aixcentric

Some good news for Aix-based shoppers in that the new Monoprix will be opening early June.  It will be in the building behind the palais de Justice which has been empty for over 2 years since Décathalon left.  I always thought it was a shame they went as it was very handy to have a sports-supplies shop in centre-ville but they seem to be going down the route of having enormous out-of-town stores.

The new Monoprix will be a ‘magasin de proximité’ which seems to imply no clothes, will spread over 3 floors and be one of the 5 biggest shops in centre-ville.  There will be a ramp and lift for disabled access.  The town gave them the green light on two conditions – no activity after 22:00 and deliveries by small, minimally-polluting vehicles.

Also in early June, the Carnaval!  It was postponed in April and this year will not be the usual locally-organised parade but a fantastic display by a professional street-arts company, Transe Express.  Three parades through the town will culminate in a big concert at the Rotonde – details here:  http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-news-carnaval.htm

Now to Marseille where the very popular J1 gallery’s opening has been extended until 26th May – they have had over 150,000 visitors so far.  After the summer heat (there’s no AC in the building), it will reopen on 11th October with a Le Corbusier exhibition.  In other good news, the ferry boat César will resume service on Monday afternoon.  There has been a crossing from the place aux Huiles to the Hotel de Ville since the 19th century and César has been operating since 1953.  It was replaced by a very swish solar-powered boat but this was badly damaged by a fire on a nearby vessel. César meanwhile was being renovated at a cost of 500,000€ and will be carrying up to 45 passengers every day, 9:30-20:30.

Now to a much older boat – 2000 years older in fact – the Roman chaland which was rescued from layers of  debris and mud on the bed of the Rhone.  Apparently work is going well at the workshop in Grenoble where a 2-year process of drying out the wood has been taking place.  Now the 3m chunks of boat are being re-assembled in work likened to putting together Ikea furniture with no instructions.  ‘On tatonne,‘ explained the restorers.  A special base is being made that visitors won’t see but will be vital to ensure the safety of the boat which will be unique in France.  All on course then for showing in Arles in October.

And finally…why not visit Ansouis this weekend if you want a trip out of town?  The British owners of the lovely Chateau Saint Esteve de Neri are having a tasting of their 2012 bio wines, accompanied by a grand buffet Provencal. Details here: winetasting. Afterwards I can thoroughly recommend a trip to L’Art Glacier, a rather special ice-cream restaurant tucked away on a hillside between Ansouis and Tour d’Aigues.  They have a very large terrace with superb views of the countryside to enjoy while tucking into beautifully decorated ices and sorbets of all possible flavours.  As the French say, Miam Miam!http://www.artglacier.com/