Arles

The notes of Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite keep going through my mind. We are docked at Terascon, ready to board the bus for Arles.

The Romans certainly left their imprint on this part of the world. Their amphitheater here is one of the best preserved Roman structures in the world. Another historical figure who made an impression here was Vincent Van Gogh. He probably drank too much, and he certainly disturbed his neighbors enough for them to circulate a petition requiring him to move. To impress his lady love he cut off his ear with a razor. He then checked into the local hospital to keep himself from bleeding to death. While there he painted a picture of its courtyard. I visited it and I attempted to duplicate photographically his work of art. Later Van Gogh checked into an asylum for the insane near Paris. There he committed suicide by shooting himself. This is a lovely town, and one can certainly feel the influence of Italy in its history, and its religion. One can also sense the influence of Van Gogh in its art.Читать далее