Thursday, August 19, 2010

Two Girls and the Pont

We had visitors for a sleepover last week.  Ari and Em from Switzerland joined us for dinner and a hike while their parents enjoyed a dinner out.
 Dinner at the Bistro Burger was first on our list.
All of our orders were taken including Em's who did not want a burger.  When her burger arrived, it was a dilemma.  Somehow that burger disappeared.  I don't think the pigeon ate it, however who knows.
Following dinner, we jumped into the car for an evening adventure at the Pont du Gard.  As you know, our village, Vers Pont du Gard, is a 30-45 minute walk from this amazing structure. The Roman aqueduct was built 2000 years ago to carry water to the nearby town of Nîmes, which was a thriving Roman town of 20,000.  Water had to travel from the Eure Valley in Uzes about 50 kilometers (31 miles) and only dropping 12 meters (39 feet) in that distance.
Water traveled only by gravity.  Most of the aqueduct was underground, however, terrain and slope made it necessary for portions to be above the surface.  Up to 1000 men worked on the Pont du Gard using no mortar, numbering stones, creating scaffolding and places to attach lifting devices to complete the structure.
  The aqueduct is an UNESCO world heritage site and you can see why.
The Pont is the second most visited place in France after the Eiffel Tower!
Summer evenings bring a treat to those who visit.  If you can stay up past nine o'clock, the bridge is illuminated with an array of colored lights.




Curiosity got the best of Ari and Em.  What would they look like in the lights?
Visiting the Pont du Gard in the summer?  Take a picnic and enjoy an evening under the stars gazing at this fantastic structure.
Au revoir,
Cindy
Let's do this again, Ari and Em!







2 comments:

  1. Love the post! What lucky girls Ari and Em are. Thanks again for spoiling them!

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  2. Wow. You are right. A visit to the Pont in the evening is a must.

    ReplyDelete