Here, There and Ireland, too!: Arles and Some Parting Impressions of Southern France

This morning was my day to catch the train to Arles. For all the planning it toke a whole 15 minutes to get there.
The train station was about a 5 minute walk to the city. Arles is known for 3 things: Being on the Rhone River, well preserved Roman ruins and Vincent van Gogh. Reaching the stone gates to the city with the river right there, I was meet by a myriad of tour groups from everywhere and Monday was their day in Arles. There had to be 20 buses and no less than 6 cruise boats full of groups, each following a number on a stick.
Anyway, entering the city, I was met by a huge mural and an easel showing a place were van Gogh had painted a famous picture. These easels were all around the city. I headed straight for the Roman amphitheater. It was quite a sight. Not as big as the Colliseum but very well preserved. They still use it for bull fights. (The bull does not get killed. They put a ribbon around its horns and the matador must remove it.)
Next Stop was the church of St. Trophime. It was built by the Romans after a 3rd century bishop of Arles. Although I am getting churched out, this building is magnificent inside and out.
After the church, the Forum was next. Although there is no reminder of the Romans other than the name, It is full of restaurants and it was here that van Gogh painted his Starry Night a the Cafe de Nuit. I had a lunch here and just watched the people, both the locals and the groups.
My last stop was the Thermes of Constantine. They are currently being restored but a great sight just the same. A walk up to the Rhone to the train station and back to Avignon.
Tomorrow I head for Paris. I am ready for a little big city. South France is beautiful. The countryside is scenic and the towns and village rich with history and beauty. It has been a wonderful experience to see all these things. I had, however, expected the people to be a little bit open and friendly. They were not. My attempts at resurrecting my high school French were not appreciated and often ridiculed. (to a point were I stopped trying.) I would not recommend this trip alone as it would have been nice to talk to other humans along the way.
The food was rich and delicious. Pastry, candy and ice cream all were part of what made this such a great experience. The markets in the villages and in the cities were marvelous events. Just sitting at a cafe with a cup of coffee was an event to be treasured. I am glad that I took this opportunity to see this wonderful place.
I am probably going to skip a day as tomorrow will be mostly travel.
See you in Paris!