Now that I’ve lived in Aix for the last 3, almost 3 and a half weeks, I think I’ve gotten the hang of things. I’ve figured out where the cheapest places to eat are (because I’m on a budget), where to go when you want to splurge, good places for picnics, which supermarket is the cheapest, which store has the prettiest post cards, and have scoped out more souvenir shops than I thought could be possible.
The crazy thing is that even after almost 3 and a half weeks of living in the same city and walking the same streets, it amazes me that IT NEVER GETS OLD. Every time I walk these same roads (or maybe different roads to spice it up, but I still have been on them before), I notice a new shop, something new in the window, understand a little more of someone’s conversation that I’m eavesdropping, or smelling a new smell. I love France. I can’t get enough of it.
There’s just this new kind of life I’m enjoying here – more freedom, I guess one could say. Growing up in rural east Tennessee, it’s hard to walk somewhere to do something. EVERYONE has a car. EVERYONE drives. That’s the only way to get ANYWHERE. Heck, the closest supermarket is 15 minutes away (and I’m lucky because I live on major roads that I can go fast on). Here, if you want food, you get up and you get you some food. Want Subway? There’s one not even a 10 minute walk from here (at a leisurely, mosey kind of walking pace). Need groceries? The closest Monoprix is 5-7 minutes walk from here. It’s great. It’s great because even though we don’t have bicycles or cars or scooters, all we have to do is walk a little bit to have something to do, eat, or see. There’s no excuse to be bored.
Surprisingly enough, I thought I would get tired of walking, due to my bad ankles and knees and extra weight I’m carrying around, but I haven’t. I’ve started losing weight (despite eating Pizza Capri more times than I can remember a week), and have been getting less winded when climbing the hills of Aix or the stairs at IAU. It’s pretty awesome.
All of this is great information to know, but why am I writing this blog post again? Oh yeah, to tell you about LIFE in Aix!
There’s tons to do, tons to see, tons to hear, tons to experience… So I’ve shot a few videos for you.
The crazy thing is that even after almost 3 and a half weeks of living in the same city and walking the same streets, it amazes me that IT NEVER GETS OLD. Every time I walk these same roads (or maybe different roads to spice it up, but I still have been on them before), I notice a new shop, something new in the window, understand a little more of someone’s conversation that I’m eavesdropping, or smelling a new smell. I love France. I can’t get enough of it.
There’s just this new kind of life I’m enjoying here – more freedom, I guess one could say. Growing up in rural east Tennessee, it’s hard to walk somewhere to do something. EVERYONE has a car. EVERYONE drives. That’s the only way to get ANYWHERE. Heck, the closest supermarket is 15 minutes away (and I’m lucky because I live on major roads that I can go fast on). Here, if you want food, you get up and you get you some food. Want Subway? There’s one not even a 10 minute walk from here (at a leisurely, mosey kind of walking pace). Need groceries? The closest Monoprix is 5-7 minutes walk from here. It’s great. It’s great because even though we don’t have bicycles or cars or scooters, all we have to do is walk a little bit to have something to do, eat, or see. There’s no excuse to be bored.
Surprisingly enough, I thought I would get tired of walking, due to my bad ankles and knees and extra weight I’m carrying around, but I haven’t. I’ve started losing weight (despite eating Pizza Capri more times than I can remember a week), and have been getting less winded when climbing the hills of Aix or the stairs at IAU. It’s pretty awesome.
All of this is great information to know, but why am I writing this blog post again? Oh yeah, to tell you about LIFE in Aix!
There’s tons to do, tons to see, tons to hear, tons to experience… So I’ve shot a few videos for you.
| |
I'll write a blog post later about some things you can do, places to shop, and places to eat in Aix, but for now, I'm going to take the time to explain that Aix is a city that loves to PARTAY. And by "partay"ing, I mean by putting on festivals. Since I arrived here almost a month ago (oh my goodness), there have been 2 festivals -- The First day of June festival (so from what I gather), and the fete de la musique, which happens EVERY YEAR, ALL OVER FRANCE, on the first day of summer. Luckily, I've had the pleasure to go to both of these, and they have blown my mind.
I wish where I lived had awesome festivals like these. It's a great way to enjoy the company of others and support things like the arts.
I wish where I lived had awesome festivals like these. It's a great way to enjoy the company of others and support things like the arts.
