We thought we would get another day in at the beach, so we packed up the sun screen and the picnic lunch and headed back to Beauduc for a planned day of sun and sand. When we arrived there was definitely sand, and because of the strong winds (which weren't evident when we left), much of the sand was airborne such that it was like a full body exfoliation treatment by sandblasting. After looking at a few spots along Beauduc, we packed up and started to drive around the Carmaque, which is the delta of the Rhone River with lots of shallow ponds full of flamingoes. We ended up in the community of Les Saints-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Les Saints might sound like an odd name, being in the plural, but according to legend it refers to three saints named Mary: Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome and Mary Jacobe; who along with other early Christians are said to have landed here after being set adrift without oars or sails. With them was a black slave, Sara, who also sainted. While the others departed from here, the latter two Marys and Sara remained here and their bodies are said to be buried in the oratory of the church. Sara is significant to thousands of Gypsies who come here every May to honour her. It is a pretty little tourist town with a beautiful church and lots of clean beach front. So we got to spend time on this beach where the on-shore wind didn't create a sand storm (43°27'07.3"N, 4°26'02.3"E).
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