Arle and Les Baux

Margot had read that Arles had some roman ruins worth seeing namely an amphitheatre and a colosseum. These were about 2000 years old they think which was pretty impressive I thought as I sat at the amphitheatre wishing there was a MacBeth or Romeo and Juliet to watch (oops wrong country!!). Anyway, the amphitheatre had been patched up in places but some of the pillars were still standing (I think there were over 100 in its hey day) and you could wander around and touch the carved stone work that were now heaped in no particular order on the ground. It never ceases to amaze me how the carvings are quite different in the countries we visit - I keep comparing them to the Maori artwork at home. In England there are lots of 'religious carvings' and flowers but most of them are very intricate and detailed designs. The ones we saw at the amphitheatre and other parts of France appeared to bigger and bolder.

We then went across the road to the colosseum which I did not really enjoy looking through when I realised that bull fights were still held there - the most recent only last week. I did say in one of our earlier blogs that I think I romanticised history just a bit much and reality has begun to set in. Anyway, enough said - and a couple of pictures.



The other thing we have noticed is the French love of 'cicadas' (we have heard very few and wonder whether it is too hot or they are actually rare in this country). There are so many ornaments, pictures, fridge magnets (Margot bought one), cuddly toys that when squeezed sound like them we think they must be almost as rare as the kiwi. We have also noticed the absence of bird life around where we are staying. There is the occasional duck (though the wise ones have taken off due to the season), some swans on lakes and a few birds that look like swallows and swifts but we would have thought with so many trees and seeds that there would be far more. I keep thinking about all the hard work that conservationists are doing in NZ to bring back our native birds by planting native trees and how New Zealanders are enjoying the re emergence of bird life.

We felt a bit flat after visiting Arle and Margot suggested a detour to Le Baux - a village full of little boutiques, icecream shops, cafes and houses and at the top the ruins of the original fortified town and castle. We climbed the hill where we wandered around for a long time enjoying the view and the automated commentary. I think the pictures speak for themselves.