Sunday 8th May Victory in Europe day for France.

A hot day so we decided to stay on the campsite and have a dip in the pool. Very cold at first but a great pool once we got used to the temperature. The kid’s water splash area was good fun so we had to take a few videos of us acting the fool for the youngest grandchildren, They thought it was a hoot.

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We were considering going down to the river beach later that afternoon but with little warning, the heavens opened and we had a huge downpour for about 30 minutes. The hard earth roadways on the campsite acted like canals and many of the pitches were flooded at the entrances up to a depth of a couple of inches. It’s the thing we’ve come to expect this far south in France.

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Monday 9th May and a very hot day. 28 degrees. We drove south about 20 miles to Arles and were planning to eat lunch out. We were lucky to find a car parking space under some deep shade from the trees and very close to the Rhone, just outside the northern gateway to the ancient city at the Porte de la Cavalerie. Parking metre 1 euro per hour.

For Van Gogh/Gauguin fans, the famous Yellow House used to stand just outside these gates, about 100 metres across the roundabout. Long gone now but we took a photo of a framed poster of the print taken from a photo of the original painting that now marks the spot. The large building behind the yellow House and the railway bridge down the road to the right, are still there.

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First stop, the Tourist Office, clearly marked on a directional arrow sign at the northern gate. Then that was it. We couldn’t find it and asked several people for directions which were all very helpful. We eventually passed all the sightseeing spots and found the Tourist Office right on the south of the town. I recognised it straight away and immediately remembered that we’d been caught like this the last time we visited Arles.

However we did pass a lovely shady spot at Place Voltair which was served by several small cafés with outside spaces while looking for the Tourist Office so went back there to eat so armed with a town map we retraced our steps.

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A lovely two course Plat de Jour and a couple of ice cold beers and we were ready for the Arena and the Roman Theatre.

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Randa

Tuesday 10th May and 28 degrees.

A trip to Nimes. It’s strange that yesterday’s drive into Arles was very unfamiliar until we got to the North gate but today’s trip was even more unfamiliar as the approach to the city of Nimes was unrecognisable. When we last visited we found a great underground car park UNDER a large roundabout. When we asked at the Tourist Information today the lady said we must have used the park and ride then but we have no memory of that.

Anyway, an underground car park called “The Arena” and obviously at the Arena. I don’t know if the British now employ the same technology but not so in our part of the UK but all French underground car parks have green signs that light up and tell you where the spaces are available and how many. It makes life so easy. On really hot days we feel that Mrs Cat is happier sleeping in the ventilated car, in deep shade and especially in the cool car parks. On the days she comes around the touristy spots with us we have a special small animal ruck sack.

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So, after a few hours looking around the city it was back to the campsite for a peaceful late afternoon and evening. One thing we forgot to mention was that after the Arles trip and the meal out, we treated ourselves to a 10” pizza and a bag of REAL chips, yes chips that appeared to have been peeled and cut by hand just like we used to enjoy. 16 euros for one portion which was more than enough shared between two. This campsite keeps on giving.

Oh and did I mention that they do bike hire? 5 euros for 2 hours or electric bike 12 euros for 2 hours.

The day before yesterday we saw an early noughties Eriba pulling in and I spotted it just cross the way from us so equipped with camera I went along to take a photo. It was then that I noticed a cute early 80s Puck tucked away in a lovely quiet spot. It must have arrived today.

I just had to go for a closer look. The owners saw me looking and we exchanged comments in perfect English although the car they were towing with was French registered. It turned out that they are Eribafolk members Mary and Simon Kenny with handsome scruffy dawg Griff.

They now live in the South East of France where they have a couple of Gites but, upon seeing my recommendations for this campsite, have taken a few days off to explore. Imagine my shock when we first met and Mary said “you are Randa France”. I hope they like the campsite as much as we do now that I’m considered to be an “Influencer”.

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Grumpy comment time. Most people who camp with their dogs are aware of their temperament and act accordingly. Isn’t it very annoying though when a couple turn up with a very disobedient dog that barks at everything in sight for example, cyclists passing on the lane between pitches and rather than pick one of the many emplacements that are on the edges of the campsite, park their campervan and dog right in the middle. They admit that the dog is a handful but they also wind it up by giving it stuffed toys to wrestle with.

By the way, when we described the Beaucaire boating channel as an offshoot of the mighty Rhone we were a bit wide of the mark. It’s actually called the Canal du Rhone a Sete and ends up as the Marais du Charnier which links all the Etanges to the Bassin de Thau at Sete and thereon to the Canal du Midi.

