Towers at the entrance to Arles' old city |
Tim and Margit refilling water bottles |
After a good night's sleep, we walked to the train station to reserve sleeping cars on a night train out of Arles. Margit, Angie, Tim, and Todd wanted to go to Paris, and I decided to spend more time in Arles. There was a train to Paris at 11:48 p.m. that night.
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Towers at the entrance to Arles' old city |
Tim and Margit refilling water bottles |
We had a full day of sightseeing ahead of us. We made our way to the ancient stadium built by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Today, it is still used for bull fights. It was awesome.
Margit outside the massive stadium |
Todd, Tim, and Angie outside the stadium |
| Ancient stadium steps |
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After the stadium, we went to the ancient theatre.
Todd/Hercules |
Todd, Angie, and Margit |
For more images of the Ancient Theatre, click here.
Street in Arles |
Arles archway |
Building in Arles |
Statue inside building |
Todd by fountain |
Old church |
The time for the train to Paris was approaching. We walked back to the train station, informing Yann, our host, that I would be back, probably before midnight. I believe Yann had said that he was the "son of the son."
Earlier in the evening, we asked Yann questions about Arles, and from him we learned that Arles does not have hard winters. It's cold, but the last time Arles saw lots of snow was 30 years ago. And 30 years before that, there was a foot of ice on the Rhone River, which passes by the town. We picniced near that river this afternoon.
The train to Paris was at least 40 minutes late. While we waited, we chatted with a newlywed couple who had just come from Paris. They provided my family with maps of the city and gave them some hotel suggestions.
There is something exciting about being alone in a strange city, and I now found myself alone in Arles. My senses were acute as I walked at midnight through the dark and winding ancient streets. Echos of my loved ones' warnings to be careful rang in my ears. I thought that if this were to be my last day on earth, I'd die happy. |
Back safe in my hotel room, the night seemed quiet, in spite of the sounds of distant motorcycles and cars and radios playing current French pop and of people walking and talking and dogs barking sometimes. As I began journaling, I heard Yann shut the outer doors of the hotel. I went to the window as he turned off the lights and walked away into the night.
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walliwhite@walliwhite.com |
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