Aix-en-Provence

Aix was hot. We left relatively early in the morning, ran into traffic on the way in Hyeres and took an alternate route. On the way there we saw the mountains that Cezanne made famous on canvas. By the time we got there, I was soaking wet. The city itself is nice and flat, which was a change from the other cities we visited. The outer edges of the city seemed nearly deserted, but the center was bustling. We made our way through a market, bought a few things and searched for a place to eat. We had a nice, classic lunch in a very classic place. Alain described Aix as the Versailles (city) of the South and I can see it. It has that golden architecture that Versailles (city) has. There is a feeling of the ruling bourgeois, as in Versailles. The city is clean and relaxed. I liked it, but I have difficulty imagining enjoying life there full time. Like Versailles, Aix has a controlled atmosphere. It seems that everything and everyone is in their place. It photographs well. All is well behaved. Nice to visit from time to time but not sure about living there.