Wednesday 11th May. 28 degrees again and a car trip to one of our favourite places in Provence, St Remy. This is where Van Gogh was hospitalised after cutting off his ear. Around the grounds of the hospital towards the top of the town, there is a picture trail of many of his works while convalescing at St Remy. The picture boards are place at the spots where it is believed he painted the images from. Further up the valley there are the ruins of the Roman town of Glanum.

However today was market day in St Remy so after an hour of wandering around the streets we drove up the valley and south to the amazing rock formations of the Baux-de-Provence.

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Randa

Wot you trying to say lovely boy?

So, our new found friends had to move back home this morning. Work is calling.

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We shall be moving on tomorrow but just to say that the past 11 nights at this splendid campsite cost us 12.77 euros a night including tourist tax. Yes, that's all in including electricity, swimming pool, 30 minutes free wifi a day and splendid toilet and washroom facilities.

One of the best campsites we've stayed at.

Randa.

Hi both. So good to hear from you again. Hope we can meet up again soon.
R and A x

Thursday 12th may was a stay at campsite day. how relaxing.

Friday the 13th May and another very warm day.

After 11 days at the Pont du Gard campsite we decided to move on but not to where we originally had planned. Instead, we decided to stay in the south for another week and although it'll put us way behind schedule we can always make it up later in the trip.

So 93 miles and 2 hours later we have arrived at a small village called Peynier near Trets (wayhay ).

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It's in the hills to the north east of Marseille and just south of Mount Ste-Victoire ( Cezanne's Mountain). We have camped in the area before at a campsite right alongside the mountain but this one has some glowing reports so we thought we'd give it a go. We can see the mountain from the rear of the van on this pitch.

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It's Camping Le Devancon" at Peynier (ACSI 2182) and is 18 euros a night, 7 nights for 6. A pleasant small campsite run by a very friendly lady who helped us chose a suitable pitch with sun and shade for Mrs Cat. A lovely looking swimming pool, very clean toilets and free wifi in the van. There are red squirrels on the campsite.

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Our journey today was a bit different as we drove south to Arles before heading east to St-Martin_de-Crau before turnong south east to Fos-sur-Mer and Port-du-Bouc where we could see dozens of oil tankers in the bay. There were railways sidings with 100s of those little railway oil tank trucks looking a bit worse for wear. There are also many oil tanks in the area.

Over the high bridge at Martigues, a splendid fishing village we've visited previously before skirting around the north of Marseille and through Gardanne. We didn't have to pay a single road toll but the commercial traffic for the journey between Arles and Fos-sur-Mer was a bit intimidating.

This part of France is not only Paul Cezanne country but also where "John de Florette" and "Manom des Sources" was based.

Randa

Zut alors! Jean et Manon svp, M. Roger.

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #85

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Zut alors! Jean et Manon svp, M. Roger.

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Books, films and music are all terrific.

Sunday 15th May and a very warm 28 degrees.

Today it was Marseille. A place we've never before dared to visit. What a mad, wonderful place it is. About a 40 minute drive from the campsite.

We drove in using two sat navs looking for the Vieux Port but soon discovered that it wasn't that simple because of the myriad streets and lanes crossing this way and that. Some in the darkness of trees, others in bright sunshine. All infested with small motorbikes/scooters and electric stand on scooters. One minute the sat nav would show the coast and the port, then it would direct us away from it.

Eventually we found a huge underground car park decorated in different colours dependant on which direction you wished to visit. The Old Port was red and as soon as we came out of the lift we were there, complete with a large Tourist Office. We were greeted by an old fella playing typical French music on an old accordion. A lovely atmosphere.

As we crossed to the port there was a large sheltered square with a mirrored roof and many dozens of people were watching acrobats performing. All this reflected in the ceiling. The port is massive with hundreds of sailing boats moored there.

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After a walk we decided to go back to the car and drive down the Corniche John F. Kennedy. The coastal drive was very enjoyable but nowhere to park except to occasionally do it the French way, hazards on, pull into the kerb and take a photo or two.

We also wanted to visit the "Cite Radieuse of Le Corbusier" and managed to find part of it with some difficulty. Then it was back to the city to drive up to the "Cathedral Notre Dame de la Garde" to take in the awesome views of the city and sea scape. This involved another drive through some very old, narrow streets with some very steep slopes

https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/di...of-le-corbusier

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Quite a long day out but well worth it. On the way north out of the city we came across the remnants of a Sunday market which must have been over a mile long and on both sides and the central reservation of a very busy road.

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Randa

Quote: eribanaut wrote in post #89

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And did you try the bouillabaisse while you were there?
Dave

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