Count me as one who likes aix, and like your mother, like the Calissons. they are diamond shaped with a white sugery covering. The moss fountains are wonderful. There's an excellent resto there, Closerie des Violets.

P.S. I recommend two books that are set in Aix
Both by MFK Fisher
Two Towns in Provence
The Boss Dog

Enjoying this very much. I looked at the photos first in this last section and said "darn, that looks like the Acquabella" and it was. Hub and I loved that hotel and that part of Aix. I think the pool is warmed by thermal springs. It was a delight to go swimming after a day of site seeing!

I'm a big fan of Aix. Did you use the nearby parking garage?

TDudette - yes we used the nearby garage - a harrowing experience, and tomorrow we plan to take the car out...

Cigalechanta - thank you for the book recs!

CaliNurse - don't worry, they still have teeny bikinis on under the robe...personally I wish I could swim in my robe after all I've been eating.

Question for anyone who might know - we were planning to go to Cassis tomorrow - walk around, take a boat ride - its the last day we can do it - but its supposed to be cloudy and maybe rainy - is it not worth it??

I really am craving seeing the Mediterranean....so we may just go anyway

We very much liked Cassis. So much that we decided to stay a night there but could not find a room. Take a boat trip to see the Calanques. I don't know about being there in the rain though.

I agree - Cassis is amazing. Unique. Delicious. Not the Riveria that "everyone" goes to.

Congratulations, by the way, on a WONDERFUL trip!

re Cassis--GO!! What's al ittle rain? think how lovelly that will be in its own way..and the beach will be quieter/

Just woke up and its overcast with no rain yet...personally I prefer less sun as I burn easily! Any particular restaurant in cassis we must try for lunch?

Think I got to this too late. Cassis is a sweet town and I hope you can visit it. The calanque boat trip was interesting but, for me anyway, not on the must must do. What did you end up doing?

How was the parking garage hair raising? Is it a public one or attached to the hotel?

sharbear84 thanks for posting. We just returned from Paris and the Luberon where we stayed with Kevin & Elisabeth at Le Mas Perreal. We loved their place. We stayed on the bottom floor and had a semi-private patio area. Didn't you love the silence after all the activity of Paris?

I am impressed that you can post while on your trip. I had every intention of doing the same thing but I just couldn't get the time. Now that I am back I still have every intention of posting a trip report and pictures...but...work and life just keeps getting in the way.

Thanks again. We visited many of the same places as you so I am living it all over again.

DaveMM

Looking forward to your report, too, DaveMM. I remember when your were in the planning stage and can't believe you're back already. Time is flying. We leave in one week!

sap our time in France was the trip of a lifetime that we hoped for. I am sure yours will be too.

DaveMM

TDudette - the spots in the garage are super narrow and the first time we went in we didn't realize there were other levels so we tried to squeeze our car in the last tiny tiny spot...but then we found another spot and it was all ok. Its a public garage but also the one for hotel guests, not attached but right by the hotel.

DaveMM - sounds like we JUST missed seeing you! We were on the bottom floor but our patio was not private at all, I think I know the room you had, but we chose ours for the big soaking tub. Can't wait to see your report when you have time!

Sap - I'm jealous, I don't want to go back home...

I will post report on Cassis soon - we had a lovely day!

Link to my latest post, sorry to send you to the blog, but it's got too many photos to make sense otherwise: http://eatdreamtravel.blogspot.com/2...lythe-sea.html

p.s. Anyone want to help me - were staying our last night in a hotel in the 12th Arr. near metro lines 6 and 8 - where should we eat our last dinner??? I still haven't had steak frites actually...

and more photos of Aix: http://eatdreamtravel.blogspot.com/2...re-on-aix.html

Great report! I love your photos! And I will be doing a very similar trip to yours in September, also ending in Cassis

What did you think about Wine Uncovered.... would you recommend it? Or do you think you could tour the wineries on your own without a guide?

Bicky2 - We really enjoyed our time with Wine Uncovered, and maybe even wished we did more than half a day. I often find that wine tours can tell you a lot of very general information that you already know - we've been to Napa and Sonoma, as well as other wine areas - and we learned more about wine in a few hours with Olivier than in all those other trips. He's also just very entertaining and easy to listen to. I highly recommend. I think we would have been too intimidated to go to many tasting rooms on our own, because our French is not very good - but perhaps if your French is better you could, and I think some places do tours in French as well.

Super photos. Do you remember Julia's first word? "Butter!" The food looked great.

I only remember having to ask for the check. We were in Aix in March-maybe they do that when it gets busier?

More TR, please!