Michael S. LibermanAlps and Med Day 8: Provence
From Provence …
It’s the May 1 holiday in France … Fête du Travail … Labour Day or May Day. Late back to the hotel last night at the Beer District bar in Avignon, but we’re ready for a full day in Provence and there is much to see.
We leave the hotel at 8:15 AM and arrive at Pont du Gard at 9 AM. This ancient Roman aqueduct and bridge, carried water to Nîmes over the river Gardon near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. At 160 feet tall and 902′ in length, the arch bridge is a masterpiece of Roman engineering. Constructed mostly without mortar with 50,000 tons of precisely cut shelley limestone blocks.
Next we visit the Arena of Nîmes. Constructed in 100 AD it’s one of the best-preserved of the 400 Roman amphitheaters in existence. Today the arena features rock concerts (Sting, Katy Perry, Lenny Kravits, and The Cure among the shows this summer), but in Roman times 24,000 spectators could watch gladiator battles. We’ve got time for lunch in Nîmes at Le P’tit Nîmois with Michelle, Sophie, Greg, and Peter.
Our last stop of the day is Les Baux-de-Provence, a medieval hilltop commune as villages in France are known. With cobblestone streets and castle ruins the Les Baux offers stunning panoramic views of the vineyards and olive groves of the Provençal countryside. We’re only here for an hour, time for a few photos and a boule of gelato!
We’re back in Avignon at 5 PM. Time to walk around the town for an hour and then an Aperol Spritz at Maison Gayte before dinner at Le Lutrin at 7 PM. Tomorrow we’re off to Spain.
