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September 9, 2018 - St. Remy to the Alpilles

Our first hiking day started in Saint-Rémy de Provence. Vincent Van Gogh spent a year

in an asylum in Saint-Rémy de Provence and painted many of his most famous works there.

On 8 May 1889, after months of hospital treatment in Arles, Vincent allowed himself

to be committed to the Saint-Paul de Mausole psychiatric institution in Saint-Rémy.

In between attacks, Vincent made numerous paintings and drawings, first in the asylum

and its gardens and later beyond, among the olive gardens and cypresses,

in the Alpilles mountains and in the village. Today, we followed Van Gogh's footsteps

as we hiked from St. Remy through olive orchards up to the jagged ridge of the Alpilles.

ABOVE LEFT - The Jules Mausoleum, a monument from the ancient city of Glanum,

Glanum began in 600 BC and was destroyed in 260 AD.

ABOVE MIDDLE - The Triumphal Arch (Roman Arc de Triomphe) from Glanum.

ABOVE RIGHT - Our guide, Pierre, shows us the route for today's hike.

ABOVE - We began our hike following signs showing the location of paintings

by Vincent Van Gogh. We pondered the sites today and tried to imagine

what Vincent saw when he painted his masterpieces.

ABOVE - Our lunch spot on the ridge of the Alpilles, with great panoramic views.

ABOVE LEFT - View from the top of the Alpilles mountains back toward our lunch spot.

ABOVE RIGHT - Happy people after a great dinner, lots of wine and amazing dessert.