It’s a fall afternoon in Aix-en-Provence. Large brown leaves from the huge trees in Place de L’Hotel drop off and fly around when there’s a breeze. It’s a nice place to relax and set the stage for tomorrow, when we’ll visit Avignon and be transported to 14th-century Europe. Continue reading “Taking a Break in Aix – 14th-Century Europe”
Cocktail Hour in Place de l’Hotel
Today we spent the morning exploring the open-air market in and around Place de l’Hotel in Aix-en-Provence. Then we had lunch and returned to the room for some rest and relaxation. Can’t be on the go all the time. We are on vacation, after all. Continue reading “Cocktail Hour in Place de l’Hotel”
Market Day in Aix Continued – Paella!
Market days in small towns across France are something special. They occur on designated days once or twice a week in towns that aren’t large enough to support a permanent open-air market. The atmosphere is low-key, but festive at the same time, as shoppers wander around and vendors and customers negotiate prices. And there’s always something cooking. In this case, as noted last time, it’s paella. Continue reading “Market Day in Aix Continued – Paella!”
Market Day in Aix-en-Provence
Yesterday was a full day. We drove all over Provence, visiting Alphonse Daudet’s windmill, Arles, and Les Baux along the way. Now we’re back in Aix. It’s market day in Aix-en-Provence, so it’s the perfect day to stay in town and take it easy. Continue reading “Market Day in Aix-en-Provence”
Les Baux de Provence
Driving the backroads in the South of France is a pleasure. Many of the roads are lined with huge plane trees. The countryside is either flat or gently rolling hills. That is, until you come to a gigantic mass of rock sticking up as if it had dropped out of the sky and landed there. That’s Les Baux de Provence. Continue reading “Les Baux de Provence”
Vincent van Gogh in Arles, Back in the Day
We’re in Arles, and it’s time for lunch. We found a little bistro that looked good, settled in, and had something to eat. We could see the Rhône river from where we sat. It was a beautiful, South-of-France kind of day. We visited a museum here that shows what life was like in Arles back in the day. In some ways, it seems like things here haven’t changed much. Continue reading “Vincent van Gogh in Arles, Back in the Day”
Market Day in Arles
As noted last time, due to its strategic location on the Rhone river, Arles was an important city in the Roman Empire. These days, Arles is more like a quiet little country town. But it wasn’t very quiet when we arrived. It was market day in Arles, so there was lots of hustle and bustle. That’s OK, though. It was a nice, laid back, country-style kind of hustle and bustle. Continue reading “Market Day in Arles”
Roman Around in Provence
It’s a 50-mile drive through Provence from our home-base in Aix-en-Provence to Arles. Our first stop this morning was at Daudet’s Windmill. I’m tempted to make another stop or two along the way to see some Roman ruins. There’s no shortage of ’em in this part of France. I guess you could say we’re “Roman around in Provence.” Continue reading “Roman Around in Provence”
Let’s Take a Drive to Daudet’s Windmill
It’s our first day waking up in Aix-en-Provence. Aix would be a great place to hang out all day, but we’re going to hit the road. There’s just too much to see and do in this part of France. Today we’re going to drive to Arles, and on the way, we’ll make a stop at a place called “Daudet’s Windmill.” Continue reading “Let’s Take a Drive to Daudet’s Windmill”
First Night in Aix-En-Provence
All the guide books say that Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful town in the south of France. They’re right! Now that we’ve found our hotel, checked in, and settled down, we can appreciate our first night here in Aix-en-Provence. Continue reading “First Night in Aix-En-Provence”
