Vaga-Blog - Volume II - Aix-en-Provence and Avignon
(June 20)

WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT MY FRENCH?

Up at the top of Oppede are an old church and ruins of a castle, so this morning my dad and I made the trek to the top to enjoy the views of the landscape. At the top were three backpackers who’d obviously made their home there overnight, and they seemed bothered by our intrusion.

After our hike we headed toward Aix, which has quickly become my favorite town in Provence. It’s a college town, so it’s very young – but there’s a funky artsy vibe that I really enjoy. The fountains are beautiful and the whole town just has an energy to it.

We had lunch at Les Deux Garcons, which all the tour books say is a mafia hangout. No mafia as far as my poorly-trained eye can see, though. I will say that the people-watching is extraordinary. My mom and I, as always, made up stories for people while my dad thinks we’re ridiculous.

On the way home, we stopped to buy wine from a woman at a tiny vineyard near Oppede. She doesn’t speak English, but she seems to understand my French pretty well. For some reason, she giggled throughout the whole transaction – at what, we have no idea. (I prefer to think it’s not my accent that’s tickling her funny bone, but I can’t be sure.)