Today was supposed to be a special day for my BFF and co-leader (aka Barefoot Blogger),  Deborah Bine, sharing her stomping grounds with us. Instead she was recuperating in the hospital and in our thoughts constantly!

First stop was the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pont du Gard. Truly an engineering marvel, this aqueduct was constructed between the years 19 AD and 1 AD to carry water to the Roman colony of Nemausas (Nimes). Click here to read the entire history and understand how it survived so intact.

Today we are in the Gard department, rather than the Bouches du Rhône where we are staying in Arles.

Read what Deborah has to say about Pont du Gard on her blog.

The accompanying plaque next to this 1000-year-old olive tree states it was transplanted from Spain in 1988.

Nancy McGee of Absolutely Southern France joined us for today and tomorrow and we’re delighted to have her company. Her friend, French artist, Aurélie Malbec, is shadowing our group today and sketching memories to create a booklet for everyone. 

After a few hours of strolling and taking photos, we moved on to the charming potters’ village of Saint Quentin-la-Potèrie. This ancient community, with its narrow winding streets, has a history of pottery making for centuries. Deborah had arranged for us to visit a few of her favourite workshops. We were warmly welcome and impressed by the quality and variety of workmanship.

This was a busy day! Finally we headed off, just a few kilometres down the road, to the elegant medieval town of Uzès. I know Deborah was so looking forward to sharing her beautiful town with us. We felt her absence keenly …

I’m going to turn this into two-part post, since there are so many photos. Enjoy … and stay tuned for part 2!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and after this we are off to Uzès, Deborah’s home town.

 

 

 

 

 

Pop on over to Deborah’s blog, Barefoot Blogger, to read more about our stops today.