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Published: October 9th 2007
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7th October We found our way to Arles, via the outskirts of Marseille without too much trouble. We had received an SMS the day before from Florence. Lorenza and I were really looking forward to meeting her in person. We had originally made contact with her via Hospitality Club sometime in 2006. We had exchanged lots of emails as she had been planning to visit Australia, but circumstances changed and instead we were on our way to meet her in Arles.
The hotel that Florence had suggested to us was lovely, a very comfortable room overlooking a peaceful garden, right in the centre of the old part of the town. We got settled and called Florence to let her know we had arrived. Soon after our call Florence met us downstairs for a drink.
The internet is an amazing thing, after months swapping emails it felt great to finally meet and share a drink together. Obviously by email it can be a bit hard to judge a persons personality, but you can get a rough idea and Florence turned out in person to be as full of life, fun and energy as we had thought she was via
email. Viva Hospitality Club!
Florence gave us a run down on things to visit and do in the local area and she also gave us some maps and info. We caught up with news about her career decisions and travel plans. Her smile and enthusiasm are very infectious! She taught us a few interesting french gestures while we discussed the Rugby (her father is a former player and fanatic). We also explained now that the Wallabies were kaput, that it was “Allez les Bleus” for us now. She was pleased that we were not supportive of the “roast beef”.
We had dinner together at a restaurant on a boat on the Rhine. The meal was great and the owners very friendly. They had taken over the business a few months before and were trying to revamp the menu and the venue. We had a great meal and really enjoyed getting to know Florence in person. To us it felt like we were catching up with a long time friend. She showed us photos of her family and we flapped our jaws for hours.
8th October 2007 - Les Saintes Maries de la Mer Took the drive
to the coast, via some back roads and were rewarded with some glimpses of flamingos and camargue horses in the distance. The marshlands are the delta formed by the Rhine River coming to the sea.
Saintes Maries des les Mare is the centre of Gypsy life in the area and Sainte Sarah is their patron saint. She is the first black saint I have seen statues of. We spent the day looking around town and walking along the beach and of course looking in some shops. Some of the hand made jewelry was interesting and a lot of it inspired by the sea or Gypsy culture.
Back in Arles we met up with Florence again and had dinner and a few drinks. She presented us with two music CDs for the car, telling us one was for the boys and the other for the girls. Over the remainder of our trip we listened to Jean Louis Aubert and Olivia Ruiz, who will always remind us of our friend "Super Flo".
We decided to take a trip to Avignon the next day to do the obvious and sing on the bridge. Florence gave us a suggestion for a
restaurant to try while we were there.
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