Mesmerizing artworks - not just an exhibition, but a show.

Monday 12th June

Headed for Arles today – just an overnight stop to put us in a position to visit one of our favourite places first thing tomorrow. Nothing much happening along the way but we did time it right for a tradie lunch along the way. 

Our previous visit to Arles 9 years ago was a bust – think it was a Sunday and nothing open, including the tourist information office, so no idea where to go and what to see. Today we timed it better and a visit to the tourist office saw us armed with a map and a plan for the afternoon. Lots of roman ruins to see here, and also a few landmarks of Van Goghs time in Arles. I actually remembered part of the town and when we saw one of the towers in the walls I was able to say ‘I remember there was a pissoire on this corner’. So, a wander around the village and a nice refreshing mocktail and then to our hotel. 

The cathedral in Arles.

Arles had its own arena. Last time in this area we were mostly concentrated on Nimes and Orange and the Roman ruins there.

Arles

Beautiful narrow streets.

One of Van Goghs paintings in Arles.

This little furball enjoying a cocktail.

Tuesday 13th June

Hit Carrieres  de Lumieres at 9.30 – opening time. Joined a long queue in the parking lot to pay for our parking. What a debacle! Not helped by lots of tourists who don’t understand French, or the parking meters, and compounded by a parking meter that didn’t like my coins (and I had the exact money ready) and it only took Visa, not Mastercard. Had to pull out my AUD visa card for the first time on this holiday – to pay for parking!

Carrieres de Lumieres did not disappoint. This years exhibition was Vermeer to Van Gogh – the Dutch masters. We sat through the show for two cycles. Wonderful. You are just surrounded with the art works as they are projected on to the limestone walls, and there is music to accompany the changing scenes. Lots of people there by the time we left but with the size of the space and the openness there was no sense of the crowd. 

One of Van Goghs paintings.
We saw the 'model of the church' in this painting in the village of Auvers sur l'Oise on our 2018 trip, and the painting in the Musee d'Orsay early in this trip.

Van Gogh

Vermeer - Girl with a Pearl Earring.
The movie was on TV at home only a few months ago.

Copernicus.

Van Gogh - Starry Night. The music along with this piece was beautiful and haunting.

Not sure this gives a good idea of what the space is like without the projected art.
Smooth walls where blocks of limestone have been cut away.

We then moved on north, bypassing Avignon where we spied the river cruise boats on the Rhone River. Again we timed it well for a tradie lunch which was lovely – marinated pork, chicken and a ratatouille type veggie mix.

Arrived at our little cabin in Rosieres (in the Ardeche region) by 4pm and have settled in for 4 nights. It is a feeling not unlike camping in our caravan in a caravan park. We are looking forward to a more relaxed few days.