Today, I learned how to ask for a pharmacy, lozenges for a sore throat and something to take for a bad cold. While it was a great learning experience, it was not really how I had envisioned my day. Sigh………..As it turns out, my fatigue of yesterday was probably a combination of jet lag and the onset of a cold. Thanks to the Rosetta Stone and my iPhone translator app for the help on making my needs understood. I was actually pretty prepared on this except for the word for sore throat. I have it down now. I’m hoping I won’t need it again! And, for those of you traveling to Aix en Provence anytime soon. There are NO pharmacies open on Sunday and none of the little 7-11 type shops sell throat lozenges.. Come prepared!
So, today was a bit of a slow day for me. But, despite it all, I did do some exploration of the city and managed to meet a few people along the way. First, I met my next door neighbor, Ana and her little daughter, Nadia, on my way out of the “bastide”. I am really loving my apartment and the colorful “bastide”. But, I have to say that getting in and out of the gate in the front is something of a challenge. I have been given 3 keys…..one for the front gate that resembles on of those old time keys. In the fogginess of my cold, I can’t remember what they are called. But, you know the kind….a round “handle” on the top attached to a long stem that has a metal square with 2 teeth carved out of it. There is also a key for the entry into my section of the apartment building and one for my apartment. I’ll say this, I feel very secure here. No one is getting in unless someone here knows them. Very reassuring!
Anyway, the front gate was locked when I went out this morning, so I had to use the old fashioned key to get out….quite a challenge. I finally managed to get it open so that I could get out, but then couldn’t get it locked on the outside. As I was down on my knees peering through they keyhole, my neighbor and her daughter came by with their dog. She reassured me that this was, indeed, a challenging lock and that we really didn’t need to lock it during the day. Thank goodness! However, if I need to come in at night, I’m not sure what I will do. Oh well! I’m sure I’ll figure it out! I invited Ana to have lunch one day. Monique tells me she has a very interesting story. Looking forward to hearing about it!
After my stop at Adrian’s latte shop, I wandered down into the square and happened into a book market…..all kinds of books. I spent quite a bit of time looking at them….almost bought one. But, I decided to wait. I’m sure the market will be there again next week.
I then wandered down a bit further to the helpful tourist information office to see about getting some information on the bus routes in town. The “billetterie” was closed today, but I did get a few helpful pieces of information about the towns surrounding Aix. I think I could spend the next few months, just exploring the small towns. There are quite a few that look to be very close by.
I also saw the statue of my friend, Paul Cezanne, near the rotonde area in from of the tourist information center. Several years ago, I visited Aix en Provence for 1 day. I was staying in Arles and came here on the bus. I walked up into town from the “Gare Routiere” (bus station) and wandered around all day. I am surprised at how much of the town I remember from that day. The statue was one of the things I remembered. Nice to know it’s still there. Took a picture of it on that day, too. How funny!
As I was walking through town, I stopped at one of the “Paul” bakeries for my favorite “pain raisin”. I think of all the french pastries, these are my favorite. They are made with a kind of puff pastry. The finished product looks something like our “elephant ear” pastries, if you know what those are, only with raisins. Just love those things!
Also stopped to watch someone in a shop making baguettes. I have never been able to master the making of a baguette. There’s a trick to keeping the inside oh so fluffy, while getting the outside to a light crunchy brown. This fellow obviously knew what he was doing. He was making them in volume. He had something like a 3′ by 2′, several inch thick, layer of dough on his cutting table and was cutting the dough into baguette sized widths. I’m guessing he would get 8-10 baguettes out of one layer of dough. On a day that I am feeling better, I may go back and see if he needs an assistant….you never know. Mastering the baguette. Another goal for my Aix-traordinary adventure. Might be fun!
I also spent some time looking for a restaurant called “Drole Endroit” (A funny Place to Meet) that was recommended to me by my San Luis Obispo “coach”. It’s down a crazy little alley lined with garbage bags…supposed to be a fun, locals place. I found it yesterday, but not today. Oh well…..there’s always tomorrow. But, I am determined to find it in the next few days to see what all the talk is about!
In addition to all of the above, I also walked down to the train station to see about getting a train to Monaco on Thursday or Friday. I am going to meet Mike and our friend, Gene there. We are going to get some perfume in Grasse and get an eye popping view from Eze and St. Paul de Vence. After I got the information from the very helpful train information attendant, I stopped into the small 7-11 type store to see if I could get any lozenges….even a Riccola would have been nice. I also needed to get some tissues, as there was (and continues to be) a small thin stream of liquid dripping out of my nose and, of course, I had used all of my tissues. I found what I thought were tissues, paid for them and while still at the payment counter tore them open only to find that they were not tissues, but sanitary pads. By that time, the helpful train information attendant had come to buy a soda. As my nose dripped down my face, I went back to the shelf and picked out some “real” tissues. We all got a good laugh out of my mishap! HA!
Anyway, enough for now. I am going to bed! Feeling better, but sleep will be welcome!
à bientôt!
Travel With Betsy 
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