Provence 9/22

24/9/23.  Drove to Les-Baux-de-Provence.  This is a village on the top of a limestone outcrop.

It is hilly and easily defended. The outcrop was occupied in prehistoric times and has been built on many times subsequently.  It takes the best part of a day to walk around the ruins and visit the shops that cater to the enormous tourist trade.  It was quite today and a rewarding visit. We had lunch there then walked to a light show it a underground quarry https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/

23/9/22. My birthday. Drove to the market in the village.

Then went to a local winery and had lunch at the Chapelle Saint Sixte.  We relaxed at the farmhouse around the pool, but I did not have a swim, then had dinner in the village.  

22/9/22. We had breakfast in our favourite cafe  and said goodbye to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

 We drove to Arles where we spent a few hours walking around the town.  There are Roman ruins and many shops, including several photography shops. 

We drove to the Abbey-de-Montmajour which Van Gogh drew and where the film ‘A lion in Winter’ was filmed. We had lunch there but didn’t go in.  

We drove to our accommodation which is in the country and very beautiful.  It is five minutes drive to town. 

21/9/22.  Took a boat up the little Rhone to the ferry crossing.

Two fabulous flamingoes with cameras.  The pink colour is said to come from eating shrimps!

It was very windy but not unpleasant.  Went to see the runnings of the bulls in the arena at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer this was very exciting and the 9 men razeteurs attempt to get the single bull in a circular arena to charge them so they can grab a cord tied to an antler before they leap oven a 1.5 m fence and up to a higher ledge around the seating.  This is necessary because occasionally the bull jumps the fence after them and they would not want to be in the way!  After the 8 bulls have had a go 6 white horses and riders come into the arena and they have a really fast stampede along barricaded town streets to somewhere. Exciting. 

Had a swim and dinner.  

20/9/22.  Drove to the Parc Ornitholoques where we saw many flamingos and a beaver.

 There were other birds and many plants I found interesting.  We drove via a ferry across the little Rhone to a town called Aigues-Mortes  This is a medieval fortified town within a well preserved town wall.  There were many high quality shops and we bought a colourful table cloth and a small bowl for the table.

19/9/22.  Walked around the old port in the morning.  There is an enormous museum inside a very old fortress and a modern building.  The marina was packed with boats, many classic  types and no huge luxury boats I could see.  We had breakfast coffee and croissants .  

We took an Uber to the airport where we got a rental.  Denise drove to Martigues where we had lunch , three king prawns with saffron rice and salad. 

We drove to the salt pans via a ferry across the Rhone near its mouth.  We drove to Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer. We had dinner at a restaurant Sue and I ordered something on the specials board which turned out to be stuffed squid ( it was not called Calamari anything).  It was rich and not quite what we were expecting.  

18/9/22  We took a train from Bath to Gatwick Airport via Reading.  We had to run for the train at Reading to avoid waiting an hour for the next one because the Bath train was late.  We met Cathy and Denise at the airport.  The flight to Marseille was late and we arrived there after 9pm. Cathy had arranged a taxi to our accommodation in the old port area.  There was very heavy security there which makes you wonder!