Thursday, April 5, 2018

Aix~♥ Long~ La Finale~
































Aix my dears..is fabulous.Magnificent..  mansions..  homes..streets..fountains..tress..flowers..people watching..if you are a sketcher..oh lala.

We had a cute appartment..clean..modern..BRIGHT!  Great views onto pool and courtyard..an Air BnB..bus came close by to take us right into town..a short walk..we met the nicest people..again.
I am not a modern girl..but all this suited us just fine..



The kitchen was spotless and fully equipped..and look at the sink..I could have washed dishes and dishes and dishes:)It was bright..  balconies..windows..patio doors...overlooking pool and gardens..super modern bathroom..and clean fresh bedroom.I liked it.
Nothing like my FAVORITE place..or the other 2..  but this was just great.
This? Or a Holiday Inn?
This.



So, Aix is a beautiful town.
Just beautiful.
From the moment you arrive..that Travel Bureau is fabulous.

All the old buildings that line  the Cours Mirabeau are stunning..it's also dotted with quite famous shops and restos.
Fountains..carousel..and Paul Cézanne.
Flower shops and stall..
A famous market..and OH what a market!
A brocante part..clothing part..food,local produce,jewelry..knives..everything you could imagine.
And a brocante part.My fave brocante was there..

We ate at the same resto twice and I was glad we did..this is the place the lovely waiter ..asked..:"La salade César encore aujourd'hui madame?"
"~Oui monsieur..merci beaucoup."

We ended our trip in this area because it is close to Marseille airport.
It was a high point to finish on.

For high end shoppers..a whole area has been turned into super high end shopping..all in old buildings..winding streets..stunning.

The Saturday..the streets became engorged with people..it is a very popular spot.The Friday seemed so calm..:)In comparison.

It is a University city so you see a lot of lovely young students..you see a lot of very well to do peeps at the market..locals..  the real leather purses and shoes..women in their 60s and 70's and 80's..dressed to the nines.
You won't see a local in a jogging suit..I never saw a woman my age in joggers and running shoes in Aix..it's elegant..just FYI:)
Very sophisticated.The tourists also ..are far less casual than many other places.
Jacques agrees.
I had to make sure it wasn't just me.
:)

The weather here has been frightful..so I went back to Provence in my photos..
April has never seemed so off to me..
Frigid..windy..
Just blech.
No Spring fever yet.
I am looking forward to that feeling.

Gardening notes..Tomato seedlings doing well..2 dahlias I saved..have sprouted.. 2 perennial Sweet Peas.. and pea shoots;)
Ordered another raised bed from Costco.



Have a great weekend..♥


49 comments:

  1. First I heard about the town Aix in a story written by A. G. Gardiner..

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    1. I looked him up..and can't discern which book it woud be...

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  2. Love these photos! Oh... the carousel xo

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    1. It's a great great place:) Love the university vibe:)

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  3. DELICIOUS eye-candy! Such beautiful photos, Monique. A perfect escape from cold, dreary weather... and fun for the rest of us, too! blessings ~ tanna

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  4. The architecture is so beautiful! I am not much for crowds, but do love to people watch. Love your painting, and that stone sink, and everything...........

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    1. WE abhor crwods:) yet we were there..:) The things you do..or people you can become for a few moments while away:)
      We took Lucas out for lunch today to a place I like..Jacques said..:It's too busy"..when we were alone this evening.. And there you have it.:)
      I am not taking him again lol;)

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  5. I can tell how cosmopolitan it is by your photos! What fun people watching it must be and what a lot of people that day! I am in love with those red woven cafe chairs! What a nice, bright apartment you had and so agree about the sink. Gorgeous! Same weather here. Had an inch of snow earlier this week but it's melted but still CHILLY and WINDY. Strange weather for many, especially the Midwest and Northeast. Warm in Florida I see from Lindsay's pics so I'm happy for them. Finally warm in the Southwest too. Here, not so much :) I see some crocus trying but I think they're afraid to pop open - LOL.

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    1. I'm afraid to pop open!
      Winter coats and boots and gloves..again!! I was out early..my poor little car..paint is peeling..even though it's 2012..it's a known problem..that I didn't know about..Saw a very nice man..I will have to pay a franchise (deductable fee) but they will help..small part beween windshield and suroof.I can't have Bella showing her age like her owner;)
      I bet Lindsay's pics are beautiful..3 boys and a beach♥Nothing better..well Littles and a beach;)
      We may have company this year;)
      Bon weekend!

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  6. Oh that sink. I never went to Aix so I didn't know how busy it is. Quite a popular site and beautiful. I would have loved to see all the shopping spots. At the antique fairs in Paris, they mentioned that all the stuff goes to southern France, so it must be fun to look at it all. Those high end shops just stop me in my tracks. The prices. I guess I am just cheap because I can't imagine paying those prices. I must go there one day. Nice to see how pretty it is. They say spring is behind schedule. Even we might get a light snow mix tonight, but next week will be in the 80's. I just want the warm to stay, not spa and down. I love my raised garden containers. They are waist high, but I wish there was more room.

