First for the First

Sunday morning we woke up to wet streets, and although the clouds looked threatening, it wasn’t raining. After we checked out of the hotel we headed over to the ship less than a mile away. Thankfully the rain held off until we were onboard. When we walked up to the Reception Desk we were welcomed aboard and told that we were the first to check in and that this was this ship’s first cruise of the season.

Early this morning we left Avignon to sail to Arles. I got up for a 7:30 Qi-Gong class (a type of Asian stretching and exercise) while Bill shaved and dressed. By the time we went to breakfast, the sun was starting to poke through the clouds. In the photo below you can see on the right-hand side the stone tower of a bridge that was bombed during World War II.

Today’s walking tour of 2700-year-old Arles gave us a good perspective of old and new. This Roman bath dates back to the year 4 A.D.

Most of the city was rebuilt after the war, but some ancient structures remain and are continually being restored. The arena, which dates back to Roman times, is still used for bullfights twice a year. Unlike Spanish bullfights, the bulls are not killed here. Rather than stabbing the bull, the object is to grab ribbons from its horns. This is what the inside of the arena looks like today.

Here you can see the contrast between the before-and-after restoration process.

Many of the streets of Arles are cobbled; all are narrow!

           

The current residents of Arles are very proud of how prolific Van Gogh was in the short time he lived here. This courtyard was one of the spots that inspired him while he was living here.