Aix-en-my arse

It has rained the past week, with the exception of Saturday.  So we have not done much to report on... I spend all my time doing laundry (new level of appreciation for my dryer), going to the grocery store (no end of entertainment there) and killing the flies.  I hate driving the Hamster Car and diesel is way more expensive than wine, so it's just best if we stay home and fight over the eeePad.

While we drove back from the Mediterranean, we stopped in Aix-en-Provence.  Aix-en-Provence has been on my bucket list for decades.  So we hit the road and an hour later we were in Aix.  Let me try not to get too graphic, but my stomach was in pain the entire morning.  Then we got to Aix.  Nothing says, "Dear Happy Valley Gurl, I hate you. Love, Provence," like not ONE, but TWO pay toilets "out of order."  French My Life.  My entire GI was under attack from the passing Gauls, Romans and Aragons.  Kid you not.

I ran into a cafe, and begged for the WC.  The rest of my family were on a little train (these are all over France), for a 40 minute tour of Aix.  Cezanne, old achitecture, etc.  When they returned, I just wanted to leave.  But we stopped for a quick bite, there in the square.  We ordered crepes and super expensive bottled water.  OY vey.

We sat outside.  Did I mention the smoking?  It feels like all of France love to smoke, non-stop.  Or rather, they all do it a little bit, but in turn, so there seems to be no end to it.  As I sat there watching SpecK enjoy her crepe, all of the sudden she stopped.  Big fat crocodile tears rolled down her face and I asked her what the problem is.  "It's the smoke Mommy," she quietly sobbed out.  I picked up her plate and expensive bottle of water off the table and moved to another table on the other side of the person smoking.  He was there first; we had already moved twice, so we'll just get upwind.  There was no escaping it.  SpecK finished eating, and I said, "Let's go.  I'm outta here."  But there is this...

Aix is a beautiful place to visit.  I walked for a bit while I waited for the family.   I saw giant tour buses with tons of people show up.  And that was enough for me.

By the way, my stomach hurt the rest of the day.  Total bummer.