Aix-en-Provence is different

I have only been here for a few days, but I can tell that this city will have my heart forever. There is something in the air here that make you fall in love. its special, unlike paris where every one is there to see all of the big huge famous monuments that are so beautiful, Aix is real. Its real and less americanized, and you would be crazy to not enjoy your time here as all of your senses are flooded with some type of magical input. 

Due to the fact that there are so many people here, and I stick out because I am American, it can be easy sometimes to walk down the street with out looking at any one or taking in my surroundings, especially since I live in the heart of the most important area. The street we live on looks like a movie set, something right out of hollywood, but its real, people live here, all the time, I wonder if they realize. 

A look down our street

City hall right next door

When you open your eyes, and slow down your stride, you can see the millions of details, were the old city was build, where new city starts. You can see the small figurines on the corners that watch over the city and are just stunning, and the detail on the walls that are so beautiful but you would never notice unless you opened your eyes.

One of the saints that watch over the city

Almost every door (not ours) is decorated beautifully, with statues next to it, or stone, something, no two are the same.

One of many Beautiful doors

Aix-en-Provence became a city because it was where they found water. All over the city there are fountains that you can drink out of representing the origins of the city. Some of the fountains are ugly some are beautiful, some have moss on them, some are on the ground, some have ancient roman pillars on them, each fountain is unique.

A smaller fountain

Le Rontonde, The main fountain in  Aix

 Aix is also well known for its different markets, there are so many every where every morning selling anything you can think of, most of it is just cool to look at,such as old clothes and books, and little trinkets that have no use but look very cool. The produce from the market is delicious, and grown locally. Th flowers are breathtaking. I never realized how many different flowers there were in this world, and the ones that grow here are stunning.

Although somethings are so new and so foreign, some things remind me of home. The main "new" streets are lines with trees that are relatives of the Sycamore tree, which used to be in front of my house, but still lines the street where I grew up. The TV is full of american shows, that have french voice overs. When I pass by the bars there are groups of men yelling at the TV over sports games. and even the birds here are just as brave as in NYC, they wont move for anything.

A Sycamore tree on the main street "Cours Mirabeau"

A market on Cours Mirabeau

There are silly things too, just today a few doors down there was a giant plush goat hanging out on someone’s balcony, I have no idea if it has been there the whole time or not because my eyes weren’t open, at least it feels like they haven’t been.

The entry way to my classroom

A tunnel through Aix

The Aix Cathedral

These are located every where Cezanne did something important

The oldest wall in Aix (people live in there)

Not only are there views, there is history. Aix is the oldest roman city in france, so I hope to learn even more about the ins and outs of the historical moments. Todays fun fact was finding our that our schools main building is located right next to the building where Cezanne studied law.

Every nook and craney of this city has something special, a scent, a view, something to watch. As I start to open my eyes and experience the city for its genuineness and beauty, Aix-en-provence will become even more alive, and I will fall even more in love.