Blogging from Arles

We arrived in Arles yesterday morning.  We flew into Marseilles, and had private transfers from the airport to Arles, a ride that took about 50 minutes.

Arles has proved to be a wonderful Roman city.  We are staying at the 3 Star Le Calendal Hotel.  It is located directly in the heart of the city, right across the street from the Roman Theater and adjacent to the Roman Amphitheater.  The staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful.  Though we arrived 2 hours before check-in, the hotel graciously offered to store our luggage.  We settled in the hotel's shaded courtyard for what turned out to be a delicious meal.  Mine was chicken tourenedo (?), consisting of rolled chicken breast with an olive paste, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a side of roasted vegetables.  As promised, the rooms were ready right at 2, and were furnished in typical Provence style.  Bright colors, spacious, and beautiful bathrooms made this hotel a real find, combined with its central location, make this hotel a real find.

Arles is a wonderful city.  After we finished our lunch, we set out to explore.  First stop was the Roman Theater.  Built in 90 A.D., it had a capacity of 20,000.  The Amphitheater is a remarkably-preserved ruin.  We also browsed the markets lining the streets.  Table linens, soaps, and pottery, standard and beautiful fare for Provence, were typical finds.  Later in the evening, we enjoyed a delightful meal at an outdoor cafe directly across from the Amphitheater, and then a late-night stroll down to the Rhone River.  We located our Uniworld ship which we are boarding today.

I will write more later.  In the meantime, follow my trip on Twitter, complete with pictures, at www.Twitter.com/CruisePallette.