Today I'll try to show you round my town, Aix-en-Provence...
Aix is a wonderful city in the south-east of France, near Marseille, in the "Bouches-du-Rhône"; the weather there makes it europeean, american, even japanese people's favourite holidays destination in France...
A large part of inhabitants is student, so Aix is a young and dynamic town, always lively, winter as summer! 130000 inhabitants... among which 40000 students!! Many of them are strangers, they come from everywhere, England of course but also Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Russia, Italy, Romania, Poland... That makes Aix a cosmopolitan town, where to meet new persons is really easy and pleasant.
Aix is known for its great culture too! If knowledge interests you more than parties and Swedish girls (or guys!), no problem, Aix is your place too! Many things to do there. First, of course, "le Cours Mirabeau"! The principal street in Aix, with its typical planes, is lined on the left by banks and cinemas, on the right by brasseries where you'll can take "teatime" watching "aixoise"'s life! Le cours Mirabeau just finished to be on engeneering, and now traffic is decreased. It's more pleasant!
At the top of Cours Mirabeau, you'll can look up to "la Rotonde", a great superb fountain, heart of the town!
The center of the town is quite small, pedestrian precinct, really beautiful, typical of Provence. There you'll can go for a walk and visit all the shops; many of them are expensive ("Fauchon", "Agnès B.", etc...), but you're not forced to buy, huh! Some little streets drive you to nice fountains, as "les Quatre Dauphins", etc... You can too visit parks, as "parc Rambot", "parc Jourdan", on Spring many students come there to read, or simply to discuss, they leave their shoes and get a sunbathe on lawn... Do you prefer museums? Aix is the town of Cezanne, great painter, of Milhaud, great composer... A lot of little museums are in center town and you can look up to them for free. Some other ones are further, but many bus will drive you to.
Ok! Now you've got to find a place to stay. Hotels in Aix are quite expensive. I worked in two of them, service and cuisine, rooms and hygiene are perfect, but directors know how find a good place is hard for a turist, so prices are perfect too, but perfect for them! If you don't want to pay a lot for sleeping, and if you prefer keep your money in order to come out in pubs, I suggest you (if you have a car) to sejourn out of the city, where you'll find cheaper hotels.
So, you walked in center town, you searched a place to stay... Now you're hungry! No problem. Many restaurants in Aix are wonderful, and you'll can taste all provencal courses, from fish ("bouillabaisse", "paupillettes"...) to salads ("salade niçoise", "chèvre chaud" with goat cheese...)! Cuisine in Provence is excellent, and really varied. A street in center town, "rue de la Verrerie", abound in nice restaurants, provencal, but also asian and moroccan (but you're in France, so first taste OUR cuisine!!). Find a cheap one is possible. My favourite ones are "la Vigne" (provencal, cheese, large choice of wines), "le Comté d'Aix" (traditionnal, very romantic ;)), "le Tire-bouchon" (same)...
You have now eaten, you have visited all center town... but I hope you're not tired, cos one of the specialities in Aix is... Parties!!
As you now know, Aix abound in students and young people. That's why it abound too in pubs and night-clubs! You could go in one of the typical french cafes on the Cours Mirabeau (they're quite expensive); but here students prefer come out to one of the many pubs! There, people frequently speak english (because of students from all Europe), as the name of the pubs shows it... "Red Clover", "O'Sullivan's", "O'Neill's", "Quenn's Head", and many more... There beer is awesome and quite cheap, and pretty girls (and guys!) are numerous! The whole student's life favourite one is "Bistrot Aixois", wonderful place, but french Mafia made it burn a few weeks ago... I'm so sad! Night-clubs in Aix are "le Richelm", "le Mistral" for the center town, but I prefer go to further ones like "Key Night", where music is better! No matter you'll find your one, maybe on Marseille, why not, this big town is just 30 minutes from Aix by car...
So, if you want to have great food, great weather, museums or even if you prefer parties, Aix is your place!
You can come in by highway, or nearest airport is Marseille.
Just come and see!
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