We docked in Marseille, France early this morning and we were headed out to Arles & Les Baux de Provence by 7:30 AM. The early start didn’t prevent us from getting a good cup of espresso in Arles. That is one cup of jolt we both needed!
Arles is famous for being the small town where Vincent Van Gogh spent several years painting many sights throughout the area.
The above cafe was one of Van Gogh’s subjects. He painted it and he also spent many hours inside imbibing the local wine and passing out at the table.
He also painted this garden in the courtyard of the local hospital, the same hospital that treated him when he cut his ear off. I think it may have been one of the first HMO’s. You treat me for my cut off ear and I paint your garden as payment! Arles was inhabited by the Romans and the town is filled with Roman ruins.
After a few hours in Arles we moved on to Les Baux de Provence. This is a small French village that was built on the top of a mountain. It was built there so it could easily be defended and safe for its residents. Which it was until the 16th century when King Louis XI found out that protestants and Catholics were living together in harmony. A good Catholic king couldn’t have that, so he sent his soldiers to the village and they destroyed the whole thing and the village was abandoned.
In the 1970’s the village became a tourist attraction and many of the houses were rebuilt and are now gift shops or restaurants. The old ruins are still on the top of the mountain and you can tour them.
We had lunch in this village. The food was good and the wine was great!
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