Wandering the Streets of Aix (Part 1) ✨

This 22-day journey (June 5–27, 2025) began in Marseille, where I spent the first four days exploring the heart of Provence. Phase 1: Marseille & Beyond 🚗 Road Trip Highlights: Flew Shanghai → Marseille, stayed 3 nights. Rented a car at Marseille Provence Airport and hit the road! Manosque → Le Mont d’Or → Lavender fields → L’Occitane Factory/Museum → Valensole (hello, purple seas!) → Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (the charming "Ceramics Village") → Verdon Gorge & Sainte-Croix Lake (turquoise paradise!). Back in Marseille: Visited Notre-Dame de la Garde for sunset, explored Vieux Port, MuCEM (Mediterranean Civilizations Museum), and the historic Le Panier district. 🚤 Day Trip to Cassis: Took the first Calanques boat tour—those cliffs! ⛵ Drove up Cap Canaille for epic Mediterranean views. Detoured to La Ciotat and Parc du Mugel (got a call, had to rush back to Marseille to pick up a friend!). 🚙 Marseille → Aix-en-Provence Strolled Aix’s Old Town—narrow lanes, fountains, and that unmistakable Provençal charm. June 9 (Mon): Visited Cézanne’s Studio, then checked into a cozy farmhouse near Lourmarin. 🌿 June 10 (Tue) – The Perfect Provence Day Lourmarin: Camus’ former home & grave (for the literary souls). Marchal_artiste peintre – A gallery with serious vibes. Roussillon (the "Red Village") → Gordes (postcard-perfect) → Sénanque Abbey (lavender fields!) → Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (the spring-fed jewel). Ended the day in Avignon. June 11 (Wed) – Roman Heritage & Surprises Orange: Ancient Theatre & Triumphal Arch (time travel, anyone?). Back in Avignon: Stumbled upon street performances, shopped for local treats. Quick dash to Nîmes: Saw the Arena and Maison Carrée, but skipped the Pont du Gard (light was fading—next time!). Returned to Avignon for a homemade dinner at the Airbnb. 🍷 #LostInProvence #Wanderlust #AixEnProvence #FrenchRiviera #SlowTravel