At this campsite, like the one in Italy, you can buy a full assortment of supplies from the camp store, including beer, and wine and cheese, of course. But you can also put in an order for breakfast, to be sure you have fresh breads and pastries the next day. They aren’t delivered to your tent or anything. Hey, this is camping after all. But after a quick walk to the camp store and back in the morning, you have fresh croissants with your camp coffee. Not bad!
Our campsite is so close to the aqueduct that we decide to walk there after breakfast. This aqueduct provided water to the town of Nîmes during Roman times, some 31 miles from the spring to the town. The Pont du Gard is the bridge part of the aqueduct that took the water over the Gardon river. It’s a very popular tourist destination, but it’s not too crowded this morning.
We walk around, and across it at street level. I remember being here in 1985 and walking through the top channel where the water would have been. Some people even climbed out and stood on the very top. It’s blocked off so you can’t do that now, although it looks like they take group tours through it.
Nîmes
Like water through the aqueduct, our next destination today is Nîmes, to see more Roman ruins. It would be fun to hike there from the Pont du Gard, walking the route of the ancient aqueduct, but I don’t think that’s an option. We don’t have time to do that today anyway though. It’s something like 15 miles away, so a very long walk compared to a quick drive.
Within an hour we are eating a quick lunch just outside the Roman arena in town before taking a tour there. The well preserved arena is still used for bull fights and performances. There is a stage on one end with people getting ready for tonight’s Johnny Hallyday concert. Big names come through here every summer. Neil Young will be here in July.
After our tour of the arena, we wander around town, and visit some other Roman points of interest including the Maison Carrée. Then we pop into a store to buy some blankets before driving back to the campsite. It may be June, but it was chilly in the tent last night with the wind blowing. We didn’t pack for that. But we should be nice and cozy under our blankets tonight.