Blogs from Aix-en-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, Europe

TOUR 3 – La France – MON, 04 JUL 2022 – “Day 10: CARCASSONNE–AIX-EN-PROVENCE - CARCASSONNE Walking tour by the ancient battlements; AIX-EN-PROVENCE Orientation walk along Cours Mirabeau and free time to explore. (B); 186 mi / 300 km”... read more

From Montreux, it is a lovely voyage through the rolling hills, quaint little villages, embraced by the Seine river, and majestic Swiss Alps. There is a castle built in a diagonal line to correspond with the striated rock upon which it is built. Arriving into Aix-en-Provence in the Cote d’azur region (french riviera) we are given bad news at the train station. Because of the storms that have struck southern France, the railway tracks are under construction. We are stuck! No way out other than bus, car, or plane. Will have some decisions to make. Since Provence is known for their lavender, the accommodation we have booked is called The Lavender Apartment, with walls being painted this same hue. Looking out the living room window, there is a French soldier bearing an automatic weapon, and patrolling ... read more

It was time to leave our five-star accommodations and head to Aix. We had a leisurely breakfast while we waited for the taxi to take us to the airport where we would pick up our car. I did have a horrible shock when we checked out of the hotel, somehow, I am no longer a Hilton Gold member, so we had to pay for our breakfast, guess we just need to travel more and get those points built back up. The trip to the airport was a hoot, the driver, who spoke very little English and we next to no French, still tried to have a conversation with us. What we understood is that he loves Apple computers but hates Android phones. We arrived a few minutes early to the Europe Car rental desk, and they ... read more

The old part of Aix (pronounced like the letter X) is all class: its leafy boulevards and public squares are lined with 17th- and 18th-century mansions, punctuated by gurgling moss-covered fountains. Aix marks the spot where Roman forces enslaved the inhabitants of the Ligurian Celtic stronghold of Entremont. In 123 BC the military camp was named Aquae Sextiae (Waters of Sextius) for the thermal springs that still flow today. In the 12th century the counts of Provence proclaimed Aix their capital, which it remained until the Revolution when it was replaced by Marseille. The city became a centre of culture under arts patron King René (1409–80): painter Paul Cézanne and novelist Émile Zola are its most famous sons. Our guide Victorine picked us up this morning at 9:00 for the half hour ride to Aix-en-Provence then ... read more

We are moving on again today so this morning we took our last showers in the world's smallest shower recess. The Nice Garden Hotel has been a lovely oasis in the city of Nice, but the teensy weensy shower recess has been just a little bit annoying. I think it was tiled with 10cm x 10cm tiles so, by my reckoning, the shower recess was about 45cm square. Add in a tap assembly that pokes out from the wall 10-15cm and a shower curtain and you have the recipe for a rather uncomfortable shower. Still, it was hot and wet and did the job so I'm not really complaining ... just making an observation. Otherwise the Nice Garden Hotel was, well, very nice!! There are no trains to Nice Airport and, having seen how crowded the ... read more