Arles, Provence, France

The city of Arles is 12 kms away from our home.  Unlike Les Baux it is not up a mountain.  In fact, it is very flat , almost prairie like surroundings, except in the fields there are vines not wheat and Olive trees.  Lots of them.  Arles is a Roman city, surrounded by walls, and the Rhone River.   Today is market day, the main gate is wall to wall with vendors.  Fruits, Veg, Seafood, Beef, Chicken, all the food groups are supported.  Yes, Cheese and Baked Goods too.  No proper French market would be acceptable without those two items.

 On market day,  only residents and workers are given car access inside the walls.  This means I should have parked in Le Paradou,.  It would have taken me less time to walk the 12km then it did to find a spot. I dropped the gang next to the market and began the search.  If you have been to Europe, you know that people park anywhere they can squeeze their car in.  The tricky part is not finding a spot so much as making sure there are no obscure signs or rules that would prohibit the parking.  You see, the locals will park up the side of a tree and will never incur any problems.  I, on the other hand in the past have been towed, threatened with jail time, fined, asked to leave the country etc., on more than one occasion, for simply parking without knowing the unwritten rules.  Anyway that's another story, we are not going there!  Today it only took me 20 minutes to find a prime spot and about 10 minutes to squeeze the car in.  I figured it was about a 10 banger parking job.  That is, I hit the car in front of me 5 times and the car behind me 5 times, moving them slightly each time to make room for me.  I have no clue how I am going to get out...who cares! I'm in!

Our shopping curiosity satisfied, as well as our pantry, we entered the main gate. Narrow streets are busy with shoppers, the patios are slowly filling up as the market slows down.  The centrepiece of the city is standing proudly at the end of the main street.  The coliseum.  The Roman presence started in Arles in 123BC.  It grew in importance after a canal was constructed connecting the city through the river to the Mediterranean Sea.  After Cesar defeated Pompei, Arles became the colony for the Roman Legion.  The city prospered significantly, the arena, an amphitheatre, baths, as well as the city walls were built.  It became a political centre for the Roman empire for most of the 4th and 5th centuries.  As usual all good things come to an end, we know what happened to the Romans.  However they did leave some nice things for us to visit.  The arena is in very good condition for it's age, the amphitheatre is still used for concerts today.

Arles continued to be an important port city until the railroad took over the transportation of goods.  The town suffered economically in the 19th century.  This is about the time that Vincent Van Gogh arrived.  He was very taken with the colours and the landscape of Provence.  Van Gogh painted over 300 works while in Arles.  Famous paintings such as The Night Cafe, Starry Night over the Rhone and the Yellow room. Paul Gauguin visited Van Gogh here as well.  Shortly after Gauguin left. Van Gogh had some mental health issues, cutting his ear off in the process.  That little incident got him chased out of town.

This restaurant above is believed to be Van Gogh's subject for the Night Cafe.  This is just a great place to waste away a few hours.  Interesting architecture, many artists, and well.... I think you get the picture.

I got the car out without any difficulty and we headed back to the house for a nice Rose to finish up the late afternoon sun.  Tomorrow another market and a day in the vineyards.

Be Well

Sante.