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    1. Donna..I would never spend that kind of money ever.EVAH;)

      Although truth be told I Googled your Chicken pot:) LOL I did!!

      Oh you would LOVE AIX..It's..lovely.
      And sunny .. the thing about the south of France..far sunnier than Paris..well in my humble experience.
      And blue skies set everything off to it's best value on a holiday..al fresco eating..flea marketing..baguette and cheese or an espresso..outside?
      That works for me because I live in QC Canada..and it's still winter in April right now;)
      Waist high sounds like luxury to me:) I would raise everything now..literally.

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  7. So much beauty to take in. I have so enjoyed your beautiful photos from your trip. People watching is so fun. That stone sink is quite spectacular.

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    1. The sink..the sunset.. wine..great cheese and bread:)= 5 stars;)Have a nice weekend!

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  8. I love love love the photos and stories. And that watercolor! Thanks for sharing.
    Spring is just as scarce here in NY. Snow still threatens to tease us.

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    1. This seems like the longest winter on earth A!!!I am anxious to feel warm!My bones are cold!!!Thank you..hope you had a nice Passover!We just watched a cooking show..I need to make latkes❤️

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  9. Yay so pleased to see another post from your France Trip Monique! I have so enjoyed all of your photos and words. You really have had the trip of a lifetime, and you are a most excellent tour guide! You have really made me want to visit that whole area myself! Your photos are just beautiful. What a great town. I love the photo of the clothing in the window. Such pretty colours and so bright! But I am a lover of colour! Sorry your weather is still so poor. Hopefully it will improve soon and you will have the summer to end all summers! That glimpse of your watercolour is so precious. Bonne Weekend ma chum! xoxo

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    1. :) Thanks for coming along on the trip Marie..I don't even think my girls did lol:)Remember the days when friends went on holidays and showed you every slide..oh lala..I felt a bit like this..
      One thing that gets me now are phone pics..still ON the phone..some are good..some are great..some are not..but on small phone screen..pleas edon't show me 25 pics of your new anything..in different poses..
      I just can't;)


      LOL
      I sound so mean..but it's not a Viewmaster right?

      Bon weekend Marie!

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  10. How I loved merry-go-rounds as a girl, you couldn't get me off them. Actually, I still do ;-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  11. Dear Nana, I've already told you I'll be there next July in order to see lavender fields.
    Could you tell me the week day the market takes place?
    Thakk you.
    Have a nice weekend.

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    1. The BUSY market day in Aix is Saturday..but FUN!!!
      You will LOVE it.

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  12. What beautiful shots!So fun to relive a trip that seems to flash by so quickly. You manage to capture color so well! What a lovely experience Monique!

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    1. It was..! We hope to do it one more time..just one more..

      See less.. stay longer in spots we loved the best;)

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  13. Tres belle Monique, Je aime beaucoup , xoxox

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  14. Oh...I can just smell the flowers....hear the crowds chatting as they bustle by...feel the warmth of September in France...
    Same time this year?
    How did your painting go today?
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  15. I agree, it helps to go back and revisit these wonderful trips! Wish the human mind could hold onto those memories better, but isn't it wonderful to have photos or paintings!

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    1. It is..Isn't it nice to blog back and see..2 yrs ago..3? I agree..Bon dimanche!

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  16. thank you for sharing those gorgeous photos! Those red chairs! That black door! That sink! So much to love!

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  17. Yay, another Provence post! Keeps me daydreaming... :)

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  18. Love all of the places you have been. Many of our places also. We seem to have the same ideas of what makes us happy. Loved your rento. We had a second story apt. in the middle of Il Sur la Sorgue. Right in the middle of the action. Thinking of a return trip to my favorite part of the world. Time marches on and all becomes more precious.

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    1. I know..Time marches on..we have told it each other that we think next time will be the last..the way we do it at least:) I have never lived in an appartment:) I found it exciting:)

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  19. Lovely idea to revisit Aix in your gorgeous photos! I only had the pleasure of spending a day in Aix many years ago, but my nephew and his wife lived there for a few years. His two oldest boys were born there, and my sister went over to stay six weeks when the boys were born. She loved the experience!

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    1. I can imagine..it's such a mixed bag of youth and age and in between♥ And beauty and sunshine and grace!

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  20. What a wonderful adventure in photos! Our spring weather has not arrived either. I am ready for warmer days and a little sunshine. Your photos will have to do today :)

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    1. I read last night that at least until April 22nd.. we will freeze:(

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  21. Oh, how I loved and will miss your visits to the South of France. I think Aix is amazing -- at least your photos and commentary are! I love the story about the waiter -- good for him remembering. And you must have felt a bit flattered to be remembered -- I would!

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    1. I absolutely did Jeanie.I must admit..humbly so..must have been my bracelets..:)

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  22. jThank you!! I will come back when I have more moments than right now...I may want to spend some time there...The best: Your painting!!!

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  23. Oh thank you!!!!!! This is where I want to go to stay for awhile...take an art class, in French....The streets, they were very crowded, yes? Very cool about the waiter...

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