Dispatch: Alumni Association tour to France

Colorful pottery is everywhere in Provence, as evidenced by this stand at the market in Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue.

Credit: Tina Hay May 6, 2007

You often can find a small statue of a saint on the corner of a building in Aix-en-Provence.

Credit: Tina Hay May 7, 2007

A floral shop in the town of Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue.

Credit: Tina Hay May 6, 2007

Many of the old townhouses in Aix-en-Provence have a fancy -- and often humorous -- stone face over the doorway.

Credit: Tina Hay May 7, 2007

Elegant townhouses line the main street in the town of Aix-en-Provence.

Credit: Tina Hay May 7, 2007

The "perched village" of Les-Baux-de-Provence is a charming little village with cobblestone streets and shops.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

This archway is on a 12th century church called Eglise St-Trophime, named for the man who was the first bishop of Arles. The church is one of several UNESCO World Heritage Site the Penn State travelers have visited.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

live.psu.edu/story/24104 online." />

A group of 14 alumni and friends of Penn State are in southern France for the Penn State Alumni Association's Alumni Campus Abroad: Provence and the French Riviera. On the second day of their trip, the group learned about the time when the popes were based in Avignon, not Rome. The 14th-century Palais des Papes served as the home for nine French-born popes during the time that Avignon served as the world headquarters of the Catholic Church. For the dispatch, go to live.psu.edu/story/24104 online.

Credit: Tina Hay May 3, 2007

This hotel entrance in Arles is typical of the charm of Provence.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

Many buildings in Provence are colorfully decorated, including this one, whose painted windows advertise a festival in Avignon.

Credit: Tina Hay May 3, 2007

A resident of Arles has decorated her windows in a rather entertaining way.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

This fanciful balcony sculpture features a man and a woman who seem to be heckling the tourists on the street below. It's in Place de l'Horloge, the town center of Avignon.

Credit: Tina Hay May 3, 2007

Most of the cars in France are on the small side, in part because Europeans tend to make gas mileage a higher priority than we do, and in part because the streets are too narrow to accommodate larger cars. This Smart Car is common in Europe and will be introduced to the U.S. in 2008.

Credit: Tina Hay May 3, 2007

A climb to the top of the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Arles rewards visitors with this view of the city.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

With the French presidential election coming up, political signs for the two candidates could be found everywhere.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

The gardens at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the mental hospital where Vincent Van Gogh spent a year (May 1989 to May 1890). Van Gogh painted a number of his most famous works -- including "Starry Night" -- while he was here. Saint-Paul-de-Mausole is near the town of Saint-Remy-de-Provence.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

This arch is part of the ruins of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the 14th-century summer home of the French popes. The site offers a superb view of the Provence countryside. Today Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the name of a village and region well known for its wines.

Credit: Tina Hay May 5, 2007

The group's guide shows the Penn State travelers the cafe in Arles where Van Gogh painted "Cafe du Soir." In the 15 months he lived in Arles, Van Gogh did 300 paintings, but interestingly, the town has none of them today -- they're all in museums and private collections elsewhere around the world.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

The ancient Roman arena in Arles, Les Arenes, seated 20,000 people when it was built for gladiator fights 2,000 years ago.

Credit: Tina Hay May 4, 2007

This immense and extremely well-preserved theatre in the town of Orange is still used today, for concerts ranging from opera to rock.

Credit: Tina Hay May 5, 2007

One of the most visited sites in the south of France is the ancient Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard; Built 2,000 years ago, it represented extremely advanced engineering know-how and once extended 30 miles.

Credit: Tina Hay May 5, 2007

The best view of the famed bridge Pont d'Avignon is from a windy overlook on the grounds of the Palace of the Popes. The bridge once had 22 arches, extending over the Rhone River, over the island on the right-hand side of the photo, and over another branch of the Rhone not shown here. Today just four arches remain.

Credit: Tina Hay May 6, 2007

Visitors can stroll on the Pont d'Avignon and walk right up to the point where the bridge abruptly ends.

Credit: Tina Hay May 6, 2007

live.psu.edu/story/24069" />

A group of 14 alumni and friends of Penn State are in southern France for the Penn State Alumni Association's Alumni Campus Abroad: Provence and the French Riviera. Tina Hay captured these photos from the event. This is the famed Pont d'Avignon bridge -- or what's left of it. Originally built in the 12th century, destroyed during one of the Crusades in the 13th century, rebuilt, it was heavily damaged by floods in the 17th century. It's on the Rhone River in Avignon, France. The structure on the right-hand side is a chapel. Read the full story at live.psu.edu/story/24069

Credit: Tina Hay May 2, 2007

The Provence region is famous for its fragrances. Later in the trip participants will visit Grasse, a major site in the perfume industry. Most likely participants will have plenty of opportunities to buy soaps like these.

Credit: Tina Hay May 2, 2007

One of the many charismatic old buildings in Avignon, this building is still an active theatre.

Credit: Tina Hay May 2, 2007