Au Revoir, South of France!

Ah oui. The time has come to say “au revoir” to the South of France. But why? Do we really have to go home? Why can’t we just stay here? I could get a job in a vineyard or a bakery. We could eat freshly-baked bread each morning and wash down lunch with rose. But then there would be no more travel letters. Non. C’est l’heure de partir. Continue reading “Au Revoir, South of France!”

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”

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”

Perdu en Provence (Lost in Provence)

Provence is a region in southeastern France. “Perdu” is a French word that means “lost.” We’ve just arrived in one of Provence’s major cities, Aix-en-Provence, or just “Aix.” We know we’re in Aix, but other than that, there is no doubt that we are perdu en Provence. Continue reading “Perdu en Provence (Lost in Provence)”

Au Revoir Nice. Bonjour Aix-en-Provence!

Ah oui. It’s time to say “au revoir” to Nice. Lots of people will be strolling along the Promenade des Anglais and having moules-frites in Cours Saleya tonight, but we won’t be among them. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we’re on our way to Aix-en-Provence. Continue reading “Au Revoir Nice. Bonjour Aix-en-Provence!”