And they are so worth it!!
No1. Internet malfunction: Buying a train ticket to Arles on line landed me in 1st class all the way to Arles. Not sure how that happened....SCNF I love you! Such comfort in speed. Running parallel with the freeway and leaving cars for dead in our wake! Arriving around 3pm I am ready for a new day! There are advantages to wheelie bags but cobble stone streets are not one of them!
Rue de septembre is where I am yo!
No 2. Stumbling around ancient roman streets and taking photos of just about every gorgeous street adorned with wooden shutters and flower boxes, put me smack bang in front of Starry Starry Night! Van Gogh's cafe....Was I thrilled?? Ahh yeah! I am sure that if I went hunting for this cafe, as I am sure a million have before me, I would have ended up at the Carmargue.
Café
Loving the architecture
Le Café la Nuit
No 3. It was raining so I decided I would experience some fine dining and found restaurant L'atelier. 2 times Michelin star, award winning 'superbly crafted symphony of fresh organic tastes' I learnt two things: Ask what the meal is, have this defined even if you have to use body language, and don't believe everything you read in lonely planet. I thought I was getting pure French cuisine and ended up with a frying pan full of grisly meat. It's salads for me for a week! Over the top!!
I want to be able to buy this in OZ
No 4. I made my chambres booking late last year as the festival 'Les Rencontres Arles Photographie' brings artists, gallery owners and enthusiasts from all around the world! In other words no accommodation can be found. I realised on this morning that I had seriously screwed up my reservation, short staying by two days! Vee's opening is on the Friday and the book signing, so I totally did NOT want to miss that. After learning that, my host has kindly offered her own room in the house for these two days as her daughter is away! ThankGOD for daughters!! Saved!!
L'atelier du midi, stunning.
The terrace every morning for coffee and croissant.
My room is absolutely gorgeous and full of art and trinkets from all over the world! I love it! On the bookshelf I found a box and inside it a collection of gum prints... Such a beautiful object and this photo does not do it justice!
A little treasure
So accidents don't just happen, they are guides to something more awesome!
VIVA LA VIE!