Pont du Gard and the Cassis Calanques

Pont du Gard - incredible Roman ingenuity and engineering to transport water to the city of Nimes

Massive stonework high above the gorge

A delicious lunch in a fabulous location - what could be better!  Pass the vin, please!

Early Homo Sapien remains were found in a cave near the aquaduct

We wanted to see some more Roman sites, so since the Pont du Gard was reasonably close - within 2 hours, we drove over there on Wednesday. It was an impressive site - still remaining fully intact over 2000+ years after it was built! The engineering and the manual labor involved were astonishing not to mention the fact that the water distribution system in the city of Nimes was designed to ensure that water reached every household that needed it and that "other less important uses for the water" were addressed as a lower priority.  Water and cleanliness were a critical part of the Roman life and at that time, water usage per capita was significantly greater than our present day usage.

It looked so inviting!

Hatch would like this - a doggy cart for a recuperating pup - the French take their dogs with them everywhere - to restaurants, to parks, to the store and they are typically welcomed.

Kayak fun beneath the Pont du Gard

Looking up at the aquaduct from underneath, it appeared even more massive!

On Thursday of our last week in Provence, we decided to drive down to Cassis (2 hours from Caromb) for a hike to the Calanques - which are rugged, white sandstone cliffs that plunge into the Mediterranean ocean off narrow bays or inlets . These are famous for their beauty, their relative inaccessibility and their turquoise water.  You can only hike or boat to reach them. Of course, with Val along, we had to do this. The Calanques are protected in a national park right outside of Cassis and people are only allowed to hike to them when the weather and wind conditions are within specified limits. (They are often closed during July and August due to substantial fire hazard.)  We just happened to visit there on a gorgeous, clear, relatively warm (not hot) June day when there was just a slight breeze. Perfect!

We found the perfect free parking place (with Val's excellent navigation skills) and parked and followed the hikers to the trail head (not that hard). From there, we hiked about 1/2 hour to the first Calanque - Port Miou (which is basically filled with boats and boat slips) and then proceeded to the second Calanque - Port Pin - approximately another hour overland. The trail was not as difficult as we expected, it was just that the rocks - worn by sand and water, were very slippery and rough on the feet. We slipped and slid down to the water where Val went in for a swim and we went for a dip.  The water was gorgeous and relatively warm (by northern California standards) and crystal clear - turquoise.  Perfect! There we enjoyed our picnic lunch, after which we headed back to our car and a treat at a local "pizza" stand in the town of Cassis.

Boat slips at Port Miou - boaters can drive here - just no one else.

Port Pin - you can barely see the bathers from the trail

Mediterranean sea from the tip of the Calanques

Val - loving it! Rocks, beautiful water, a hike - how good can it get!

The lovely transparent Mediterranean Sea - Port Pin

 

Note the state-of-the-art hiking "stick" and the sturdy hiking boots! We actually did great!

  

Cassis beaches - be sure to sign up and pay for a spot! We preferred the ones we had to reach by hiking.

Ernie - enjoying the hike and the view

These were two great days!  Thanks, Val!

We spent our final Friday in Provence visiting the city of Roussillon again - so that Val could see it and the small artistic touches added to every doorway.

Artistic security

Plants growing on the rock walls

Red on pink

Salmon on orange

Our lunch spot where only "literate dogs" could locate the water bowl - French humor

At the end of that week, we left the beautiful home where we were staying in Provence to head to Les Eyzies, where we lived in a cave for a week!  Fun!