The very word Provence stimulates my prefrontal cortex, which in turn creates a response causing my heart to beat faster and my eyes to twitch, just a bit. Provence is one of those dream locations that many of us dream about. Visions of vast fields of lavender, warm afternoons and delicious food fills our imaginations. That’s the emotional travel baggage I had when I first visited the southern French town Aix-en-Provence and while it doesn’t necessarily live up to those lofty expectations, it is a lovely place to experience a more laid back style of living.
Unless I missed it, there’s not one single attraction that brings tourists to town, instead the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The broad, leafy pedestrian zones, the countless and artistic fountains and the laid back vibe is what I remember most about being in Aix. Things moved at a slower, more Mediterranean pace and I saw more smiles than I did while touring through any other French city. I quickly succumbed to this lifestyle, and within hours found myself sipping a glass of cold, white wine at an outdoor cafe doing nothing more than watching the world walk by.
I didn’t spend a lot of time in Aix-en-Provence, which still saddens me a bit, but the dream of one day returning instantly puts a smile on my face. Here is a look at my walk through town and I think you’ll understand why I feel so drawn to this dreamy city.
