Another beautiful cool morning ride through vineyards, small towns with flower lined streets and whole town yard sales in the center square.It is in one such town we ran into Wolfgang from Denmark.He had only started three days ago, but had much experience  and good advice for the direction we were heading.  It was a beautiful ride today, with the cool north winds it was much like fall, except the cools were more like spring.We crossed the Canal du Rhône,Le Petit Rhôneand finally the Rhône River into Arles. But not without first enjoying country roads lined with treesvineyards, rice fieldsapple orchards and fields of sunflowers.

Our goal was Arles and 50 miles is plenty for one day, especially when facing the wind.  But for some reason all the ‘in the city’ hotels were booked, turns out Earth, Wind and Fire is playing tonight.  We would have paid, if it was the hometown group, Gypsy Kings.  So we checked in “outside” the city and once again, jumped on our bikes and rode into the city to see the sites.  We certainly didn’t expect to hear the band warming up as we took pictures of the Amphitheater.

Roman history is everywhere here, though more currently it is Vincent Van Gogh and his influence

that has brought in the tourists.  Personally, we preferred the narrow streets with simple buildingsand the center square with the Hotel d’Villeand St. Trophinme d’Arles

and of course, the Saturday afternoon wedding.  Missed the bride, but got a couple of the wedding party.

Wandered the streets feeling very much like a tourist.  Found a streetside restaurant and enjoyed one of our favorites Bolognese and Mussels in a garlic broth and a couple of baskets of bread.