It’s not too often that you step out of your hotel and encounter the impressive remains of a Roman amphitheatre.  Nor does one frequently have the chance to retrace the path of a master artist, matching artwork with reality, as we did here in Arles, which Van Gogh considered superior for painting because of its light.  We meandered our way along the Rhone (where “Starry Night over the Rhone” was painted), passed the site where Van Gogh once lived in “The Yellow House” (unfortunately bombed to non-existence) and eventually made our way to the plaza that housed the café which inspired “Café Terrace at Night.”  On our way out of Arles, we stopped by the quaint town of Les Baux, where we were treated to postcard perfect views of small town Provence and glorious bursts of poppies (coquelicot)—it was that time of year!