Last market of our visit

Market day is always a big event here.  This morning, I went out and bought all the food that I wanted, then later, I walked from one end of the market to the other, which is about a mile.  It's quite amazing what is available at the market.  Today was quite warm, but cooling shade was provided by the huge trees that line the street.

The west end of the market has a lot of lower priced goods, affordable clothing, and all kinds of practical items.  I bought a fly swatter there today.  

The middle of the market is close to the heart of the city and tourist sights.  There vendors sell more high-end and tourist-oriented merchandise.

But it's still amazing see to the diversity of items offered at the market, like mattresses for sale in the middle of the street.  I hope that they would include delivery.

Always a surprise

This afternoon, I went walking.  It was 87 out, but there were plenty of interesting things happening.

At the Place de la Republique, I could hear African drumbeats coming out of the Hotel de Ville.  So, I headed that way to check it out.  A wedding celebration was going on inside, with dancing.  Over the years, I have seen bits and pieces of many weddings happening there.

Then, to escape the heat, I went inside the Eglise St. Trophime.  Inside the old stone church, the temperature dropped by at least 20 degrees.  That was impressive.

Then, a Triumph club of France rally rolled into town.  I must have seen 35 Triumphs.  Nothing cultural, historical, or artistic, but something popular.  

Day and night

We live in an old neighborhood of stone buildings ranging in age from 200 to nearly 2000 years old.  By day there are lots of interesting things to see in the neighborhood.

This is what a nearby Place (Place Geneve) looks like by day.

Last night, from our rooftop terrace, we were watching swifts flying around in the twilight. We could hear music and singing, so we walked towards the Place and were surprised to find a giant neighborhood party going on.  People had hauled tables and chairs to one section to eat dinner, then the entertainment began.  Live music, singing and dancing.  What an interesting event to stumble upon.  Here is a bit of what it looked like.

Today is a national holiday, Ascension Day.  The celebration must have begun on its eve.

Tour de Constance

One of the dominant features of the ancient, walled Aigues Mortes is the 13th-century Tour de Constance.  It can be seen from miles around and has a complicated history, serving as a lighthouse among other things.

The Tour de Constance above the canal

The Tour from inside the walls

The steps to the top of the ramparts

The inside view of the front gate

The icon above the front gate

As we drive through the area NE of Aigues Mortes, we pass through acres of vineyards, wineries, and a couple of appellations (regions of origin for wine). Lately, we have been enjoying Domaine Montcalm rose as well as Gallician rose.

Vineyards of Montcalm

Vineyards of Montcalm

The cooperative winery in Gallician

The doors to the 
Gallician winery

Here's looking at you!

Walking bridge to bridge

Today I followed in some of Van Gogh's footsteps.  I walked north along the Rhone River to the Trinquetaille Bridge.  Just below the southeast staircase up to the bridge is an easel featuring one of Van Gogh's paintings: L'Escalier du Pont de Trinquetaille, painted in October 1888.  The area looks quite similar today, but the tiny tree has grown huge.

The bridge as seen from the Triquetaille side

After crossing the Rhone, I walked north to what remains of the lion bridge, the Pont des Lions, the old railway bridge that was bombed by Allies in August 1944 to stop German shipping.

The west lions

Looking across the river to the east side of the Pont des Lions 

And I took photos across the river that show a lot of stone buildings, varying in age from the 1st century AD, through the Middle Ages, and into the 18th and 19th centuries.

Round arches of the Roman arena in the back and 
buttress wall supports of an old church 

More buttress wall supports

Something old, something new ...

We began our adventure today outside the old stone walls of Aigues Mortes.

Our destination was la Grande Motte and its relatively new pyramids. These pyramid designs were inspired by the Mayan pyramids in Mexico. This beach town was pretty busy because today is Mother's Day in France.  Lots of families were out together.  The little train, the carousel, and the big wheel were all running.

And it was pretty warm today.  Towards the end of our journey, little kids were playing in the fountain at Place St. Louis, inside the walls of Aigues Mortes.

Taking to the streets

This afternoon, I went walking around the old city of Arles.  Just a couple of blocks from our house, the first thing that I encountered was a protest supporting women's rights.

The other sights were more expected, Roman ruins, old buildings, interesting faces looking down at me.

And several women dressed in Arlesian costume, heading towards some event at a church near the Roman arena.

Ah nature

This morning, we to the Centre de Decouverte du Scamandre, a nature center in the Carmargue Gardoise, the Camargue area west of the Petit Rhone.  It was a windy day, but we enjoyed walking through the marshes on their boardwalks.  We heard all kinds of great bird calls, but rarely were able to connect them with any bird that we could see. 

We really enjoyed observing the stork nest and listening to the mysterious racket that may have included calls from the illusive bittern.

A European White Stork on its nest

Stork with a chick

The observation deck

Signage with a bittern's image, in the marsh

Field trip of students