Day Three - Arles, France

We spent our first night onboard the AmaDagio -- after a hearty breakfast we have our first tour with Nadine, our Guide.

After a short bus ride through the countryside to Les Baux -- we stop at Carrieres de Lumieres and are treated to an extraordinary multi-media show set in a limestone quarry. On entry to the quarry it is dark but we have been told it is flat so there is no danger of tripping. All of a sudden the walls -- which must be 30, 40 or 50 feet high -- come alive with color and the music begins. For the next forty minutes we are mesmerized by a show from 16 painters who were influenced by their contact with the Mediterranean coast. Paintings from Monet, Renoir, Matisse, Vernet, Chagall, Bonnard and others are projected on all facades within this massive quarry. I hope my photos give you a sense of what we experienced -- like nothing I have ever seen before. This show runs from March 2013 until January 2014 and will then disappear forever.

Back on the bus we set off to the village of Saint-Remy and Saint-Paul Asylum where Vincent Van Gogh admitted himself in 1889 staying for about a year. The multiple reasons for his stay seem to include: his relationship with Paul Gaugin with whom he was living and not getting along, his heavy use of absinthe (which in 1888 had hallucinogenic properties), and he cut off part of his own left ear. During his time at Saint-Paul's he painted more than 150 canvases -- most of which are very well known such as The Irises and Starry Night. We walked the paths of the asylum seeing what Vincent saw -- we toured the building where he stayed seeing his bedroom and bath -- we experienced the peacefulness of this place and can only imagine how content he must have felt while painting here.

Next it is back to the ship for lunch, a quick rest and a walking tour of Arles at 3:00 pm with our guide, Joanne. We visited the Arles Roman Amphitheater (built circa 90 A.D. -- modeled after the Coliseum in Rome--holds 20,000 spectators) which is still in use for a variety of community activities. We visited the Antique Theatre (built late 1st Century B.C.--holds 10,000 spectators). Arles is a lovely town -- population about 55,000 but it is time to take our leave --  for a prompt 5:15 sailing.

Dinner is wonderful -- as usual -- and the service as well as the food is second to none.

Another great day -- but I must admit I'm exhausted.

Thanks for Reading --