Wild Horses Couldn't Drag Me Away

Earlier last week, we set out in the car with plans to go sightseeing in Arles.  But we suddenly found ourselves passing Arles to pursue another area of Provence that we were reading about as we drove.  I'm so grateful for our spontaneity that day!  We wound up discovering the coolest nature preserve, situated on the Mediterrean, with a few historic monuments to boot.

 

Located just south of Arles, Carmague is the delta of the Rhone River--where the Rhone meets the Mediterranean.

The region is well known for its sea salt, rice production, wild white horses, flamingos, black bulls, and its cowboys.  Too bad we forgot A & R's new cowboy boots!

The French have long had a fascination with Cowboys and Indians, which seems to have a bigger mystique here than in the US.  We decided to jump into the French version of the Wild West by going horse back riding on some the famous white horses of Carmague. 

I'm so proud of Abby and Reese, both of whom completed a two-hour excursion on their own horses!  Whoa!  Abby is a natural.  We started in the salt marshes and trotted across the Mediterranean beach.  So cool.

Reese with our guide.

FLAMINGOS!!!

We lunched at nearby Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, (Saint Marys of the Sea), a tiny coastal town in Carmague.  This sweet little village is totally overrun in August with vacationers, but I love its kitschy quality.  It was once a small Roman outpost, and by the 6th century acquired its name in reference to the three Marys of Catholic and local history.  Over time, the town became a literary and arts center with artists like Picasso and Ernest Hemingway tucking away here from time to time.

The church pictured below was built between the 9th and 12 centuries and also was used by villagers a fortress from invading Vikings and Saracens.  For some reason, it's strange to think of the Vikings in the Mediterranean.  The church is phenomenal.  You can climb to the top where there are sweeping views of the sea, and the interior is amazingly still intact from early Middle Ages. 

Today, every May, gypsies from all over Europe to pay homage their patron saint, Saint Sarah, who said to have been the black Egyptian servant to the three Marys.

 

We're coming home with some sea salt as a souvenir, and that evening, we made it to Arles after all. 

We kind of understand how its night sky inspired Van Gogh.