En Provence

This morning we boarded the bus and headed to the famous Roman aquaduct, "Pont du Gard". Along the way we saw green fields, dotted with vibrantly red wild poppies, rows of vines, wispy Cyprus trees and stone cottages that served as the inspiration for works by Monet, Cezanne, and VanGogh among many others. 

First we met a 1,100 year old olive tree:

Then, the stunning Pont du Gard! We walked in the footsteps of the ancient Romans, marveling at the nearly 2,000 year old feat of engineering. 

Then we climbed a nearby hill, an activity that felt reassuringly familiar to our tired Vermont feet. After the soaking rain yesterday, the damp hillside exhaled the classic aromas of Southern France: lavender, rosemary, a sweet and earthy perfume.