In my last blog, I described our transit and our living quarters, in this one I’ll relate my first impressions of the city of Aix, where we are living. It is old. It’s even older than my third-grade teacher, and I remember that she was really old. A lot of things in the area were built by the Romans. They must have been a huge family, because they built a lot of stuff. But they don’t live here anymore.

The people in Aix love to sit outside on the wide sidewalk in the middle of town and drink coffee at little round tables. Karin and I are quite good at it. She had to teach me the proper procedure. When I ordered my first cup I was disappointed that the cup was only the size of a shot glass. Then Karin explained that it was OK to sit there for an hour and chat, while you sipped the coffee. That didn’t make any sense to me when I looked at the tiny vessel in front of me. I took one sip from it and realized that it would take at least an hour for me to finish it.
We visited the bookstore where Karin will be having her book signing party and it is very nice. It’s called, “Book and Bar”. It is a large bookstore with a snack bar inside. It’s like being in a library where the librarian doesn’t come over and tell you, “You can’t eat in here.” We’re looking forward to the event.

Wanting to see more of the country we took a tour to five mountain villages. We walked the mile into town and were picked up in a van. It was an all-day tour and we had a good time. We spent an hour in each village walking around and it was about a half hour drive between them. We had an ice-cream cone in one, some egg rolls in another, a sandwich for lunch in one, and a beer and some other drink in another. We shared the van with a couple from Spain, and a woman from Germany, and enjoyed their company. It was a long day and when we were dropped off in Aix we still had a mile to walk up hill to get home. By the time we climbed the stairs, to our third story palace, and I carried my walker up the stairs from hell, we were totally drained, but still happy campers. It was another good day.

Karin had her book signing event at the Book and Bar, and had 50 people show up. Standing room only and there still wasn’t enough room for everyone. Very successful. After the book signing we had a party at one of her friend’s house for about 12 people. Another good time.

With my walker, I can walk all day and keep up with Karin, I just park it next to the motorcycles. It was too short for me though, and I was bent over a lot to use it. Before the trip, I priced a tall one at home and it was $225. I didn’t want to spend the money at that time, and I wasn’t using it that much at home, so put it off. In France we walk two to four miles every day, and medical things are cheaper, Karin knew where they sold walkers. We priced one that was a better design than mine, and it was only $80.  I bought it on the spot and left them my old one to give to someone.

We’re off to more adventures, wish us luck……….Hooyah!

On the 11^th of April I boarded a plane for Philadelphia, sat there for four hours then boarded a plane for Madrid, Spain, was there for one and a half hours, then boarded a plane for Marseilles, France, where I caught a bus for the city of Aix. There I was picked up by a friend in a car and delivered to the apartment I was going to live in for the next three weeks.   We took off at 6am on Monday and arrived at our destination at 1pm on Tuesday.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I was traveling with my very special lady friend, Karin, it would have been a drag, but we worked at making it fun. We were both beyond tired when we arrived. When I woke up in the morning I was confused for a few seconds when I didn’t instantly recognize where I was. Then it hit me, thus the title of this blog.

The apartment we are renting for three weeks is worth a description. First, it is small, under 400 sq. ft., and old. I’m not sure how old but I think I found where Napoleon scratched his name in the cement foundation. We live on the third floor and there is no elevator, but there is a narrow winding cement stare case for us to climb up.  It makes every trip out of the apartment a true adventure, especial when the hand rail just comes loos in your hand when you are on the way down with a walker that is too wide for the passage and must be carried folded and sideways.

The bath room is too small to call a room.  I counted the tiles in the floor – there are 30. Each one is six inches’ square which is a total of about 8 sq. ft.  In this “room” we have a shower, a wash basin, and yes, even a toilet. They all fit just fine. It’s only when we add a human body that it gets a bit cramped. Oh yes, I almost forgot, the medicine cabinet is located directly over the toilet so if anything should fall out of it like your tooth brush, it won’t get lost.  You must also close the window in the living/dining room to open the bath room door. It’s good coordination training.

The bedroom is fine and the bed is a comfortable one. It is queen size and has enough room on either side that you can stand up and if you stay facing the wall, can walk sideways out to the end where you can walk out the door facing forward.

There are two folding chairs at the three-foot square table where we eat our gourmet French food. Thanks to Karin we are eating very well, I even get to have my oatmeal every morning, which is my meal of choice.

We have two work stations, Karin’s is on the table, after we get the dishes off it, and mine is on the small coffee table by the couch. It has proved to be quite adequate.

We’re happy campers and having fun-filled adventure. I have started a short story to add to my “Steel“ mystery series. And the best part, Karin is happily putting up with me.