Best of Arles, Day 1

Blog by Shirls (while Bruce watches some unintelligible French drama on TV)

Arles (pronounced Arles) is a city in Provence, in the south of France. We're waiting for the public transport issues to return to normal, so are spending a week exploring this ancient city. The city is famous for its Roman buildings (cue happy Bruce) and also for some modern things such as that it's the home of the Gipsy Kings (everybody sing along "Volare oh oh, cantare, oh oh oh oh") and that Vincent Van Gogh painted many of his most famous works and removed his own ear here.

Highlights from our first day.

• Realising we're well and truly in holiday mode because we know to plan all activities around getting home in time for siesta. Home is a newly-refurbished apartment near the Rhone River, just inside the old city walls. It has most mod cons, but weirdly no bottle opener. Bruce had to make an emergency dash to get one in time for dinner or we were going to resort to digging the cork out with a fork.

• Walking around the very atmospheric, almost 2000 year-old Roman amphitheatre which is still being used today, no longer for throwing people to the lions, just bullfighting now.
• A chocolate, custard and almond croissant-type treat that we found at the bakery next door to our apartment. I can't remember the French name but they may as well just call it "Mmm".

• Finding out that the cheapest bottle of French wine in the supermarket is very drinkable and not at all like vinegar. In fact, at 3 euros, it's cheaper than vinegar. The French have made their priorities clear.