Last cycle through the Camargue

We are heading north in a couple of days, so we headed south to cycle through the Camargue one last time.  Today's ride went to Mejane.  Along the way we saw the chevaux blancs (white horses), taureaux (bulls), and flamingoes that we expect to encounter down there.  

Chevaux blancs

Waiting for a promenade with the chevaux blancs

Taureaux

Taureaux with flamingoes in the background

Flying flamingoes

But today, we also met three horse carts driven by Gitans (Gypsies).  We have seen horse-drawn wagons occasionally, but this was the first time that we ever saw horse carts.

Two carts, one tail-gaiting the other

The mischievous dark horse that ran straight at us

A stately appearance, with the braided mane

Great day to be in the Camargue.

Saint Louis

 In Aigues Mortes, the central square (Place Saint-Louis) features a statue dedicated to Saint Louis (King Louis IX).  His statue is quite impressive, as was his role in the history of the place.  He launch his crusades from Aigues Mortes.

Brass fish spew water at the base of the statue

The base of the statue is pierced with the bow of a ship

And the stern of a ship

The base of the statue is enscribed with this message

Of St. Louis the town of Aigues Mortes wanting to perpetuate the most glorious memory from his annals raised his statue in the place bearing witness of this Christian hero for the 7th and 8th crusades

For Sunday, a church visit

An elaborately carved doorway greets visitors to Saint Trophime, located in the Place de la Republic.  The church construction began around 1100, and the carved doorway was added around 1190.  Saint Trophime was perhaps the first bishop of Arles, in the late-2nd and early-3rd century.

From above Saint Trophime, its bell tower is visible with some ruins of the Roman amphitheater in the foreground.

This steeple of the College Saint-Charles (a private middle school) was visible from the Roman arena.

Enjoy Sunday and the holiday weekend.

And now for something entirely different

Today was windy.  It has been windy for several days, but today the sustained winds were about 30 mph.  That made walking across open spaces quite challenging.  

It also made hanging up the laundry quite challenging.  So I looked across to a neighboring terrace and realized it was a 5-clothespin day.  In other words, today they were using 5 clothespins on every towel, compared to the usual 2 clothespins per towel.  

The 5-clothespin towels

So I hung a couple of things on the terrace clothesline.  I secured one pair of pants and one pair of shorts each with 4 clothespins, and one tank top with 3 clothespins.  But I didn't leave the laundry unattended.  I moved it inside when I left the terrace.

My well secured laundry

Flying laundry

Still flying

Earlier today, I photographed the signs on someone's front door that reflect their sense of humor.  The top sign translates as: dog and cat strong accomplices.  The lower sign translates as: lunatic cat.  I feel lucky to have not met the cat and dog.

Art

This morning, we walked to the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh to view their current show which featured the work of Nicole Eisenman and other modern artists.  

One of the first things that struck me was how different artists can capture almost the same eyes in their very different paintings.

Nicole Eisenman

Herman Kruyder

Gustave van de Woestyne

Another thing that struck me was the influence that Van Gogh's art had on some of Nicole Eisenman art.

Nicole Eisenman's Ye Ol Ear Shoppe 

Eisenman's Van Gogh's bedroom

Eisenman's version of a Van Gogh portrait of the postman

Although there were only 2 Van Gogh paintings in the show, this one was particularly lovely.

Van Gogh's Poppy Field

The lion and Arles

The lion has been an Arlesian heraldic emblem for more than a 150 years.  A lion appears in the seal of Arles, and they are incorporated into various sculptures around the city.

This morning, I cycled down to the "Pont aux Lions" (the lions bridge).  All that remains of the bridge are the lions guarding both ends of the bridge and some pilings in the middle of the Rhone.  The bridge was a railway bridge that was first used in 1868.  It was bombed by Allied forces on 6 August 1944 to disrupt German shipping.  Still a great presence at the edge of the Rhone.

A couple of weeks ago, I walked through the Hotel de Ville (city hall) and the Place de la Republique on which it is located and I took all of these photos of sculpted lions. 

Uzes

This morning, we drove up to Uzes, on back roads.  This doesn't seem too incredible, but the GPS in our car failed to recognize Uzes as a location, nor 2 other sizable towns in the vicinity.  We had visited Uzes once before and had a general concept of how the town was laid out, and where we wanted to park, but it was still a little confusing.

Uzes is a charming town.  The roads are narrow, and lined with plane trees.  The town is very walkable, with lots of squares (places) and great architecture.

The duchy (residence of the duke) is perhaps the most famous, and well-preserved building in Uzes.  It was built during the Feudal period, on the site of a Roman fortress. The high tower dates back to the 11th century.  Its chapel dates to the 15th century.  Quite a lovely sight.

The duchy and its front gate

The high tower

The high tower from inside the gate

Bas relief detail 

Beautiful city to visit.

Roman structures

Arles has a long and varied history dating back to the well-documented Roman era and even earlier.  The Romans who lived in Arles created comfortable lives for themselves.  The built the arena, a theater, the circus, and baths.

In more recent times, Roman structures have sometimes been cannibalized for building materials, built upon, and buried, but many still exist in various states of restoration.

We were walking around the old town this morning and came across the Thermes de Constantin, next to the Rhone. These Roman baths date back to the 4th century and the reign of Emperor Constantine.  They were renovated towards the end of the 20th century.

The walls that are standing reflect the detail that went into their construction.  Different materials were used, alternating red bricks and white stone.  Quite amazing too look at.

Another day at the coast

Each town around here has its own arena for bull races and these vary according to the size of the town and the tourist traffic.  Le Grau du Roi has an arena that is quite a bit larger than Salin de Giraud (where we recently attended the bull races), but quite a bit smaller than the one in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, or the massive arenas in Arles and Nimes.  Many of the arenas have sculpted bulls nearby.  The Le Grau de Roi arena is located quite close to the canal that we bike along, I took this photo from the canal path.

The Arena with 3 bull sculptures

The French definitely have a sense of humor.  I found this sign on les toilets in a cafe in Aigues Mortes and it cracked me up.

I hope that you are enjoying your day.