Hotel Balladins Draguignan / Trans-en-Provence Confort

... built in the 1st or 2nd Century and held 20,000. It was used for chariot races and gladiator fights and is still in use today during the bullfighting season. Very cool! Forgot to take a photo unfortunately.

24th

Up early to make use of free Wifi - that is Kim watched the sunrise while sitting outside a closed café and scabbing their Wifi! We then we hightailed it out of Arles and towards Spain.

... over 1.5 million tourists each year as it is the source of a natural spring. It's wierd seeing a fast flowing river and then walking 50 metres "upstream" and there only being a trickle.. and then a bit further and no water... nothing but a big cliff straight up!

The town itself is nestled in a valley and is particularly pretty at dusk when rocks take on the colours of the sunset ...

... the security of this fortress. Brian scoped out several indents where floor beams had been inserted, and hinges for doors had been drilled, as well as a fireplace opening. After the 1830’s it’s been used for local bull-fights and has been undergoing extensive renovations. Sandblasters pierced our ears and evidence of new stone was everywhere. Part of me was sad to ...

... a painting. But instead of letting that get to me, I will sink myself into the paintings and see the world the way Vincent would have liked.

Colours changing hue.
Morning fields of amber red.
Weathered faces lined in pain
And soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand.

Envious of the painter’s ability to tweak ...

... and get the plane to Singapore. We should be sleeping in a hotel bed this time next week at Bintan Island and while this has been a fantastic trip I will be glad of a bigger bed and some luxuries.

Very warm regards to you all - we are missing the dogs heaps and we pat as many here as possible.

More news soon but not sure where from - it may not be until Bintan.

X X X

We have enjoyed many good meals in France, but two stand out from the vast number in restaurants that tend to offer a menu with generic dishes (well prepared though), rather than distinctive cuisine. This could relate to our budget of course.

Nimes
We arrived in Nimes in the late afternoon and booked into the Hotel des Tuileries, a lovely hotel in the old part of town very close to the Arena. The host, Andrew, recommended a ...

... 358 28;中的Bouillabaisse马 ;赛鱼汤，শ 3;觉真是一ō 24;般，没什 040;特别，不 9321;，像没吃&# 20160;么一样。< br>晚上吃了 968;个西瓜。
趣 ...

... 30340;&# 39184;厅吃了顿& #22823;餐，回屋 休息了一会 ;儿，4点左Ö 91;我们就出 457;前往Avignon，% 027;里正是Theater Festival（戏剧节 ;）的时候ᦁ 2;街上到处ų 17 ...

... It ended up being about a 2 hour drive with all the photo stops it was so beautiful. We had decided to stop in Sault for lunch, and as soon as we got out of the car the smell of lavender just hit us, we couldn't believe how good and strong the smell was! We found the tourist office just before it closed, and the lady there told us that the smell is so strong in mid summer that she is surprised that everyone isn't asleep! She also told us that a little town nearby ...

... t, but I think I respect life a little more than I used to !!!!! As the plans were now out the window, we went into Nimes to hang out and look around. All roads lead to the arena. Another coliseum seen. It was quite cool to walk around. The locals had installed a roof so they could see concerts all year round. There was a little bit of restoration that had taken place, but with all the ...