Uzès: over and out

Outside the amphitheatre

Wednesday, April 13, Jeremy and I took a road-trip to Nîmes, although it is only about a 45-minute drive from Uzès. The drive was beautiful past vineyards and then up a steep, curvy road. Periodically rows of what I think are white aspens lined to road to make lovely groves to drive under. The outskirts of Nîmes are not especially nice to look at, but the city centre is pretty with numerous Roman ruins. We were proud of our navigation skills as we arrived without using any maps, while this success did include some wrong turns.

My gladiator sandals in the amphitheatre.

 Our first stop was the Roman amphitheatre. It was built about 100 CE to seat 24,000. It is also the best-preserved amphitheatre from the Roman Empire. It was great to experience a piece of living history as it is still used today for concerts, battle reenactments, ect. I wore my gladiator sandals on purpose to feel like I was perhaps an ancient Roman. We walked up Victor Hugo Boulevard to the Maison Carée. It was originally a Roman temple, but now it serves as a movie theatre where you can watch a film on the history of Nîmes. Jeremy and I opted out of the movie to explore more outside. Our last stop was the Garden of Fountains. There are aged statues of Roman gods and emperors with numerous water fixtures that were not in use. I think we agreed it was the most beautiful part of the day between the greenery, evidence of the city’s Roman heritage all over the park and the crepes we ate on a bench in the shade.

Garden of Fountains

 Thursday was a fairly low-key day compared to most of our time in Uzès.  Jeremy, Max and I went go-carting in the neighboring village of La Calmette. The boys lapped me twice on the course, which was fine by me as I enjoyed cruising the track by myself. The drive to and from go-carting was once again beautiful. I love our drives in the south of France, my favorite so far being the road to Nîmes.

I spent the afternoon reading on the back lawn, while the boys played tennis. We went out for dinner to a cute restaurant called the Tractor. It is unique because the menu changes daily based on the fresh ingredients the owner/chef buys at the market. You only have two choices for your appetizer, main course and dessert, because the chef is so selective about what he buys at the market. The food was truly exceptional.

Friday morning we left Uzès to catch our afternoon train from Avignon. Once back in Paris, Jeremy and I had to march down to the Eiffel Tower to do more of Linda’s bidding. This order included 50 additional Eiffel Tower key chains and ten more 10-inch towers for her wedding favors and table center pieces (to be added to the 100 key chains and ten 10-inch towers that have already been carted back to Seattle for her). This bride gets what she wants.

Dinner on the Calife

 For dinner we went with Max on a dinner boat cruise on le Seine on a barge called the Calife. We had eaten here when we were in Paris with Linda and John, but due to high river levels in December we were unable to leave the dock. Tonight the ship sailed down the river making everything so much more magical. It is such a wonderful vantage point to see Paris from as we cruised under beautiful bridges, past the Louvre, Notre Dame, and arrived at the Eiffel Tower as it began to sparkle at 11 o’clock.

The Eiffel Tower from the boat with the moon.

This morning was my last with Jeremy until I return to Seattle in a month and a half. We walked up to the Arc d’Triomphe together where he caught his coach to the airport. It was not until the luggage was loaded into the bus’ undercarriage and it was time for Jeremy to go that I felt sad. It surprised me, because before that moment I felt content with knowing I would see him in less that six weeks, a small amount of time compared to what he have already accomplished. I had to stifle tears. I watch him board the bus and take his seat by the window. He blew me a kiss, I saluted him good-bye and walked home to Max’s.