The Romans and Van Gogh in Arles
By Lothar. Filed in France |
On Monday, July 7, we say good bye to last week’s floating home. A 90 minute train trip takes us back to our departure point. This is too easy, just letting the scenery go by, without any “ecluse” to navigate through!
Rolf and Maria give us a ride to Arles, and after a refreshing swim in the Ibis Hotel pool, we take a walk into town and tour the sites : Roman arena, Roman amphitheater, Roman baths and Roman Forum.
Provence was established as the first “province” outside of the boundaries of the original Roman Empire. It served as a retirement community for Roman Generals, keeping them at a distance far enough from Rome, so that they could not stage a political coup.
As a decent Roman city, Arles has an arena for gladiator fights, an amphitheater for theatrical performances, a circus maximus for chariot races and a spa for relaxation and relieving rheumatic aches and pains.
We follow the Van Gogh trail, marking several of his famous painting spots. Finally, we are next to the “Cafe Van Gogh” in the former Roman Forum, and have a good dinner in the restaurant “Le Bistro Arlesien”.
I have an excellent entrecote in the Place Du Forum, while the setting sun is changing the color of the bright yellow “Cafe La Nuit”, which is said to be Van Gogh’s “Cafe Terrace At Night” painting.