords and shields.
Narrow winding streets designed for pedestrians make the historic center of Arles a pleasant place for a stroll.
We spent some time touring the medieval St. Trophime Church and Cloisters. This was traditionally the first stop on one of the main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
The Cryptoporticos are a dark and damp underground network of Roman arches and galleries dating back to the 1st century BCE. They were used as a structural foundation for the Forum above.
Joe declared that this salad with warm goat cheese and honey on toast was the best lunch ever. He doesn't typically photograph his food, but this delectable concoction was worth documenting.
At the age of 35, Vincent Van Gogh left Paris and came to Arles, inspired by its bright light and colorful landscapes. Throughout town, large panels are placed where he would have set up his easels, so you can see the view that inspired him as it looks today. This is L’Entrée du Jardin Public, or The Entrance to the Public Garden.
Before leaving the café, we checked the train website only to find that our train was greatly delayed due to a whole host of issues (an unattended package, malfunctioning computers, no available agent to name just a few). Plan A: go to the station, buy a ticket and hope for the best. But the ticket machine wasn't working, nor were the lights in the restrooms (thank goodness for cell phone flashlights). Plan B: We found a ticket agent who sold us tickets but then promptly closed the office. We were only moments away from having to come up with Plan C. Luckily - but to our great puzzlement - the train came and went right on time, and we were successfully on our way back to Avignon.