Aix-en-Provence

Friday

Another lazy start. Checked out around 10, and navigated on to the motorway and off past Cannes to Aix, feeding about €20 into the toll gates as we went.  Arrived around lunchtime.  Parking was impossible on the roads - incredibly narrow.  In frustration we parked up the hill about a kilometre out of town and walked in.  Nice old town, but busy and noisy, especially with students, so it really wasn't a relaxed reflection on the character of the town.  Bought deluxe burgers and sat on benches outside in the square eating them.  Ashley thought they were great.  Wandered around the lanes and shops for a few hours, passing the inevitable Christmas market.  Had a pantomime trying to explain to a barber that I wanted a beard trim, but eventually succeeded.  When it got cooler we walked back up the hill, and tried coaxing the GPS into taking is out to the chateau.  Apart from one wrong turn up the freeway we got close as the GPS could get us, then tried to book into a nursing home by mistake.  Then walked into a family's home by mistake.  Luckily the owner was fairly forgiving.  Lovely chateaux, but we were the only people in, and reception told us they would be back at 9 a.m. to check us out.  Spent the evening with TV in the room, and talked to Mandy on Skype as she was about to leave.