Old, older, oldest

It's been a busy day. We've just finished dinner and are relaxing; Allen, Marilyn, & Stan are starting a game of Scrabble. Pam & Bob are out to dinner so it's a quiet evening after our day of adventure. But first I have to catch you up with what we did yesterday.

We started out on Tuesday heading to Avignon, the papal city for 80 years in the 14th century. After a somewhat manic search for parking, which was successful, we started to walk the city. Avignon became the seat of the Papacy when Pope Clement V moved it when Rome became so dangerous and difficult in 1305. Over the course of their time there, they built and added onto some rather large edifices. In fact, the Palace of the Popes is the largest gothic structure in Europe,

We didn't go into the Palace, instead opting for motorized train ride around the old part of the city, which took us around the old part of the city. Of course our ride included a view of the Pont d'Avignon,famous in song. The bridge, known as the Pont St-Benezet, was originally built in 1177, first as a narrow thoroughfare for foot traffic & horseback riders. The bridge was restored in the 15th century, spanning the Rhone River with 22 arches. In the middle of the 17th century, a flood destroyed the bridge, leaving only the four arches that remain today.

We drove home and relaxed a bit, then Pam, Bob, Allen, & I went out and enjoyed dinner at what's become our favorite restaurant in Aix, the tapas restaurant that we "discovered." Then home to bed and some rest.

Today brought about a new day of adventure. Allen, Marilyn, Stan, & I started out driving to the medieval town of Les Baux. But we got sidetracked along the way and ended up in the town of St. Remy. And it happened to be market day! So we did some shopping and then enjoyed lunch.

Just outside of St. Remy is a well-preserved Roman town called Glanum. It was first settled by the Gauls in the 6th to 3rd century B.C. Then the Greeks came in and expanded the town. Finally the Romans built their city on top of the original city. All of us were expecting a brief stop to see some old ruins. But we were surprised to find a large town of ruins with a very good interpretive program in signs that included English even. It was really interesting to walk about the ruins knowing that 2,000 years ago this was a active, bustling city. The city was abandoned in 260 A.D. because of invasion and has sat for 17 centuries undisturbed until discovered in the early 20th century.

We then did continue our drive to Les Baux, a mideaval town clinging to the top of a mountain in the Alpilles, the mountains of central Provence. The village grew because of its easily defensible position until, in 1632, a more powerful ruler grew tired of the rebellious town and had the ramparts and castle destroyed. Today about 200 people live in the village, perched high above Provence.

Now we've had a good meal at home and are looking forward to what may lie ahead. Adieu.

Pictures below:
--The end of the Palace of Popes
--Glanum
--Les Baux