Oct 4 -- Nimes

Nimes and Fabienne's arrival Oct 4

Our first stop in Nimes was the colosseum. It had been built shortly after the one in Rome. Although not as elaborate and grandiose, it is better preserved and was not cannibalized of all marble and travertine to build catholic churches like that of rome. The arena is still utilized for bullfights and events. The kids received their mouse guides with things to check off after they are found.
 I was impressed with the free audio guide that went into almost too much detail about the colosseum, especially the different kinds of gladiators. I'd wished that the Rome guides had more information and better delineated markers.
The kids were unimpressed with the two thousand-year-old colosseum. Imagine being 4 or 7 and thinking that your 61year-old grandmother is ancient.
Next we went to the square-house, or Maison Carree, the best-preserved pre-Christian Roman temple in the world. The interior of the temple is under reconstruction so we watched the 22 minute 3-d video of the temple's function as an oracle and then Eilidh was frightened by some graphic gladiator and sword fights(also in 3-d).
Nimes is on the ancient road from Italy to Spain, first used by the Greeks in the time of Hercules.
A short car ride brought us to the Jardin de la Fontaine, a peaceful park surrounding a limestone plaza and grotto-like spring. We climbed up cobblestone ramps and ascended 246 steps to the base of the octagonal Tour Magne (the oldest Roman monument in Gaul). Bella and I took turns blowing bubbles and chasing them while Sven, Balika, and Eilidh climbed the additional 228 steps to the top of the tower.
We picked up Fabienne (exchange student, 2007, from Munich) at the Avignon train station.