Saturday, July 12, 2008

More Arles


This is a picture of Les Baux, a tiny village next to the Chateau de Baux. We were going to go all the way to the top of a nearby mountain, the one from where this picture is taken, but since it was windy the day was declared as code orange. This means that since everything was dry with a fire and wind, well, it could be dangerous.


A country castle, that is now used for making wine, olive oil, etc.



Just some of the lavender and olive trees at this castle.



This is an old roman aqueduct, Point de Gard. We went swimming in the river but due to strong currents and rocks that hurt your feet, it was difficult.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Arles


In the evening there was a type of street festival/parade where people dressed in regional costumes marched down the street with bands. This picture show the Carmargue bull guardiens on the white horses from Carmargue with their staffs.


We went to a concert/dance in an ancient roman arena in Arles on Saturday July 5. It was very cool, they were gypsies representing three differnt countries with different dances and music.



In a town where the nearby Solvay factor influenced everything, the houses, the town itself, there was a salt harvesting factory, the place where they harvest salt from the ocean. This causes the water to turn pink and the salt crystals to form on top.



We went to a private beach by the salt harvesting area. The water was cold and it was windy but the dunes were pretty.



This was right next to the national park Carmargue, so in front of this lighthouse there are wild flamingos. We drove by really close to some of them and they flew off, it was cool to watch them because the ones in the zoo can't.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Paris and South France

The stars on the Eiffel Tower represent the fact that it is now the French president's turn to be president of the European Union.



The church in the town of Bezelay, famous for its restaurants.



The town from far away.




We visited a museum about the canal that connects the Loire and the Saone. There are 61 boat/water locks, whatever you call them. This is the owner's house of the nearby old no longer working ceramic factory and the house had to show off the products created in the factory.



Arles in the town centre by the town hall.


The beach at St Marie de la Mer, it's so good to be swimming in salt water again, and it was really warm.



In front of the Haribo museum/factory.



A view of the city Uzes.



A church there, famous for its fancy organ.



The natural water source for Perrier exists under this gazebo. We took a tour of the factory and how they make thirty million bottles a day.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

sorry I can't post that often it's very hard to get internet connection in Arles