Our last full day in Provence started at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, just outside of St. Remy. Following a lifetime of over-indulgence and belligerent behavior, Vincent Van Gogh voluntarily spent a year in this asylum. He said, “I feel happier here with my work than I could be outside. By staying here a good long time, I shall have learned regular habits and in the long run the result will be more order in my life.” He managed his vices in the asylum and painted about 150 paintings during the year he spent there. It is such a calming and beautiful place; I can understand why he found peace and solace there. Unfortunately for all of us, he died of his demons at 37.
Following our morning at the asylum, Allan and I spent some time wandering St. Remy, and all of us rested for a few hours after lunch. I chose to skip the early evening event. Having witnessed a bullfight in Mexico in the 70s, I had no desire to see another bull killed by a pompous matador. I took a walk to town and spent most of the time reading. Connie, Clay and Allan drove back to the amphitheater in Arles which was filled to overflowing for the Spanish style corrida. In this event, three matadors fight (and kill) two bulls each. They returned home after watching the first two matadors each fight one bull.
We walked to our final dinner in St. Remy at Cafe de La Place and enjoyed a bottle of wine from the Chateau Romanin winery. The next morning we woke early, finished packing, cleaned the refrigerator and drove to Gare TGV (train station) in Avignon, where Allan and I took one train to Charles de Gaulle airport and Connie and Clay took another train to a station near their apartment for the next week in Paris. We are spending Sunday night in the airport Sheraton, leave early in the morning and arrive in New Orleans mid afternoon. It has been a wonderful, relaxing vacation in Provence with our dear friends, but we are ready to return to the regular routine of day-to-day life in New Orleans.
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