Just for the record, Aix is not an RV-friendly town, parking-wise, and we ended up in the inner outskirts at a Geant (a hiper-super-mercado), directed to a nice covered space by the
chef-du-stationment, who rode around on a scooteur. Six hours later, Le Duc was still there, unmolested, so, no harm, no foul, as the saying goes. In any case, a short bus ride took us into the old town, and we were in business. Aix is an old city, with much history, but the chief things to remember are: hotels (big old houses), pigeons, fountains, and Cezanne. See illustrations. All this on October 18.
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| Statue of the painter, Cezanne; not the last we'll hear from him |
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Major city icon: the Fountain of the Three Graces: Gracie Allen, Princess Grace,
and Coup de Grace |
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Sort of like Joyce and Dublin: everywhere the painter stepped, pissed, spat, or
had an epiphany, gets a sidewalk medallion |
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| Boulevard |
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"Oh Lord, we beseech thee, sendeth Thou a plague to punish these vile,
malevolent pigeons and all whomsoever that desecrate Thy statues and
fountains and other holy objects, Amen" |
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The little plaque to the right says it all: "XVII Siecle"; all the big houses are of
that vintage |
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| Among the many fountains in Aix, this one a thermal fountain |
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| Another hotel, the headache guys |
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The Two Boys cafe, where Cezanne and Zola met after classes in college; they were
close personal buds until Zola caricatured Cezanne in one of his novels (be careful
befriending novelists); Aix has pretty much disavowed Zola, which is a shame since
he is exponentially more important, in his art, and also in the life of the nation |
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Like most of France, Aix takes very good care of its history;
note direct pigeon hit, a difficult shot from above |
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| And Aix also has some superb ghost signs (more to come) |
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| Monochrome monotony, I thought |
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On the right it says "Le Peintre Paul Cezanne est ne dans cette
maison le 19 Janvier 1839" |
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| Both Cezanne and Zola were heavy smokers |
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| Sushi very big in Aix |
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| Announces that the ghost sign for Cezanne's dad's hat shop is above |
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| Thus |
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| Place Albers; XVII century, creamy yellow |
