One last trip to the sea

As we have to turn in the rental car tomorrow, we made one final excursion to the Mediterranean today, riding on some of our favorite bike routes.

One thing that I haven't mentioned is all the grapes growing around here.  Grapes grown in the sand are known as vignes des sables (vines of the sand).  Here is one small vinyard in the sand that we cycled past today.

Our ride today was quite warm, and lots of people were heading into the sea, including me.  It was super calm, so I took off my shoes and socks and waded in up to my knees.  If I had a bathing suit with me, I would have gone swimming.

The plage (beach) at La Grande Motte

Selfie in the Mediterranean

The view from the water, La Grande Motte

Aqueducs de Barbegal

The ruins of this pair of Roman aqueducts are near Fontvielle.  One aqueduct powered a hydraulic flour mill at the south end of this site.  The other supplied water to Arles.  The flour mill (4th century) was sited on a hill above flat farmland.  It's impressive, and a lovely site.

Red poppies at the aqueduct!

The chute where the water flowed to the flour mill

Part of the flour mill

Part of the flower mill

Happy Memorial Day!

It's a holiday here in France as well: Second day of Pentecost (the end of the Easter season), known in Great Britain as Whit Monday (the day after Whit Sunday, the British name for Pentecost).

Cycling to Mejanes

This morning, we drove to les Saintes Maries de la Mer to rent bikes to ride to Mejanes.  About two thirds of the route is on dirt roads.  It winds through marshes and pasture land for taureaus (bulls) and chevals blancs (white horses).  Round trip is 36 km (about 22.5 miles).  But in Mejane, there is a lovely place that has a full service restaurant.  We stopped there for cafe (and croissants this morning).

We saw (and heard) a variety of birds.  Notably, flamingoes, storks, herons, egrets, stilts, coots, oystercatchers, hawks, terns, and gulls.

Oystercatcher

It was hot, so we carried and drank plenty of water.

Promenades of chevals blancs are a popular activity in the Camargue.  We saw several groups out riding today.

We walked around the town after our ride.

A lane of shops

The old town hall

The church, which towers above the town

One way to travel

What a difference a week makes

We took the same route cycling today as last Friday.  But, there wasn't the insane number of people on holiday doing the same thing.  Very peaceful today, in comparison.  We come to the south of France in May to avoid the crowds and high temperatures.  Today we avoided the crowds, but the temperature hit 85 I think.  Still a lovely day.

No crowds in Aigues Mortes

Depiction of Saint Louis going on a crusade, boarding his ship in Aigues Mortes

Le Grau du Roi, left bank, canal and right bank

City hall in Le Grau du Roi (I think) with a lovely dolphin sculpture at the top of the building

A small bit of history

In the second century, Romans constructed a circus, for chariot races here in Arles.  Although only a small portion of the original structure has been unearthed, from what was excavated and knowledge of its dimensions, archeologists have been able to map its position.  

As I was looking at the excavated ruins this afternoon and the map of its layout, I realized that it had been about half a block west of the house we are staying in, in the la Roquette section of Arles.  It's kind of interesting to imagine chariot races, just around the corner from here.

The remains of the Roman Circus

Les Baux-des-Provence

This morning, we left early to arrive at this site when it opened (to avoid the crowds and to get a parking spot nearest to the village).  It is an impressive fortress/chateau from the middle ages that sits atop a rock spur with steep ravines on both sides.  The views from the top are outstanding.

Map of the chateau

The farmland to the south

Models of a trebuchet (a siege engine to make holes in walls) and a covered, battering ram sit just below the structures.

Trebuchet

Battering ram

The structures are tall, with access via steep, uneven stairs.  I climbed to 2 high points to take photos.

View to the south from Point A, of battering ram and trebuchet

Looking northeast from Point A

Looking at Point B (center, where the flag is flying)

Looking at Point A (upper center of photo)

Looking southwest from Point B

Looking south from Point B

Looking south from Point B

This is a popular site, but a great place to visit.

Lunch outside

Today was really a lovely day.  Most everyone left their coats at home and wore summer clothes.  We celebrated the warm weather by eating lunch outside.  The restaurant's outdoor seating is under an arbor that provided dappled sunshine, relief from the heat, and a breeze.  If felt great to be comfortable outside.

First course: Tellines (tiny bivalves)

Main course: Sea bream

Deboned at the table

Voila!

Swallow's nest above the door