Thursday 20 March 2014

The long goodby part two. March 20

We got a good deal for another week so we stayed another week in Aix.


Haven't seen a Sanglier since we started eating them, So I decided to drink some too!
Had lunch at our friend Florian "l'Epicerie Locale" he always gave us great advise and lots of freebies.


This is in the Place de Prêcheurs, I didn't notice it before because there is allways lots going on there.


This corner looks like it is from back in the day. Behind the chapelle de la Madeline.


The local university students doing something other than drinking. Caught in the air sumo wrestling.


Freshly restored street survailence on the corner of Place des Cardeurs.

We took the opportunity to visit Cassis. 


Fredric Mistral said about Cassis  in Proveçal "Qu'a vist Paris e noun Cassis a ren vist."  Which means  in French "Qui a vu Paris et pas Cassis, n'a rien vu." Which means in English "He who has seen Paris and not Cassis has seen nothing.” Which means in Spanish "El que ha visto Paris pero no Cassis, no ha visto nada.


The chateau above Cassis in the distance.


Same thing up close.


I saw a photo like this at the Christmas market in Aix and have been trying without success to duplicate the artists work, alas I am not an artist. Some of the photos from La Ciota are pretty good though.


Yoly forgot her swimming costume again, but she said it was still too cold anyway.


This is what the path looked like "penible" most of the stones were very polished and slipery and ever so sharp. Once you get to the top of the hill, you forget the arduous climb.



This is one of the rewards! 



I wish our camera would do a better job on capturing the light and shade better.



The sun, the breeze, the tranquility, nature, it's all good. We are here now.



There are about eight fjords "calanques" in Cassis, one could appreciate its gorgeous views by kayak, by boat, or hiking the mountains. It cost about 20€ pp by boat.



Cape Canaille, the highest sea side cliff in Europe. It stands at 360 m tall.


We took a couple of training rides out to mountain Ste. Victoire. There it is behind a flowering tree.


The local tortoise are becoming rare.


We thought we should get a couple of photos of Aix since we have been here so long.


Yoly's favorite shopping street Rue D'Italy.
She visited the hair stylist three times at Les Filles et les Garçons.
One can go to church, have breakfast, lunch and dinner, buy pastries or just bread, taste and buy fine chocolates at Ives Churies, shoes, make up, farmacy, flowers, have a latino party on Wednesdays at the O'neals irish pub, get groceries at the petit casino, buy a house at the immobilier agency, buy the best rotisery chickens in town at the buchery/ charcuterie, buy all bio products at La Vie Claire Bio, stop at Chez Nicholas for wine, get the news paper at La Press, buy excellent olive oil, go to the Post Office at the end of the street. The list goes on and the best part of it is that you get to know the merchants and you get more local information and advise about other stores. We had a good lunch at Epicerie Italien Cave à Vin Restaurant and loved it!


The best Fromagerie in town! Fromagerie Le Marié


Back of St. Jean de Malte church on Rue D'Italy.


Freshly renovated fine italian epicierie.


Cool giant tuck tuck run by the city "La Diabline" Runs on electricity from batteries, very quiet, so not so much tuck tuck.


Le cite du livre, or big library with big books. We should have used the library more but there was always lots to do.


We didn't get to use the new bus station either, it is almost ready to open.


The countdown has begun.


We went to see the Monaco Alternate Energy Rally when it arrived in Aix. Several countries took part including Canada. It was quiet because most of the cars were electric. We saw a plug in Porche and a lovely colored Citroen.


Porche.


Feeling like being part of the team


Taking the pig (sanglier) by the ears. 


Stoping to say good bye to our friends.

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