Pont du Gard

Well!

Three weeks or so behind….here we go again.

Back to Rome!

Roman Gaul, that is.  Lots of catching up to do.

Uzes, where we stayed in late September, is only about 20 minutes from Pont du Gard, the amazing remnant of the Roman aqueduct system that supplied water to Nimes.

There are many things I want my boys to learn from this trip, and one of the most important is to learn that ingenuity, creativity and technical achievement are not qualities that human beings suddenly developed in the 21st century.   As we study the perfect symmetry of the arenas in Arles and Nimes, as we learn about the complexity of the Pont du Gard, consider the marvelous machines in the The Musée des Arts et Métiers, stand in cathedrals scraping the heavens, and contemplate the delicate folds in a 2000-year old statue, this is something I am constantly emphasizing to them. And it’s not hard, because I am constantly amazed myself.

Following are some photos of the Pont du Gard itself, but also the museum, which was just fantastic.  I am continually and consistently impressed by French museums, large and small.  They are well-designed, attractive and sharp, but not pitched at the LCD of human understanding.

The museum was huge, with details of the construction of the aqueduct offered in every way possible, including life-size models of equipment and process.  It was amazing.

 During warmer (and dryer) weather this area is very popular for picnicking and canoeing, and you can see why.

But human ingenuity is not limited to the necessities! Oh no!

On the way back to Uzes that day, we stopped at the Haribo “bonbon” museum, which, as luck would have it, was having a free day.

When you’re traveling with children, this is really what you have to do, isn’t it?

Nothing wrong with it, either.

The Haribo museum in Uzes is connected to a factory, but you can’t actually see the candy-making process. That’s fine.  What you can see is a life-sized scene of the moment gummi bears were invented.  So that’s important!

 Aqueducts….gummi bears…what will we think of next?