May 18, 2019 Roman Architecture - Pont de Gard - Nîmes

45 minutes to Pont du Gard then another half hour to Nîmes

Today is cloudy and warm, but no rain. Seems like a day for exploring the Roman ruins at Pont de Gard and Nîmes. I did too much walking yesterday and have begged off. Clearly, the day was wonderful as the crew didn't return until 7 pm even after an early (9:30) morning start.

While they're gone, I putter around the house doing chores such as laundry and mopping floors. Then sit outside in the afternoon to stitch in the sun. Lovely, quiet day after the hub-bub of kids and grand-kids. (Although I love that energy too.)

Here's the report according to Dave:

There's a new museum here at Pont de Gard explaining how aqueducts were built that was so interesting they spent a couple of hours instead of a few minutes exploring it.

The museum included a model of a Roman latrine (the wastes from which were moved out of the latrine by means of fresh running water at the bottom)

What a Roman latrine would have looked like

They marveled at the technology of the building and of the accuracy of the engineering - in one place there was a 10 cm (4 inch) drop per kilometer for more than half the distance between Uzes and Nîmes (about 25 km). Mind boggling.

building the arches

moving stones

Walking paths allow you to get views from every side of the aqueduct...

And to see the remains that crumbled over time.

You can walk across the aqueduct as well for views of the river Gard that flows beneath this engineering marvel.

the river Gard

Then on to Nîmes where something was going on at the arena (we think a rock concert with people waiting to get tickets).

Traveling bands entertained around the town on this day. (Was it busier than usual, or just Sunday fun?)

this band dressed in Marie Antoinette wigs - how fun

There are still bull fights in the arena. French style, where the bulls aren't killed, just tormented to anger. PETA folks, look away.

Dale and Kim in front of the arena at Nîmes 

Then there's the Maison Carrée - an intact Roman temple dedicated to Gaius and Lucius Caesar, grandsons of Augustus, both of whom died young.

And there's always a cathedral to see: 

Nîmes cathedral

ornamentation on pediment of Nîmes cathedral

And flowers where there is little space to grow them: 

With so much to see and absorb, it's easy to see why they had such a long day. We just did extended aperos for dinner and all went to bed early.