mmmm. salty.

We stopped in the ancient city of Aigues-Mortes and went to the salt extraction site. They get salt from the sea water in a lengthy process that basically allows the water to settle in different ponds.  Pretty enviro-friendly process actually -the tides and waves move the water in - then over the next few months the sun and the wind evaporate the water, then gravity moves the salty water along to the next pond.

Quite impressive also to drive past mountains of salt

apparently as the water gets saltier - it also gets pinker - on account of the same bacteria that shrimp eat that turn them pink - which in turn flamingos eat and turn them pink.

I know exactly what you're thinking - and it's what I couldn't stop thinking....If I ate enough flamingos would I also change color?  Only one way to find out I figure.

We walked all around the perimeter of the city on top of the ancient walls.  It was actually quite a walk. Especially for little legs. Well especially if one has little legs attached to bodies that have to go to the bathroom - twice - during the walk - and there is only one bathroom back at the start (cough cough Aaron Ball cough cough)

Like most towns down south - it has Roman roots - but the city was really built up by Saint Louis in 1240 when he realized that he'd really like his kingdom to have access to the Mediterranean.

in front of the Tour de Constance

   
The walls were built up later by Philippe the Bold and then by Philippe the Fair. (note: I really need a title like that.  Perhaps "George the Well-Fed")




The town is also famous in that it was used as a prison during the religious wars that took place after Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685 which had allowed protestantism. Since it was then illegal to not be catholic, they rounded up the Huguenots who refused to convert -and imprisoned them - many in the Tour de Constance - and some of them for decades.


So there you go - and update on our trip last month and a brief refresher on 17th century history...now that's why you keep coming back here.

Let's back up a bit.

 OK so lets be honest - we're a bit  lot behind on posting here lately.  I guess the more you have to do - the less time you have to write about it.
Quick recap: Heather & Aaron & their girls were here for a bit over a month.  We travelled down south with them - one our favorite places ever.

On the way down we stopped in at a market in Nyons, an area known for its olives
and lavender
and wine

 

like kids in a candy store

nice part of the world if you ask me.

Our destination was Pézenas - a fantastic town with a very active artisan community, a great market on saturdays, wine festivals, lots of good food - and my aunt and uncle who always spoil us with wine, lots of good food, and pointers on the best markets.  




We all stayed down there for a week. The weather was great -and I really enjoyed taking some time off from writing my first year paper.  (which I turned in the draft of on Sunday night - thank you very much)

We went to the beach a few times, visited some wineries, drove around, strolled through the town -and just took it all in.

We've moved...

...here.
 If you are reading this (and believe me....you are) you've found our new home.

So if links and comments and stuff don't quite work well for the next little while....uh...I don't know....you get what you pay for I suppose.

Also note that any imported posts that were slide shows - only have the first photo.  I'm working on it.

Last pictures of the tour (I promise)

I think I took so many pictures as it was just such a surreal sight.  Our road that sometimes has more horses than cars in a day, was packed with hundreds of people from all over the world and a  TV camera platform streaming it all live to the world.  The roads around the village that normally have people strolling along them and kids going to school was lined both sides with thousands of people and a massive 2-truck timing station and live satellite feed. Plus I really liked the fact that you can just stand there at the side of the road - as close as you dare-  knowing that a Gendarme on a motorcycle precedes every rider and at least two cars are following each one - and the cars tend to be a bit wider than the bikes - so one best pay attention.