While in Aix-en-Provence, one thing was necessary with early wake up calls; whether those calls be for adventure, or for an extra early art history class. What is that one thing you ask? Coffee. Though I am going to stand out as someone who might actually prefer my coffee back home to that of European brews (gasp), I still managed to find some wonderful coffee shops throughout my weeks in Aix on the go and while sitting for a few hours to get some much needed work done.

Columbus Cafe

A classic stop before class to get coffee or last minute work done, Columbus has plenty of coffee options hot or frozen which is great for when you want to cool off while also delighting yourself in a possible sweet treat. Even better? If you are a student, be sure to check out their student meal discount that includes a sandwich, drink, and dessert.

I recommend their dark chocolate chip cookie.

Mana Espresso

Run by an English couple, Mana Espresso is a cozy environment perfect for lunch or two sit with a preferred chai latte and slice of homemade cake.

Book in Bar

Yes, there is a bar in this bookshop. Or at least a coffee bar. Serving coffee, smoothies, milkshakes, and homemade pastry and slices of cake, Book in Bar is the place to go if you are looking to relax while being surrounded with your favorite paperback. Wifi not included, but the atmosphere fantastic for a bookworm such as myself. One could say I even spent a little too much time when I had a spare few hours to wander my favorite friends, or shall I say books, among the shelves.

Anticafe

For five euros an hour enjoy all the food and drink you like, and yes, great wifi connection too. Also I plus I found out a little late into my trip, they have ice!

If you are a student...

Be sure to check out if your school has a cafe of their own! Where I studied while abroad, though open a few odd hours a day there was a great spot where students could work and get a good cup of coffee for only a euro.


Though I only managed to hit a few of the great coffee shops and bars around Aix, no matter where you go, you are almost sure to find a place to sit outside and enjoy an afternoon people watching with an espresso, or my preferred cappuccino, in hand.

I dressed myself in a floral blue dress and wedges, unsure exactly how I was going to be spending my first weekend in Aix-en-Provence. I figured none the less that I would at least look nice after the rough weeks of switching homestays and switching classes and not being able to travel to Nice for the weekend because of said switching homestays. Looking at myself in the mirror, my phone was forever in its abroad position of being charged connected to the the character chord connected to the European adapter connected to the extension chord outlet. It beeped.



Opening it up to the only way to get a hold on of me on the Facebook messenger I never thought anyone used until now, my new friend Braden who also did not go to Nice was already typing a second message after the first hello.

"So, you want to climb a mountain today?"

I turned back to my reflection in the mirror in my pretty summer dress. I looked so damn pretty. With a groan I stripped down and redressed into black leggings and a slightly too loose pink tank top before I messaged back. While we set up a spot to meet before getting on the bus for the journey to the base of the mountain, I slipped on my trusty yellow Keds.

Because what else would you climb a mountain in?




Yes, I know. Probably actual sneakers, bus I was not too concerned. There would probably be a nice trail path and some shade as we hiked. It would be a nice fun day. So, appearing slightly homeless and very un-French as other women passed by in their cobblestone steady heels, I met up with Braden for a veggie filled brunch lunch at Toasty. Then it was time...to find the bus...to get off the bus almost at the wrong stop...to get off the bus at the correct stop...and to begin climbing Mt. Sainte Victoire.

I was pumped. I was ready. I was already sweating from the heat of 1 p.m. sunlight shining down on my shoulders as we began on the red and white trail. Another couple began the hike with us after getting off the bus at the same time.

She was from France.

He was from Columbia.

They were in love and talked all about the places they had been and other mountains they had climbed, both together and alone.

They talked, Braden and I-- ok, mostly I was trying to cover the fact that if I opened my mouth it would be to gasp for air. Cute French-Columbia couple were keeping a pace as we scaled the trails already hefty incline. They barely looked like they were breaking a sweat as we all paused to reapply sunscreen and then the next time for a little sip of water or two or three, and then the next time when they pretended not to see us stop as I collapsed to the rocky ground for another break as they kept hiking onward.

"I am not sure I am going to make it. I am dying."

Braden laughed, as I am not going to lie, I proclaim my death quite often. Then he saw my face. "Oh, seriously?"

I wasn't sure.






We sat there as I decided and drunk most of my water in the sliver of shade. I didn't even care as ants began to climb up my dirt covered Keds. I was not sure that I was going to make it. We could easily turn back right then, but then I took out my phone and took a photo of the trail before us. I took a photo of Braden's uneasy face that was now to be the face of determination as I stood up.

