My wife and I would like to travel from Belguim to Aix-en-Provence by train and then <BR>do a little walking in the countryside. Is <BR>this feasible? Any suggestions of where to <BR>walk,stay,etc. would be appreciated. We do <BR>not speak French.

It is feasible, and it's great ! I don't know it very well right now, my father moved there 2 years ago, but I came to the us since then. It's nice everywhere, aix-en-provence, avignon, but also look for the small villages -the smallest the greatest ! Go camping in cornillon-confoue, and see the village itself, it's very very nice. You can drive from there, even to marseilles. Mail me for more info.

We did the same thing at Christmas time, and hoped to walk from San Remy to Les Baux, but the weather was not conducive to walking...so we drove! I can't remember the name of the book we used to plan walks - but will look in my file at home and let you know. <BR>From Aix there are several walks "in the footsteps of Cezanne", and from Arles and St. Remy, "in the footsteps of Van Gogh". The hotels and tourist offices have info about these "artist's walks". We stayed in Aix at the Hotel des Quatre Dauphins and it was lovely. The smallest hotel in town (12 rooms), beautifully furnished and decorated, rooms with bath $69 double. Phone 04 42 38 16 39.

I also stayed at the Hotel des Quatre Dauphins two weeks ago and found it to be very nice. A room with two single beds and private bath was 403 FF per night, tax included. The desk clerks were friendly and helpful and spoke some English. The hotel is only a block or so from Cours Mirabeau. There was some work being done on the narrow street in front of the hotel (a trench dug in the road), but that didn't bother me. The work may already be completed, anyway. Other posters have recommended the Hotel Cardinal, which is near the Hotel des Quartre Dauphins and looked fine from the outside. Have a wonderful time in Aix! I loved it!

<BR>Although this won't help with hotels, I just received my May issue of Bon Appetit and the entire issue is devoted to Provence! The restaurnts, markets, shopping. Makes me want to go so badly (even though I just got back from Paris!)