Nîmes- part deux

Le Temple de Diana

This temple is quite mysterious, as no one knows when exactly it was built, or to which deity or God it was dedicated. It is estimated that it was built during the 2nd century, and was a part of the Roman baths, as it is situated on the Jardins de la Fontianes. It became a Convent Church for the Benedictine Monastery of St. Savoir in 991, and was a very well-known church throughout the middle ages, but was severely damaged during the Wars of Religion. It is interesting to read about what it originally looked like, because it has been through so much. Apparently, the central hall used to display rich interior decoration like Corinthian pilasters and pillars. It had an entire second floor, which is no longer (but the stairs still exist). A very interesting place to visit.

Les Jardins de la Fontaine

This is one of the most relaxing and beautiful parks I've ever been to. It is the site of the ancient Roman water spring (la source). Though it was abandoned since the early 1700s, as the city grew and a larger source of water was needed, they did research on this abandoned site and realized that it was a rather complex series of channels that had allowed water access to the ancient city of Nîmes. It is mainly just decorative now, but it gives you a good idea of how water was sourced in the city during the Roman era. It was also nice to walk through. There were so many small bridges over water channels, and there's always water under you, so you're always hear the sound of lightly flowing water. It's really gorgeous.

I really really liked this sculpture

 Streets in Nîmes just look like this... so... I'm moving there?

Nîmes

  

(shot from inside the arène)

Nîmes is a very beautiful, very historically-rich city. It became a Roman colony sometime before 28 BC. Augustus was the famous Roman who lead Nîmes. The city was reinforced by fourteen towers along a great wall surrounding everything (the wall is long gone because Napoleon had it knocked down, but the gates still exist, one of which you'll see below). An aqueduct was built to bring the city water from the hills to the north (part of which being the Pont du Gard, which I'll have photos of up later). The original Nîmes has been very well preserved, and I loved going there and seeing all the true old Roman buildings (especially the arène, where I imagined the gladiators fighting right in front of me, like they did hundreds of years ago).

This is the arène. It is a Roman amphitheater from the 1st-2nd century (that is OLD). It is the best-preserved roman amphitheater in France. It was used for all kinds of entertainment/celebrations (like gladiator fights!), also serving as a section of the defensive wall surrounding the old city:

(Here is what Nîmes looked like in the 1570s, see the amphitheater over there on the left? You can also see the Maison Carée towards the top of the walled city, which you'll see pictures of below)

Here is Nîmes now (Thank you, Wikipedia)

The rich important people would sit up front, and the commoners (eww!) would sit further back. The oval shape of the amphitheater (as opposed to circular) allowed for maximized seating without compromising view or sound. Typically prisoners, or people who were sentenced to death, would have to fight one another in the middle ring. Or sometimes, when the Romans had come back from a journey to some far away land, they would come back with some kind of fierce exotic animal for the gladiator to fight. Because people were so entertained by all this, they began actually training the prisoners to fight while they were imprisoned. It was good for the prisoners because they wanted to be prepared if they were ever thrown into the ring, and it was good for everyone else because they got a good show out of it. And through this, certain former prisoners became crowd favorites and heros. It was so surreal to be there and think about all the death that happened down on that sandy ring.

 Remember how I was saying that the city used to be surrounded in a protective wall? Well this wall had only two gates to get in and out of the city, and they still exist. This is one of them, called the Porta Augusta:

La Maison Carée (The Square House)

This is a small Roman temple built around 19 BC, and is again one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world (which may be why it was being worked on when I was there and couldn't go in). You can see this incredible intricate detail all over it:

More to come!

Things I did during the strike:

Went to IKEA!

Played Laser Tag!

Drank delicious foreign beers!

Sang Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" with my friend Sarah at an empty karaoke bar!

Drank cinnamon tea!

(among other things)

Got acquainted with the local wildlife!

Ate a "Sandwich Americain"!

(It's a baguette filled with hamburg patties, cheese, and french fries. They are everywhere here. I try to tell french people that we definitely don't have this in America, but it's useless. Whatever food here is huge or fried or filled with beef they just call "American." I guess it makes sense considering the average American diet....

I had no class for so long that I lost track of all my priorities...

Here are more photos from IKEA, because that place is incredible.

(it was my first time ever going to an IKEA, so it was kind of a big deal for me)

aannnnddd back to france

This was in front of my university. Nice job, students. Way to go. (I'm getting very very sick of the strike. And the complaining)

Barcelona Part V

The last day of my journey was dedicated to Gaudí. Turns out however, that Sunday is the worst day to go see Gaudí sites because it is choc-o-block FULL of tourists. Nevertheless, it was breathtaking and beautiful.

Parc Güell

 I always saw in the movies like l'Auberge Espagnole and Vicki Christina Barcelona, the characters hanging out at the Parc Güell, relaxing and chatting, but when I got there it was like I was at a limp bizkit concert! So many people! But oh well, it was still awesome!

Maison Batlló

I always thought this place would be off on its own somewhere, but its right in the middle of a busy city block, very eye-catching! The line was insanely long, and it was like 17 euros to get in so I just admired from outside.

La Pedrera

 this was just a cool building with a giant owl on it on the way to...

The Sagrada Familia!

 First of all- this church is massive. It's HUGE. From up above at the Parc Güell you can see it just towering over everything in the entire city. What is especially interesting about it is that it mixes Gothic styles with Modernista elements of architecture, in addition to Gaudí's own wild touch of genial madness (as you'll see in the last photo- incredible sight to see). There is SO MUCH to look at on all sides of this gargantuan church. The construction for the Sagrada Familia began in 1822. Gaudí as the director of the project, spent over 40 years working on it until his death in 1926. It remains unfinished.

Everyone, at some point or another, should see this in person.