It's a long way getting to the other side of the world - fortunately the gods transpired in my favour for both flights - the plane from Auckland to Dubai was only half full so having worked miracles to get an exit row seat, I abandoned it for four middle seats all to myself. For those who don't fly, this means that I got to lie down and sleep for nearly 6 hours!! Then from Dubai to Nice, the plane was even emptier - no slow learner, I quickly abandoned my window seat and claimed the middle row of for seats again - more sleep.
It occurred to me as I sat eating an apple pastry and drinking a flat white in the Dubai Airport (you have to do those things to get a seat - alternative is to join the masses who just walk up and down, up and down, like some sort of coventry. (The other trick at the Dubai Airport is to find a toilet block without a queue snaking out the door - so many of the toilets are closed, and it is premium real estate!). Anyway, it occurred to me that I hadn't brought the details of the hotel I had booked in Aix En Provence - I vaguely recall my travel agent suggesting a pick up at the airport - didn't know if this was wishful thinking or a likelihood. Anyway, I didn't find a smiling person with my name on a whiteboard, booked a bus to Aix En Provence (three hours people watching and then two hours dozing on bus) worked out which town to get off in, and then stood there bewildered with an ampule on my foot (shoes that have been your best friends in other climates can suddenly turn on you..).
Google maps told me it would be a 14 minute drive which didn't seem an attractive option..
Anyway, here I am in Hotel Globe. Smallest bathroom in the world.
Aix En Provence was in it's heyday circa 1600s. An academic university town, birthplace of Cezanne, home of beautiful ochre coloured buildings with light blue or white shutters, tiny curved alleys which draw you further into the maze of the old city, even though your body is screaming that it should be in bed.
After stepping in my second lot of dog shit, I decided that alcohol and a salad could compensate - and it did. First night sitting in a French cafe alone under my belt - easy to do as long as you take a table in a corner somewhere. (This sitting in a cafe alone was should be done by everyone, it builds resilience!).
Ok, adding photos needs refining - its nine in the morning now, heading out to explore!
It occurred to me as I sat eating an apple pastry and drinking a flat white in the Dubai Airport (you have to do those things to get a seat - alternative is to join the masses who just walk up and down, up and down, like some sort of coventry. (The other trick at the Dubai Airport is to find a toilet block without a queue snaking out the door - so many of the toilets are closed, and it is premium real estate!). Anyway, it occurred to me that I hadn't brought the details of the hotel I had booked in Aix En Provence - I vaguely recall my travel agent suggesting a pick up at the airport - didn't know if this was wishful thinking or a likelihood. Anyway, I didn't find a smiling person with my name on a whiteboard, booked a bus to Aix En Provence (three hours people watching and then two hours dozing on bus) worked out which town to get off in, and then stood there bewildered with an ampule on my foot (shoes that have been your best friends in other climates can suddenly turn on you..).
Google maps told me it would be a 14 minute drive which didn't seem an attractive option..
Anyway, here I am in Hotel Globe. Smallest bathroom in the world.
Aix En Provence was in it's heyday circa 1600s. An academic university town, birthplace of Cezanne, home of beautiful ochre coloured buildings with light blue or white shutters, tiny curved alleys which draw you further into the maze of the old city, even though your body is screaming that it should be in bed.
After stepping in my second lot of dog shit, I decided that alcohol and a salad could compensate - and it did. First night sitting in a French cafe alone under my belt - easy to do as long as you take a table in a corner somewhere. (This sitting in a cafe alone was should be done by everyone, it builds resilience!).
Ok, adding photos needs refining - its nine in the morning now, heading out to explore!
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