June 11, 2012 Arles and Nimes France

Woke up to better weather after our light raining afternoon yesterday, very hot and humid.

We set off to see Arles and Nimes. The country side around here isn't much but we based ourselves here for the three nights to see the towns in the area. We have covered four towns in the two full days. Came back very hot today so got straight into the pool to cool down before writing this beside the pool.

Breakfast this morning on the terrace. Just wanted to show you how much bread we get given each morning. The French way a lot bread, ham and cheese great for the cholesterol.....

The trees that line a lot of the roads around here. Just outside our hotel. Look really nice with the sun shining through.

Now at Arles. The gates to the city. So many tourists in town due to three large tour boats tired up at the river bank. groups everywhere and this was at 9.30am. We thought that we would beat the crowds. This seems a very touristy town quite over the top. Wasn't quite like what I was expecting.

Just inside the gates

Inside but around the back of the old Roman theater but now used for an Arena for bull fighting.

Underneath the Arena

The old Roman theatre but as I said is now the Arena for bull fighting. Not going to see that. Done that once, and for the last time. Horrible.

The outside walls of the Arena

The town square and the old church. We went inside the church and like the others very old and look so beautiful with large square stones for the floors. All uneven. Really is hard to believe how old everything is here, just amazing.

Inside the Amphitheater. There is so much restoration of the old ruins. Its ashame that it needed this done as everything is starting to look replaced although all done in the old look. Restoration taking part everywhere. Very busy very touristy.

We then went over to Nimes, at first looked very big area with the new town but once we found the old area a bit more interesting. Had a wander around, by now quite exhausting with the heat.

A few sights we saw in Nimes below

This was a great old ruin had a wander inside. Didn't feel save with all those old stones sitting above me.

Inside of the photo above

Around the back

This is a great old Arena. Looks more like the one in Rome.

Tomorrow we are off to the Nice area for five nights so hope to get more relaxation perhaps around the pool as well seeing as much as we can. Dependent on weather as it can change a lot.

We have had a great time here, nice hotel but must have walked for miles over the last two days.

As I said the weather can change, I am sitting under the umbrella beside the pool writing this and a sprinkle of rain after such a lovely day although it is now 7.00pm.

Just off for dinner.