Back to Provence!! We stayed at a sleek new Ibis Budget across from the train station in Nimes.
Nimes is gorgeous! This is the main square, with the famous Roman arena.
Nimes is filled with lovely little squares.
Nimes even has an Amsterdam-like canal running through the city.
Nimes is famous for its incredibly intact Roman architecture from the time of Augustus Caesar. This is the Maison Carree, circa 19 BC, one of the best preserved Roman temples on earth. Today it's a museum and town hangout!
I conquer Maison Carree!!!
This is the entrance to the famous Nimes Arena, from the 1st century AD. It is the best preserved Roman arena on earth, and still in use for events.
The Arena!
Out front is a bullfighter statue; this part of Provence is very Spanish-influenced.
The Bullfighter and the Arena, in the center of Nimes.
We decided to sit down in front of the Arena and have a French picnic.
A Provencal-Roman picnic :)
The Nimes Cathedral.
The lovely 18th-century Jardins de la Fontaine, which were originally Roman baths before the ruins were made into a park.
Inside the Jardins de la Fontaine is the Temple of Diana.
The Temple isn't nearly as important as you'd think- it was actually a Roman library, not a temple.
The Tour Magne, which sits atop a hill in the Jardins de la Fontaine. It is the oldest Roman ruin in Nimes, and the only surviving fortifications built by Caesar.
Matt and the Tower!
The Nimes Arena by night.
The Arena was gorgeous at night.
Provence 2.0