Another cool French city with lots of Roman infrastructure remaining is Nîmes. Bigger than Arles, it's a little busier. The arena or ampitheatre is used, as in Arles, for bullfighting, but also for jazz festivals and other activities. Hearing jazz in a Roman setting is eerily transcendent. Somewhere in the archives, I've got a few photos from one festival; I remember Chick Corea for sure, and was that Ella Fitzgerald? Official name: Festival de Jazz de Nîmes Métropole, also the Nîmes International Jazz Festival. One of the great things about jazz festivals is that you can actually attend without much trouble or outlay, unlike large sports or rock events.
Today's Rune: Fertility.
8 comments:
Where are the Romans now? In America, of course! We have the rectangular buildings, the corrupt gov't., the alleged "civilization," the "games" (football & such,) played over a background of pompous horns...
Haha! It's amazing how we've copied the architectural designs and the bread & circuses . . . are we now more like the Roman Republic, or the Empire? Politics are certainly Byzantine . . .
One of my favorite quips in The Sopranos is when some feckless dude asks Tony, "And where are the Romans now?" Tony's response: "You're lookin' at 'em, [expletive deleted]."
My son and I watched "The Life of Brian" recently and were mightily amused by the "What have the Romans ever done for us..." scene.
The Romans have, of course, left quite a legacy-- our language is derived, in part, from theirs. Our military structure is based on theirs. Many things. And as Lana pointed out, we need to look to their failures as well-- we seem to have a habit of repeating history.
Eric-I want to know a "feckless dude"...
the study of the architecture and construction during the roman empire is fascinating
great post
So how is the pizza in France?
We hear them... sayin'
How you get a rude and a-reckless?
Don't you be so crude and a feckless
You been drinking brew for breakfast
Rudie can't fail, no, nooo
-- "Rudie Can't Fail," The Clash
I'm liking the vivid pictures, the food...hint at a bright mood - what's YOUR excuse?
:)
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