Nîmes is the wettest place on earth. Ok ... maybe it's not if you take a long-term view, but the day we were there it rained and rained and rained (after lunch).
In fact, Nîmes is a small city around 50km from Montpellier in the south of France. It came to prominence as a Roman settlement at the height of the Roman Empire, a stopping point on the main road from Rome to Spain, important because of its natural springs. It's also well-known as the location of a Roman amphitheatre built in the 1st century and still standing. You know the deal: gladiators, lions, bulls, bears, etc. The amphitheatre is still in occasional use for the modern version of gladiatorial combat: the bull fight.
Amphitheatre (and tourists)
Bull-fighter (is he wearing pants?)
Roman stonework, post industrial revolution
Main arena
Seating (old and new)
Arches (old and new)
Gladiators?
Crocodile, symbol of Nîmes (rub my nose for luck)
Maison Carée, old Roman temple
Detail of Maison Carée
Ooops (and oops about the focus)
Les Quais de la Fontaine
Interior of Roman watch tower (Tour Magne)
Panoram of Nîmes (somewhere there in the rain)
