Provence

The Via Tolosana goes through the sleepy Provence town of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard – but at one time, it was the fourth major stop on the Via Tolosana pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The entire village is filled with hidden and not-so-hidden references to this route!

You can see the Arles Amphitheater in the background. Very interestingly, the fountain is dry – they shut off the water. One wonders if this is due to global warming?

Another breathtaking view of Pont du Gard

One of the oldest and pretties villages in Provence – but sadly I did not stop. 

This is the spectacular Pont du Gard – which used to carry water – but it begs the question, where exactly did the water enter the aquaduct?  This and many more mysteries will have to wait for me to clear up on my next visit!

This is TRANSMISSION – and I took this snap just north of Nimes in the dense Garrigue region

Continuing the series, 

It always makes me wonder when I see a tall building like this – just north of Nimes – fall into disuse. The question is: if there are no other buildings anywhere in this region for miles and miles, then why did they build it?

The Judas trees bloom in April – they look like cherry trees, but according to legend Judas Iskariot hanged himself on one – which caused the red color!

Just outside of Uzés

The Calcia cement plant in Beaucaire is among the 50 most polluting industrial sites in France, responsible collectively for 10% of the country’s CO2 emissions. President Macron has pledged five billion euros to help these sites decarbonize, with Heidelberg Materials, Calcia’s parent company, committing an additional 45 million euros to carbon capture infrastructure at the Beaucaire site. Who would have thought that a cement factory was worth so much!

I spotted this at a L’Eclerc supermarket near Annecy, France. Open for use to the public – just pick your favorite shopping cart, wheel it in their, press the button – and presto!  Sanitized!  At least I assume so . . . I never actually tried it.  Wanted something for my bucket list and the next time I visit.

I took this snap just east of Marseille

I was really confused about why the rows are spaced so far apart – and I don’t know for sure – but if I believe ChatGPT, wide spacing is essential to deter fungal infections and ensure the highest volumetric yield of lavender oil.  So . . . now it’s on my bucket list to return here and ask a farmer!

I took this snap just east of Marseille