Kyriad Prestige- Aix En Provence Aix-en-Provence

... in a bit of culture. Before it closed, we made sure we went along to the Cezanne/Picasso exhibition, originals and all. The pieces were amazing up close, and we were able to recall some French cultural studies lectures...even though, of course, Picasso wasn't actually French, but we could recognise his influences! Definitely worth noting that the only reason we knew where the exhibition was taking place, was because we'd previously been on the little tourist train ...

... yesterday, Saturday, and it is cooler but still nice. The trip here was spectacular with many olive groves and big mountains. Today we went on a tour to Les Beax - another medieval town with a castle - poor Graham and on his birthday too. Then we went winetasting and to the premier olive oil producers in France. The Mistrql was blowing on the tour and it was very cold but warmer back here in the camp. Tomorrow we explore Aix on foot then we go to Avignon.

... kill two birds with one spoon; it works. Ever the alchemist I go buy a handful of mint leaves in the Arab market; now we’re getting somewhere. I can’t look a pizza in the face anymore, so I close my eyes and savor the flavor.

After missing Rachid Taha last week on my first night in town, and Lura the week before on my last night in Wroclaw, I resolve to catch the Ba Cissoko show tonight. It’s ...

... a narrow valley with high cliffs on either side. The Abbey was founded in 1148 and construction and growth continued into the 13th century. It is still in use today, it's brothers having celebrated the 850th anniversary back in 1988. We took a very quiet tour of the Abbey. Silence is demanded as that is one of the vows of the brothers. When we were in more public areas the tour guide described the history of the order ...

... walls all over the place, the valley is filled with lavender and grape vines and the roads are narrow and winding. This is the France I really wanted to see. Lucy wants to come back here one day in July to see the lavender in bloom. We understand that it gets harvested no later than mid-August. It is probably very hot and very crowded, but no-doubt worth it.

... First stop was Arles, 'the most beautiful town in Provence' and a world heritage site, which had lots of roman ruins and pretty French streets. Les arènes (the bullring) was particularly impressive, and had been a gladiator arena under the Romans. Van Gogh also spent his later life in Arles, and a cafe in the centre ville probably makes a pretty profit from tourists wanting to drink where he drank! As a cultural centre of Provence, they even elect a queen ...

... The castle is perched at the top of town and has sweeping views - almost as good as Menerbes. It is also blessed with pockets of appropriately gory and strange artwork which depict abstract figures in various disturbing states. In a way it is too bad that the town is infamous as besides the castle it is just a very cute little town besides with the steepest alleys, an art school, some interesting looking cafes, and just a touch of edginess staving off ...

... tive que recusar o outro convite emcima da hora. Admito que não foi uma coisa bonita nem legal de se fazer, mas acho que valeu a pena. Depois de almoçar fomos visitar o atelier de Cezanne e depois fomos ao local que tem vista para o monte que ele pintou tantas vezes (Mont Saint-Victoire - http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagem:Pau l_C%C3%A9zanne_108.jpg). No final tentamos ir no carrefour e nos perdemos, tinha umas placas daquelas que parecem dizer "logo ali". Não ...

Back in Aix. I'm terribly sad that we have only 2 more days in Europe. We are doing a 2 week stop in Thailand on the way back though...can't wait for some island action! or lazying around on the beaches sipping cocktails! I can't believe i've been about 4 months already in ...

Have I mentioned that I love life? This seems to happen every time I have a good day. On Tuesday, for example, I picked up my carte de séjour, the thing that makes me an *official* resident of France and able to do things much more quickly and easily than I could as a mere U.S. passport-holder. Hooray! With my new residency card I was thenceforth able to open a new bank account, one that won't cost me a Euro every time I want to withdraw money, and one with a legitimate branch in ...