Seen/scene at Arles

We spent a fabulous day in Arles.  We bused there early this morning (cool morning, misty fields, lovely) and started our day with a coffee in a little cafe overlooking, well, so much history.

 This is a shot of Les Arenes, the large amphitheatre built in the first century AD.  It has room for 21,000 spectators.   We passed it on the way to get a coffee.

 This is the view from where we stopped for coffee.  Let's see...on the left one can see the top of the Cloitre Saint-Trophime.  It has two Romanesque and two gothic corridors from the 12th and the 14th centuries.  Unfortunately the front of the church (in the Place de la Republique) was covered in scaffolding so the famous portal, dating from the 12th century, was totally covered.  I did get a lot of shots of it the last time we were here, however, so all was not lost!  On the right you can see a gathering of school kids, waiting to go into the College Saint Charles.  The school bell rang and they all disappeared inside the door on the right!  Magic!  And directly in front (well, not the small child, she would be a more recent addition to things) one can see the ancient Roman Theatre, built at the end of the 1st century BC. It could hold 10,000 spectators.  It is also shown in the pic below.  I had to push my camera through the bars to get this shot....the things I do for you!!!

We then walked around the city for a few hours and my guy patiently waited while I snapped pictures left and right.  There are so many beautiful sights and sites to see.

 I think that this is the Eglise Saint Julian.  I was intrigued by the early morning light offset by the dark streets.

And I think this is the back of the the Eglise des Freres-Precheurs.  I loved the grey light mixed with the beautiful blues.

I also had an opportunity to visit the new Arles Vincent van Gogh Foundation.  This exhibit shows one of van Gogh's works and his influence on contemporary artists.  The current exhibits feature Yan Pei-Ming (Night of Colours) and Bertrand Lavier (L'Affaire Tournesols).

 This is a shot taken from the gift shop in the Foundation.  I took this shot because I bought a postcard of the same shot.  These are the gates that open to allow one entrance to the Foundation.  The gate was designed by Bertrand Lavier and represents 'the considerably magnified signature of Vincent and his [Lavier's] signature at the same time'....so says the little pamphlet describing the current exhibits.    

This is an original picture shown in the Foundation, by Vincent van Gogh, and is called Self-Portrait with Pipe and Straw Hat.  It was painted in 1887.

And then of course, there are the random shots that one likes to take, just because.

This one is right across from the Arena.  Nice house, with a nice view.  Sigh.

I have made a list of some more spots I want to get to before we come home.  Yes, I am starting to think of the coming-home part of the trip....time seems to be passing quite quickly now.  I still feel as if there are quite a few things I want to do, but I am still trying to hold on to the relaxed feeling that has been such an enjoyable part of this trip.  A hurry-hurry-slow.  I can do this!!

More to do.  More to show you.  I'll be back.....