Arles

Friday 11-9 we are in Arles on the Rhône River in the Provence region of southern France. It's famed for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh. Once a provincial capital of ancient Rome, Arles is also known for many remains from that era, including Arles Amphitheatre now hosting plays, concerts and bullfights. 

Les Baux-de-Provence 

Les Baux-de-Provence 

In the afternoon we do a walking tour of Arles where we see the Roman amphitheater and other ruins. It’s amazing to think how these ruins have survived and the city has built up around them. We have a variety of weather conditions and one can see with the changing light made it an attractive destination for van Gogh. He was fascinated by the Provençal landscapes, producing over 300 paintings and drawings during his short time in Arles. Many of his most famous paintings were completed there, including The Night Cafe, the Yellow Room, Starry Night Over the Rhone, and L'Arlésienne. Van Gogh's mental health deteriorated in 1888 and he became alarmingly eccentric, culminating in the well-known ear-severing incident with Paul Gauguin which resulted in two stays in the Old Hospital of Arles.

 Roman amphitheater in the city center

View of Arle from amphitheater 

Old Hospital of Arle

Back on the boat a little overdosed with what we saw and learned during the day we unwind. Our dinner was paired with the Mounts Family wines one of our favorite dry creek wineries. The main course was Beef Sirloin Steak with Sauce Béarnaisera.