From Arles

ARLES

I am eating outside at a little restaurant in Vieux Arles. Just ahead of me is the Roman arena, to the left is the amphitheater, and at ten o'clock is a Roman gate with one arch covered in wisteria. Overhead in a great vine, birds are chirping non stop.

Getting here was easy enough: airport to Gare de Lyon, TGV to Avignon, bus to Arles. In case anyone ever needs to get from the airport to Gare de Lyon, it's RER B to Chatelets des Halles, then RER A to Gare de Lyon. Tonight I'm staying at the youth hostel. Like many institutions they've had to relax their membership criteria.

Best wishes to all. I will drink a toast to you all every time that I have a vin rouge.

Packing

Here is a list of what I am taking, to the last item, all to weigh less than 18 lbs.

In the pack:

Underwear
2 underpants, 2 T shirts, 3 Tilley socks

Shorts and Shorts
1 shorts, 2 polo shirts

Outerwear
1 down pullover, 1 light rain jacket, 1 rain pants, 1 Tilley hat, 1 sandals

Electrics
1 iPod, 1 mobile phone with charger, 1 camera with charger, 1 adapter (North American to European),
1 iPod cord with charger

Toiletries
toothbrush, toothpaste, moleskin, deode, scissors, pills

And what I'm wearing:
Long pants, underpants, T shirt, shirt, MEC vest, PhD socks, leather boots, glasses
Passport, Eurail Pass, credit cards