Thank you, everybody, for putting up with my cop-out of a blog post yesterday. I was tired out from yesterday's day trip to Arles and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. We got in the car at 9:30 and headed south from Lyon, and in about an hour we were driving through the region of Provence. I was amazed at how much the countryside reminded me of the Texas Hill Country, with its shrubby greenery, wide open bright blue skies, and rugged cliffsides.
Our first destination was the small, quaint town of Arles. The girls love Vincent Van Gogh, and wanted to see where he produced many of his famous paintings, including Starry Night Over the Rhone. After we toured the old city, we made a spontaneous journey to the Mediterranean Sea -- just because we could! Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer was about a 30-minute drive from Arles. It seemed a bit like the Galveston of the Mediterranean. I'm sure that the French Riviera boasts more spectacular views, but I quite enjoyed the unpretentious beach-bum feel of this cute village. We spotted numerous horseback riding stables, one after the other, on the road towards the sea. I believe there are also wild horses that roam this area, similar to those in the Outer Banks area of N.C.
Once again, I'm thankful that we had the opportunity to take some time to explore our new country. Here are some photos from our trip that will give you a glimpse of our adventures!
 |
| 2,000 year old Roman Arena |
 |
| The view from the city wall looks down on the signature red-tiled roofs of Provence |
 |
| A Roman theatre from 1st century B.C. which once seated 10,000. These columns are all that remain of a 3-story stage wall. |
 |
| Van Gogh fans might recognize this cafe. It used to be white but has been painted a garish yellow to match Van Gogh's imagination. (A copy of the painting stands where Van Gogh had set up his easel) |
 |
| Relaxing at the Place de la Republique |
 |
| I love the bright blue shutters which are so typical of Provencial architecture! |
 |
| Another typical scene in Arles - narrow, winding cobblestone passageways |
 |
| The Hotel de Ville (town hall) of Arles is behind them |
 |
| Another Van Gogh site |
 |
| St. Trophime Church, named after a 3rd-century bishop of Arles. The Romanesque main entrance is spectacular! |
 |
| The beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. A chilly wind whipped straight from the Mediterranean! |
 |
| Lori enjoying the Mediterranean sunset |
No comments:
Post a Comment