Back to the past

Both from last summer and waaaay back.  Here are a few more pictures from France this summer, at the Temple de Diane, which seems to have no actual relation to the goddess Diana.

Le Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015. 

There seems to be a problem with people climbing the monument.  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015. 

Entering the temple!  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.

This rat graffiti from 1738 might have been my favorite thing about the temple.  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.

Pigeons everywhere in their native lands!  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.

Nesting pigeons in the high arches.  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.

Looking out at ground level. That shading thing is for tables at an adjacent cafe where we ate lunch afterwards.  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.

In the gardens around the temple I found some critters.  This appears to be some sort of hairstreak (Lycaenidae), but I haven't actually looked up what species it might be yet.  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.

A shy new lizard friend.  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.

You can walk around the side gardens (where I found the lizard and butterfly) and see neat views of the top of the temple.  Temple de Diane, Les Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes, southern France, 29 July 2015.