Aging Hippies Return to France-2022: Day 3 Arles

Today we drove to Arles where van Gogh lived between 1888-1889 and experienced his most productive years, producing over 300 paintings. Surprisingly the one museum in Arles that displays any of his work was closed due a nearby fire that caused a power outage. We have been to that museum before, so it wasn't a tragedy, only a minor disappointment, since for us it's so thrilling just to walk around Arles and soak up the beautiful streets, buildings, and ancient ruins.

Arles was believed to be inhabited as early as 800 BC, first by the Ligurians, then by the Phoenicians, and eventually by the Romans in 123 BC. Dominating the center of the city, both the arena and amphitheater built by the Romans are still used today for a variety functions.

Arles is located along the Rhone River.

part of the original Roman wall that surrounded the city

We dined like royalty today. In Arles we were treated to a chef's choice menu at Les Piques Ou Rien. Chef's choice meant that he chose, we didn't, but we couldn't have been happier.

Before each course the chef/owner came out and describe all the ingredients that went into his creations. He couldn't have been prouder, yet he was humbled, and very appreciative of our compliments.

Pork from Italy, goat cheese, beet root, a Kohlrabi w/apricot mint spread, eggplant with carmelized onions, tomatoes, ham from Italy.

On the left, not for average meat & potatoes. On the right, white tuna from the Mediterranean marinated with ginger reduction sauce, and a bean and lentil combination.

Banana sorbet, nectarines, chocolate brownie with apricot center.

We missed a few turns on our way back to Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt, so we ended up on the tourist route driving through the cliffs of Les Baux and the city of Saint Remy. We were too tired to stop at either locale, and took a nap when we returned to our B&B.

For dinner we returned to Roussillon to the Piquebaure Restaurant which is just outside the center of the village. We dined outside on a cliff-side terrace with a spectacular views of the surrounding hills and Mont Ventoux in the distance. Like the views the food was equally spectacular.