1st of June: Cirque in the City (hahaha)
The first night that Elisabeth and I arrived in Aix, our host mother brought us into the town for a giant festival that EVERYONE had been talking about. We met up with Elisabeth's friend from Wheaton, Isaac (who I wrote about in my blog about friends) and watched a parade come into the city. As jet lagged as we were, IT WAS AWESOME.
Giant ladies with huge dresses made out of pvc pipe (I would imagine) with lights, fabric, lace, and mounted on parade wheel things. It was interesting. There were floats with people in costumes, there was a lady with a whip that would attempt to whip the crowd to make way for the floats, there were fire wielders, there were crazy dancers, a band or two, and people playing random things for drums. It was awesome. I remember Isaac saying "I don't know where to look, it's just so much to take in. This is unlike anything I've ever seen!" That was exactly it. No matter where you looked, something was going on. Little did we know, there was also a group of drummers climbing up the Rotond (the fountain in the center of the city) to start the next part of the show, which would blow our minds....
Giant ladies with huge dresses made out of pvc pipe (I would imagine) with lights, fabric, lace, and mounted on parade wheel things. It was interesting. There were floats with people in costumes, there was a lady with a whip that would attempt to whip the crowd to make way for the floats, there were fire wielders, there were crazy dancers, a band or two, and people playing random things for drums. It was awesome. I remember Isaac saying "I don't know where to look, it's just so much to take in. This is unlike anything I've ever seen!" That was exactly it. No matter where you looked, something was going on. Little did we know, there was also a group of drummers climbing up the Rotond (the fountain in the center of the city) to start the next part of the show, which would blow our minds....
As the Rotond was lit up, the drummers started playing and whatnot, and we watched as 3 different bulldozers lifted up groups of performers (musicians, singers, and acrobats), just like a Cirque du Soeil show. It lasted for almost 2 hours.. It was crazy to see the people floating mysteriously over everyone's heads as the bulldozers moved the actors above us with ease. What if someone lost a shoe? What if the violinist dropped his bow? What if the acrobat fell? Nothing wrong happened. Finally at about midnight that night we retired to our house, content with our "first night in Aix". Definitely a first night that we'd remember.
Best of all.. it was free!
Here are some videos, of course:
Best of all.. it was free!
Here are some videos, of course:
| |
fete de la musique (the first day of summer)
Since we had just finished our final exams for the end of the first 3 week session, and since it was Sam's last night, we decided to go all out -- dress up (kinda), go out to a nice dinner, and PARTAY like true Aixians (is that what they call them?) for the fete de la musique. The picture to the left is a picture of our group at the wonderful Bistro Roman on the Cours Mirabeau, where we could watch people begin to flood the streets for the fete de la musique.
This festival literally begins at 5pm and lasts until 3am (if not later). The streets of Aix are filled with people, there are random stages around the city (each with a different type of music), and small local bands plotted throughout trying to make money and share their love of music with everyone else. Oh, and you can't forget the smoking and the drinking, of course there's that too, but let's not go there.
This festival literally begins at 5pm and lasts until 3am (if not later). The streets of Aix are filled with people, there are random stages around the city (each with a different type of music), and small local bands plotted throughout trying to make money and share their love of music with everyone else. Oh, and you can't forget the smoking and the drinking, of course there's that too, but let's not go there.
There were so many people!!!!
I was literally going to have a panic attack because there were so many people. I couldn't count the numerous times I had to hold onto the straps of Sam's backpack so I didn't get lost (curse you shortness), but we all managed to stay together. We also got to meet a couple of cool, very eccentric French guys who spoke pretty good English. They were nice enough to hold back crowds for us as they walked us back towards the Rotond. We finally left and went home at about 1am, and I was lulled to sleep by the hustle bustle of the city from my patio door being open for circulation.
I was literally going to have a panic attack because there were so many people. I couldn't count the numerous times I had to hold onto the straps of Sam's backpack so I didn't get lost (curse you shortness), but we all managed to stay together. We also got to meet a couple of cool, very eccentric French guys who spoke pretty good English. They were nice enough to hold back crowds for us as they walked us back towards the Rotond. We finally left and went home at about 1am, and I was lulled to sleep by the hustle bustle of the city from my patio door being open for circulation.
Here's some videos from the festival:
| |