I'll always keep coming back to Aix, no matter how long it's been. This little town not far from Marseille in the south is my favorite Provençal part of France. It's not only where Paul Cézanne was born and painted for many years, but it's also known as the city of a thousand fountains and has 300 days of sunshine every year. It's the perfect escape from the colder weather up north in Paris this time of year.
The winding streets filled with little shops, restaurants, and churches lead to beautiful squares where you can admire the Baroque style architecture. From the Cours Mirabeau boulevard to the tiny alleys and streets it's easy to wander around this city all day. There are markets everyday where the Aixois locals do their daily shopping and you can find all sort of Provençal specialties.
Aix is a University town with several schools, including the Institute for American Universities where I studied abroad during the summer of 2017. It was one of the best summers I've had and I've been wanting to return ever since. I felt very nostalgic being back and staying with my previous host family, but it was nice to know my way around this time. I recognized a lot of the familiar streets and buildings and felt like I was back in time during that summer, despite the slightly chillier weather.
Aix is a place that's hard to forget because of its quintessential charm and friendly people. While I was there I was able to catch up with old professors of mine and friends from when I was there not that long ago. It's hard to explain all that Aix means to me, but I know it won't be long before I'm back again to discover more of what makes it so special.