"Well, let's go."

"Yeah?"

I thought over my answer. I suddenly remembered the last time I went hiking almost two years ago in New Jersey on a camping trip with my first roommate, Allison. After watching a Yoga with Adriene video we adopted one of the mantras for that trip. I decided I needed to bring it back out.

"I accept."

We kept hiking. The trail got hotter and the path got smaller as we began to climb dirt and rocks smoothed over from many others doing this same climb. Soon I looked over the edge we stood walking on and could see nearly all of Provence it seemed like. With a laugh that sounded less and less like me gasping for air, I kept moving a new sort of spring in my step as we then saw the monastrary above us.

We were at least halfway there, if not more. We joked as we hiked and took moments to suck down the last bits of water we had as if we were in the desert. Before I knew it though, something happened all of a sudden.

I made it.



I climbed Mount Sainte Victoire.

So high I could almost touch the clouds, we sat on the edge of the cross where the couple was already there sitting and eating the bread they had somehow managed to lug.

"You made it!" They called.

Yeah, we made it.

I got to see the amazing view I'll never forget to prove it as Braden shared half of his peanut butter filled Clif bar that made our mouths dry from lack of water before heading back down each boulder and rock. We got lost on a separate trail on the way down and took the bus for an extra hour more than necessary, but the day we climbed Mt. Sainte Victoire was a day to be remembered.

To celebrate, for our first Aix meal out? Pasta and Provence Rose.



Amazing.

To be honest I may even climb that mountain again someday. Or maybe another. Is this am I a hiker now?

Maybe.

Someday.

Known as one of France's most beautiful towns, a group of buildings are nestled into the base of the mountain, a star to evoke Saint Mary hangs between the two. The star that currently hangs above the town was made in 1957. It is the eleventh star to put up, though in 1995 it had to be recovered in gold leaf after having a fall, but ultimately was put back up to look over Moustiers once again.

Moustiers, though I came to see the star and the gorgeous town, is also quite known for its china. Still they have potters that emulate the china with small patterns that you definitely want to spend some time looking at, and if the price alright to you, maybe take home a piece that seems to be from another century.

Imagine sitting down to that at the kitchen table.

Moutstiers is a lovely place I could only imagine the most beautiful of love stories to be told. Lovers could be walking down the narrow streets and kisses shared in all the little nooks and crannies this town has to offer.

There was a story here, I knew it, though I am still not sure what exactly it was. Maybe one day, it will come to me during another hazy summer day.


Within the town, we hiked up the rocky roads to where a small well was. Slipping water bottles out from bags everyone began to fill their bottles.

"Miracle water," one said.

It is true in a way. It is said that one should fill their bottle of water and drink it while hiking up the Moustiers' Notre Dame, a chapel high between the two mountains. Once one made it to the top to the chapel under the star, you were told to make a wish.


The day however was not over as I strained to wander and see all Moustier had to offer. Rushed from the beautiful town to the next event, I definitely recommend taking your time, or at least an hour or two to enjoy Moustiers.

Even if, like me, it was time to go to the beautiful lavender fields Provence dreams are made of.

While in Provence, even if you may not always be close to make a day trip to Greece to see the gorgeous waters, there are plenty of places to spend a day aside of the water and gasp at how blue they are. One place to this is to take a day trip to the Gorges Du Verdon. Pack a picnic basket, a hat, and be ready to get your toes wet to fully enjoy the gorges.


The whole day starting at the gorges was planned via Georges! While living in Aix-en-Provence for almost two months, I luckily got plenty of opportunities if I wanted to take weekend day trips with a local guide who hosted bus trips, Georges.

Throughout the summer weeks he made sure to offer trips from local to as far away as Monte Carlo for those to enjoy, trip usually also accompanied by information on the bus, usually spoken in French, so brush up on those French words if you are still learning as I am!

For about twenty euro the entire trip of seeing the gorges, Moustiers, and the lavender fields was taken care of. The bus left outside the Grand Hotel Roi Rene in the early morning. From Aix-en-Provence to the Lac de Sainte Croix, the trip is approximately two hours though it definitely felt shorter.


Though that may have been my excitement talking.

The Gorges du Verdon is a canyon that stretches over fifteen miles and about 2,000 feet deep. Set in south east France, north of Nice, the Verdon River flows through the gorge and into our beautiful and relaxing setting of the Lac de Sainte Croix.

Though the Gorges du Verdon is the deepest gorge in France, land the lake itself is the second largest, let's be honest and say that all these grand facts are not the exact reason to visit.



