Millau to Nant to Le Vigan to Nimes via St Dezery
The last legs of our route.
Nant is a small town with a very lovely old church. It is quite small and modest and by putting €2 in a slot you can have it illuminated and a recording of Gregorian chants played
At Le Vigan we stayed in a B and B run by a couple of guys, both artists. It was way up in the hills and we had a lovely modern room. They served us breakfast in the garden. We wondered where the cups were for our tea and coffee then realised we had put our fruit and yoghurt in the bowls intended for our drinks. They kindly provided more of course
The journey to our hotel in Nimes was a nightmare. It is a tribute to Willem that he kept his cool. The GPS does not have the latest street layouts and 'Jane' had us trapped in a circular one way system or up against barriers blocking our way. We seemed to be followed by and following people with the same problem. Eventually Willem spotted our hotel and parked illegally while I walked there, got a street map which indicated the one way roads and we made it. I won't even begin to describe the hassles of finding a petrol station or the car park to drop off the rental car. Willem now has Man U and QPR on TV and is relaxing with a beer. Our hotel is opposite a large well preserved amphitheatre I am relaxing on the bed looking out at it. Tomorrow off to the Tourist info and sight seeing.
Monday there was a huge thunderstorm in the morning. Later we visited the Jardins de La Fontaine, the temple of Diana and the Tour Magna, an ancient tower on a hill looking out over the town.
Tuesday early was a good time to visit the Arena, the large Roman amphitheatre which was built at the end of the first century. It has survived because it has had a multitude of uses over its lifetime. A fort, a gated community, a bullring and a concert venue. As it is opposite our hotel while write this it is the only thing I see from my window.
Nimes was famous for textile manufacturing mainly in wool and silk. Later cotton was imported and indigo dye from Italy. Serge de Nimes was developed, a strong blue fabric. This was exported as 'blue de Genes' (Genoan blue) which became blue jeans in New York when imported. Levi Strauss bought a batch of cloth 'de Nimes' The batch number was 501.
Wednesday morning off to the Maison Carree,a Roman temple. It also has survived having been used as a private house, stables, a granary and even considered by the duchess of Uzes as a tomb for her husband. Latterly as archives and a museum. It has been beautifully restored. There was an informative film of the history of Nimes. It seems that Nimes was not so much built by the Romans as with Roman money in the form of a war chest given in appreciation of the local people supporting the Romans in their war with the Gauls in the north.
Then to the Carree d' Artes the museum of contemporary art. It was designed by Norman Foster who designed the viaduct at Millau. I am used to Willem making disparaging remarks about much modern art. This time however I had to agree when one exhibit was a piece of diagonal trellis partially stained. I wonder what that was about? The Museum of Belles Arts had an amazing Roman mosaic which was uncovered in the 1800's when they were building the covered markets
Something was happening at the Arena we were not sure what. Barriers erected, tents along the streets for food and drinks and a band playing. A small party of elderly ladies and their carers were listening to the band and some of them dancing. It was very touching. We listened to the band until the rain came.
With difficulty we chose a restaurant from the many in the old city. At dinner the waitress dropped my dessert upside down on the table. Truly an apple tart tartin. It was very funny and we enjoyed a big laugh together. On our way home the Arena was quiet. Tomorrow and at the weekend there are Bullfights!! Thank goodness we will not be here for that.
In the morning we pick up a rental car and drive to St Dezery to meet Shalini, Willem and co at the villa
No comments:
Post a Comment