Pont du Gard

     The Pont du Gard may not be the coolest thing in the world, but it is definitely one of them.  

     The Romans built it 2000 years ago here in Southern France as part of their plan to move water from some special springs to the city of Nimes . . . a distance of about 30 miles.  (They loved water and used three times as much per capita as modern city-dwellers).  Anyway, the Pont du Gard was built to carry this water across a wide canyon with a river (the Gard) at the bottom.  It is the highest aquaduct the Romans built, and one of their highest and most impressive structures anywhere.  It is almost perfectly preserved now, 2000 years later.

     We love to take visitors to the Pont du Gard because it is just so awesome.  Plus, you can swim in the river at the base of the Pont du Gard and have a picnic and walk on the Pont du Gard.  And it's pretty cool to have a picnic in the shade of one of the most impressive Roman structures ever.

     It's been in the 80s here lately, so on Monday (a school holiday) we took Ed's mom to see the Pont du Gard.  And, of course, we had a picnic and swam in the river.  Ed's mom was game for a swim too!  

     Here are some photos:

 

     In this video you can see why visiting the Pont du Gard is so much fun:

     Here's another action scene:

Le General took the leap too.  She's cool.  Just like the Pont du Gard!

Asha Turns Nine

     Asha ain't eight anymore . . . now she's nine and feelin' fine!  It happened on May 27th.

     In the afternoon she opened some presents and cards from near and far:

Here's what she got from her brother:

A Piece of Genuine Glass from Venice and A Glass Model of Dolphins Kissing

Do you think she liked her gift from Ford?

That evening we went out to dinner at Le Refuge des Pirates (bad name, absurd decor, good food):

Walking to Dinner

Pretty Mother, Pretty Daughter

 The waiter put a sparkler in her ice cream along with the number "9."  How did he know?!

 While we were having birthday dessert there was a huge thunder storm with thunder and lightning and tons of rain . . . clearly the Roman gods were celebrating too.  Congratulations Asha!

     Coming up next:  We visit the outrageous, amazing, incredible, Pont du Gard.  Again!

Fete Foraine!

     Whew!  It's been party weekend in Vaison thanks to the "Fete Foraine" -- a three day party that included a parade and a traveling carnival with rides.

       The parade was on Friday night.  This year there were 11 floats.  (The parade made three circuits through town, so if you squinted, it was like 33 floats).  Anyway, it was a hoot.  And guess who was in the parade?  Watch this video to find out:

No, we're not talking about the pregnant lady smoking the cigarette . . . we're talking about Asha!  (She was dressed in her horsing uniform . . . the theme of the float involved sports for kids in Vaison.)

     All the floats were great, but the Country Saloon float had to be the best of all.  Listen to this French guy sing a John Denver song:

Here are more photos from the parade:

This is Averil's "Boss" From the Soccer Club

     After the parade we went over to the carnival, which was set up in the post office parking lot:

We saw many friends and made it home about midnight . . . it was tiring to have so much fun!

     In other news, Ford has been knocking 'em dead lately down at the river.  Literally.  On the head.  With a stick.  Observe:

 Coming up in the next installment of Le Blog . . . Asha turns 9.  Stay tuned!

Ronnie Arrives . . . Brings Summer

     Ed's mom is here!  Does she like it?

Yes, she does.  Summer has arrived too.  More photos tell the rest of the story:

Overlooking Roman Ruins

On the Roman Bridge

Ford with Wiley Chevaine (Hard to Catch!)

Another Wiley Chevaine

Yet Another

Breakfast on the Terrace

Looking out the front door

La maison

Roses at the Front Door . . . This is NOT Photo-shopped!

Dinner on the Terrace

Birthday Invitations Ready for Distribution . . .

Paris and Other News . . .

     Ed's mom, Ronnie, is coming to visit!  She's seeing Paris for a week before she comes to stay with us in Vaison.  So Averil and Asha went up to Paris by train to spend a few days with her.  Here are some photos:

Arc de Triomphe

Sacre Coeur (as seen from Arc de Triomphe)

Pretty View from Arc de Triomphe

Ditto

Space Needle

l'Opera Garnier

Galaries Lafayettte (note to Nordstrom: this is how a flagship store should look)

Averil With Our Friend Lucile (Lucile started babysitting for us at about the age of 15.  Now she's almost done with her studies at the Sorbonne, where she says tourists appear and take her picture as an actual Sorbonne student!).

Asha and Ronnie

Inside the d'Orsay Museum Looking Out

d'Orsay

Above the Seine

Tuileries Gardens (with Louvre in Background)

Ronnie and Asha

Ditto (at Sacre Couer)

This Street Performer Wowed Everyone with His Outrageous Tricks

Outrageous Trick

     In other news . . . . back in Vaison it was Ed's birthday so we had lunch in town at one of our favorite places:

Here is a picture of Ford's bedroom wall with postcards showing the places he's been this year:

 Ford and his friend Nicolas went into town to ask the butcher for a bone for Ivy.  They came back with a femur from a Tyranasaurus Rex: