We spent the afternoon on Cours Mirabeau which is called the most beautiful street in Aix. It’s been one of the city’s focal points since the 12th century. It’s the main boulevard and the heart of the town. We started our walk at La Rontonde fountain.
Okay, imagine if the women at the top had heads. Which they do. La Rotonde is the most iconic of all of Aix’s fountains and the largest and most centrally located at one end of Cours Mirabeau. It’s a most impressive fountain.This mossy fountain is the Fontaine Moussue. The moss lends it a really nice texture. And we liked the little water spritzers at the top.Is it technically still a fountain if no water is coming out? Well there’s water down below so I’m going to count it.Okay let’s see here: 1,000 minus 4 today minus 2 on Monday leaves 994 fountains to go. Whew!This statue is a memorial to 1.5 million victims of the Turkish Armenian massacure.We took this little bus on a tour of the area and it was so much fun. It carried 6 passengers and I got to sit up front with the driver. It goes on the cars-free Cours Mirabeaui street and down little alleys and narrow streets. There are little posts in the middle of the street and she just zaps them with her transponder and away we go. And she stops just short of running over penestrians before ringing her little bell and then smiles and calls sweetly, “merci!” It wasn’t a tour bus but more like a little local bus. People flagged it down and got off and on. If she had space, she picked them up, if not she smiled, said a couple of sweet words in French (everything sounds sweet in French), and left them standing there for the next bus. It was hair-raising and heart-warming all at the same time.This is one of the many narrow little streets we went down in our little bus.Among other things, the wisteria is blooming right now and it’s gorgeous. We passed this house in our little bus.Love these little chefs standing in the upper balconies above a restaurant.Les Deux Garcons, a popular brasserie, has been a prominent place for artists and intellectials like Paul Cezanne and Emile Zola since 1792. This fascinating restaurant has 3 large trees growing out of it’s patio!Now a few more “Doors for Denise.” Another one of those with unfinished statues and don’t they look really put out over it!I thought the coins at the top were a nice touch.Now how cool is this! Attractive and functional!Interesting “wall dividers” to frame the borders of this cafe.
A Berchard chocolate store (not to be confused with a Puyricard store) that has those Calissons that Aix is famous for.
And lots of yuumy Easter chocolate items this time of year.
We stopped at a mostly-produce market close to the house we’re staying in and they had fascinating items, not the least of which were their ribbed tomatoes. I’ll get more pictures and prices soon but for now I noticed that avocadoes were inexpensive (1 Euro or $1.12 for small ripe ones and 2.2 Euros (about $2.50) for bigger ones, cheaper than at home. But their multi-colored rhubard was 9.8 Euros/kg ($10.88), which seemed a little high.
WOW!….one gorgeous picture after another and not one had anything imperfect in it….that’s France for ya!……..LOVED the house with all the wisteria…..ooh la la!
The little bus was cute. And thank you for the doors, they are great and so artistic. I sure hope you get to see all 1000 of those fountains. š. They are all unique and interesting. Iām not seeing near as many balconies as we saw in Paris, is that the case? Loving this blog. Wish I was there.
Provence Journey 
WOW!….one gorgeous picture after another and not one had anything imperfect in it….that’s France for ya!……..LOVED the house with all the wisteria…..ooh la la!
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The little bus was cute. And thank you for the doors, they are great and so artistic. I sure hope you get to see all 1000 of those fountains. š. They are all unique and interesting. Iām not seeing near as many balconies as we saw in Paris, is that the case? Loving this blog. Wish I was there.
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Forgot to mention the wisteria – lovely. And the tomatoes made my mouth water. Have you tried any of the produce from the open markets?
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“Imagine if the women on the top had heads.” pretty funny! Looks like a storm was brewing. Did it pass?
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