Crossing the bridge over the stunning aquamarine water that flows from the man made lake of Sainte-Croix, I am pretty sure that I have only seen such a color before in a Crayola box.




Then I was off for to the next stop of the day. To Moustiers-Sainte-Marie!

Though I didn't live like French royalty while I was there, I certainly enjoyed my time while in Versailles. After a train ride that I almost got lost on, I wandered around the corner through the city and I was there, staring into a building of patterned gold.

I also saw an already long forming line an hour before it opened, but that is besides the point. The luxury! The beauty! I spent my day wandering Versailles through each room before heading to the gardens. There, I spent even more time, letting myself be lost within the hedges of the most lovely landscape created, filled with flowers and fountains and of course, ice cream for when the sun got a little too warm.











After wandering hours and further breaking in my shoes I brought for the weekend, it was time to go back to my hostel to rest up for my final next day, but if you have an extra day while in Paris to travel out towards magnificent Versailles, I definitely suggest it. Be sure you get there early with time to walk and a full camera battery!

Out for the day with my creative writing class for another adventure that did not turn out to be "just getting a baguette in the park" my professors took us to Baux Castle. But that was not our first stop. No, our first stop was in Les Baux-de-Provence, and quite possibly the best art exhibition I have ever seen, or rather, been a part of.

Carrières de Lumières.





Previously the site of a quarry, this now cave like structure is home to a changing art exhibit that immerses viewers like myself and the rest of my class that had no idea previously what we were walking into.

First thought I had as I handed my ticket over and pushed past the curtain was that we were walking into a dark pitch black cave.

Then I saw the light. Many lights actually. A light show! Art.

Entitled, "Picasso and the Spanish Masters," artists such as Picasso, Goya, and Sorolla are presented over the walls of quarry's cave like structure of white limestone. This show continues to run from March 2, 2018 to 6 January 6, 2019. Plenty of time to make this art experience a must on your list when visiting Provence.




As we watched the show happen on a loop around us, we were free to wander around each wall, up each incline of stone in order to see every possible angle the works of art had in store.

Music played all around me as I watched, feeling the need to dance-- but don't worry, I did indeed restrain myself this time.


Never have I been so amazed by an art exhibition. By Picasso, even! who I had been seeing scattered all throughout Provence as a headliner to many art galleries this summer. The hour I had to spend wandering and simply standing still to see the art move to the music all around me, seemed to pass in seconds. When I walked out the only way I could describe the show was, amazing.

Because it was.

Amazing.

Out of this world. Worthy of a place among all art shows and galleries forevermore.

In Aix-en-Provence and need something to do? In the city of Aix, art and history surrounds you every day, and over the past few weeks that I have spent in Aix, I had been to quite a few of the museums Aix has to offer to get an even closer look at the art Provence was built on.

Here are a few of the amazing ones to visit through day, and may I suggest a picnic to relax in between at Pavillion Vendome?

Cezanne's Studio

For art enthusiasts and admirers, be sure to stop in for a quick visit to Cezanne's Studio where one can see all of his furniture, still life model of fruit featured in many paintings (including one in Musee Granet), and work tools, well preserved. For a guided tour, just be sure you go at time that speaks your preferred English or French.

Musee Granet

A public museum holding paintings and sculptures dating back to antiquity. It features paintings from Paul Cezanne, as well as paintings hosted for exhibition. While I was there this included a large section of Picasso. If I had to change anything of my time in the museum wandering through the paintings mainly on the bottom floor, it would be to spend some time with the marbles the group I was with wandered past on the way out. They looked lonely, and the one sculpture pointing at me was in need of an Instagram opportunity.

Musee du Viel Aix

Set in a historic summer home for a family who most likely lived up north long ago, this is now a museum of the city of Aix-en-Provence holding collections of antique prints, paintings, dolls, and document plans

Pavillon Vendome

A very short walk away from city center, Pavillon Vendome is situated in a French formal garden, stay off the grass, but do spend some time in the area to soak in the sun and beautiful greenery before heading into the grand house that looks like it could be out of Jane Austen. Inside the museum, the collection is mainly comprised of portraits and Provencal furniture as well as certain contemporary art exhibitions.



And though not a specific museum...

Watch out for Art Exhibition and Open Studios

Beautiful art is everywhere! Exhibitions throughout center city are prominently displayed usually for all to enjoy, and if you are looking for a little less commitment from walking through rows of oil panting, walk around the city of Aix instead. You are sure to come across a studio or art seller around each corner to admire.