Day 1 - Back in Arles and a surprise in a cave!!

Early in the morning we left Avignon en route to our dock in Tarascon.  After a leisurely breakfast, we disembarked to take a short trip to Arles for a city walking tour.  We had been to Arles a few years ago as part of a Mediterranean cruise (Barcelona to Athens) so we got to revisit some places we had seen before but it was great weather and we really enjoyed it.  We came back to the ship in time for lunch (because we needed more food!).  After lunch we did an optional tour to the Les Baux area (set in the beautiful Alpilles mountains) to see the Carrières de Lumières exhibit.  We had signed up for this tour without really knowing what we were going to see.  Boy what a surprise and just a great way to start our cruise!!

 

Sunrise on the Rhône river, a snapshot off the balcony of our cabin...

In the morning we did a walking tour in Arles. Among other things, we stopped at this hospital courtyard where Van Gogh stayed.  He used it as the backdrop for a couple of his paintings.

Line of people waiting to see the Carrières de Lumières exhibit.  It was a pretty long line, what did these folks know that we did not??

Entrance sign for the exhibit.   Exposition numerique immersive = immersive digital exposition, mmm....

Exhibit was in an old underground quarry.  It consisted of a rotating set of Van Gogh paintings projected all over the huge walls with special lighting and a killer classical sound track!  Holy cow!!

Close up of flowers... the colors were incredible!

Blue, blue, everywhere!

A shot down the main hall, more flowers!

The water looked like it was actually shimmering...

After a short break, there was a second shorter show featuring Japanese painting with appropriate music.

These guys look like they mean business!

After the exhibit we took a short ride up to the top of hill in Les Baux.

Sign posted up near the chateau, those Grimaldis are everywhere!

Looking down from the chateau, great weather, incredible views!