ARLES

Coming to the end of our trip - packing, surveys etc. Leave for the airport 10am tomorrow. Spent the morning walking around Arles which is a old French town in the carmargue, Provencal area of the country. It was a large Roman city and has many artifacts, including a colesseum and theatre both well preserved. It is also Easter fair here for 3 days, we have French & Spanish bullfighting, the bulls will be run through the streets this weekend, we're not taking part 

Van Gogh spent some time in town & got his inspiration for starry night. He used to hang out in this yellow cafe.

Town hall with the French bullfighters hats. It's not like the Spanish version, they don't kill the bull but have to collect the ribbons attached to various parts of the bull without being gored or trampled.

This is the hospital where VG got his ear patched up and probably some psychiatric help.

Tonights bullfight poster shows the names of both the bulls and the bullfighters. We also have a big funfair in town, shame it's set up just outside our cabin window.

AVIGNON

 You know the story & song - Sur la pont d'Avignon etc ...etc. Apparently all baloney. Built by a shepherd boy on God's orders who hurled a one ton boulder into the Rhone to get people's support for the bridge. Nobody danced on it because the builder, owner charged tolls & you couldn't afford to dance on it. Now a tourist attraction that holds no attraction for me. I wouldn't pay to go on a bridge you can't cross.

The Mistral is still a monster putting white caps on the water - it's dreadful unless you are really wrapped up. 

 

The Catholics back in the 13th century had a problem. The Pope appointed the cardinals & the cardinals voted in the Pope. Corrupt, or what, anyway the French thought so & voted their own Pope who set up court in Avignon, built himself a massive palace & lived happy ever after. Not quite -  after many years of arguments & in fighting they two sides got back together again and continued their corruption to this day. The last 2 French Popes must have done something really bad because they have "disappeared" from the records.

Had Fabien Morreale, finalist of France's Master Chef, on board to cook us a meal - excellent grub, he used to work for Marco Pierre White in Mayfair. He chatted with us about what he's doing now, seemed a really nice guy.

Went out in the evening for a concert, very atmospheric venue.

VIVIERS

 Viv is a beautiful, medieval peaceful town. Narrow cobbled streets and original houses. It is a steady uphill walk to the cathedral, which is the smallest cathedral in France, parish church size, but very nice. The Mistral wind is insane, the days would be absolutely wonderful without it. We were offered kayaking on the Rhone, nuts to go in this wind. I think it was gusting 40mph today - good job the narrow streets offer some shelter.

This swanky house belonged to Noël Albert, a salt entrepreneur and tax collector for the Bishop. He tried to push his luck by plotting a Protestant insurrection so he could make more money. This project didn't go well and he ended up getting chopped into pieces & thrown into the Rhone. Don't mess with the Catholic Bishop!

Nice view from the top.