{"id":2254,"date":"2015-08-03T08:35:08","date_gmt":"2015-08-03T15:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/?p=2254"},"modified":"2015-08-03T08:35:08","modified_gmt":"2015-08-03T15:35:08","slug":"cruising-the-rhone-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/2015\/08\/03\/cruising-the-rhone-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Cruising the Rh\u00f4ne (part 4)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Arles<\/a>I took yesterday off from posting, but today’s another day. \ud83d\ude09 By day five of our cruise, things were beginning to wind down. We were docked in Avignon, rather than in Arles, as we’d expected\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the dock in Arles was undergoing renovations. No problem, though, as Arles was only about half an hour away by bus, so off we went! Arles is a very old town, as you may be able to tell from these photos.<\/p>\n

\"Arles<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I loved the narrow old streets and the beautiful mosaic on the building to the left.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Romans who lived here long ago had an arena\u00a0\u2014\u00a0not an unusual thing. This arena is still in use today, though, as a bull-fighting venue. The bulls here are not killed, however, as they are in Spain. When the season for bulls is over, the arena is also used for various artistic performances.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Arles<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Walking along the narrow streets, the entrance to the arena is on the left, and a church spire is in the distance. Interestingly, the arena was designed so that approximately 35,000 spectators could exit in just seconds!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"H\u00f4tel<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We also visited the Hotel de Ville (city hall), which had some interesting touches. One was this flat barrel-vaulted ceiling. The story goes that it was constructed with various wooden beams holding things up until the final stones were in place. Most of the beams were removed, but no one had the courage to remove the last one, for fear of being crushed as the ceiling collapsed. Finally, a stranger appeared and volunteered to remove that final beam. He did, and the ceiling did not collapse\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and then it was revealed that the “stranger” was none other than the designer of the vaulted ceiling! He had faith in his design. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Arles<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Also in this same building is a small flight of stairs, flanked by a pair of lions. At the top of the stairs is the Venus of Arles, who is reputed to be even more beautiful than the Venus de Milo. Actually, this Venus is a replica, as the original is now in the Louvre in Paris.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Arles<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our last stop in Arles was La Maison de Sant\u00e9, which is where Van Gogh stayed for a time while dealing with\u00a0his mental problems. He eventually left, however, because everyone in town made fun of him. Arles was home to Van Gogh for quite some time, and the town still honors him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Avignon<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Remember that I said we were actually docked in Avignon; this is the view we had from our cabin. Lovely, isn’t it?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Bisou<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And what was Bisou, our adorable cocker spaniel, doing while we were away? She was having a high time with several other dogs at our amazing sitter’s house. Here she is, chilling with a golden retriever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I took yesterday off from posting, but today’s another day. \ud83d\ude09 By day five of our cruise, things were beginning to wind down. We were docked in Avignon, rather than in Arles, as we’d expected\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the dock in Arles was undergoing renovations. No problem, though, as Arles was only about half an hour away by bus, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2255,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[309],"tags":[22,310,224],"class_list":{"0":"post-2254","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"tag-bisou","9":"tag-france","10":"tag-travel","11":"czr-hentry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Arles-%E2%80%94-Day-5-of-cruise-0001.jpg?fit=2352%2C3136&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5yzuO-Am","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5398,"url":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/2024\/06\/23\/travel-essentials\/","url_meta":{"origin":2254,"position":0},"title":"Travel Essentials","author":"Sandy","date":"June 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I mentioned in a previous post that I was participating in a \"Slow Along\" -- a slow-paced series of video steps toward making (in this case) a travel toiletries bag called Travel Essentials. We began about eight weeks ago, and the last step was released yesterday, giving everyone lots of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Other stitching"","block_context":{"text":"Other stitching","link":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/category\/other-stitching\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Folded and closed travel bag made in purple\/green dinosaur print with purple trim.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Travel-Essentials-bag-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Travel-Essentials-bag-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Travel-Essentials-bag-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Travel-Essentials-bag-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Travel-Essentials-bag-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1311,"url":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/2013\/11\/24\/travel-jewelry-case\/","url_meta":{"origin":2254,"position":1},"title":"Travel Jewelry Case","author":"Sandy","date":"November 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm very tired of dealing with tangled necklaces and rummaging through little bags to find my earrings when I travel. I'm guessing that some of you know just what I mean. ;) Some time ago I'd bought a finishing kit, with all of the necessary zippers and other notions that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quilting"","block_context":{"text":"Quilting","link":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/category\/quilting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_0459.jpg?fit=640%2C631&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_0459.jpg?fit=640%2C631&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_0459.jpg?fit=640%2C631&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5380,"url":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/2024\/06\/10\/replacing-a-bag\/","url_meta":{"origin":2254,"position":2},"title":"Replacing a bag","author":"Sandy","date":"June 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"About eleven years ago, I made a ByAnnie bag (Jewelry Travel Case -- on the right here). It's really nice, with pockets for various things (larger earrings, watchbands, etc.), along with a place for post-type earrings, a wonderful way to carry necklaces tangle-free, and all sorts of things. But it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Other stitching"","block_context":{"text":"Other stitching","link":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/category\/other-stitching\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jewelry case, closed, in purple print with solid purple closure strap.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_0343-1.jpeg?fit=640%2C578&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_0343-1.jpeg?fit=640%2C578&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_0343-1.jpeg?fit=640%2C578&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5472,"url":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/2024\/10\/13\/have-scissors-will-travel\/","url_meta":{"origin":2254,"position":3},"title":"Have scissors, will travel","author":"Sandy","date":"October 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I signed up for a class at the Houston Quilt Festival that begins later this month. In looking at the supply list, I noticed that I'm going to need to bring scissors -- something more than merely thread snips. What's a girl to do but quickly make a scissor case\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Other stitching"","block_context":{"text":"Other stitching","link":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/category\/other-stitching\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Closed (flap down) scissors case in purple and teal print is standing up against a large sewing machine","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_0621-225x300.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2711,"url":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/2016\/08\/02\/hello-bratislava\/","url_meta":{"origin":2254,"position":4},"title":"Hello, Bratislava!","author":"Sandy","date":"August 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Bratislava is a lovely city in Slovakia. We didn't have a lot of time there -- just most of one day -- but we took a \"general\" city tour, followed by a walking tour of the old section. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 See how it sits right on the river?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Travel"","block_context":{"text":"Travel","link":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/category\/travel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Bratislava-Slovakia.jpg?fit=480%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2685,"url":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/2016\/07\/31\/budapest-market\/","url_meta":{"origin":2254,"position":5},"title":"Budapest Market","author":"Sandy","date":"July 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Once our \"pre-extension\" had ended, we boarded our river boat, the Viking Prestige. Our cabin was lovely; we'd been upgraded from a basic one to one with a French balcony, which was a little roomier and had the advantage of letting us open the sliding glass door and enjoy the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Travel"","block_context":{"text":"Travel","link":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/category\/travel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gangplank-of-Viking-Prestige-Budapest.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gangplank-of-Viking-Prestige-Budapest.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gangplank-of-Viking-Prestige-Budapest.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2254"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2269,"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2254\/revisions\/2269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandymike.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}