How pretty the Rotonde looks this Christmas! Wandering through Aix last evening was just enchanting – the lights down the cours Mirabeau are fabulous and it was so good to see so many families out enjoying the seasonal ambiance.
The Groupe F show at the Grand Theatre lit up the sky with golden fireworks, lasers, stunning catherine wheels and huge bursts of fire – all to the sound of techno – for 30 incredible minutes.
The market is drawing the crowds as usual:
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Families thronging the cours Mirabeau
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Choosing santons to add to the creche
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Always popular – the chalet selling hot wine!
I was sorry to see that the magic guy isn’t here this year – he was the one who had a chalet where he did card tricks and really drew the crowds. I have read that he applied for his usual pitch and didn’t get it. There’s now a Facebook page protesting about this decision. My French isn’t great so I missed the nuances of this – does anyone know what happened?
In parallel with the festivities is the annual Phot’Aix: it’s a trail around 28 in-town locations to see the work of 47 photographers. This year the theme is ‘Regards Croisés Mediterranée’.
The Musée de Tapisseries is a good starting point. It’s 3.50€ to see several of the series of pictures by various Mediterranean-based photographers. There, you can pick up a map of locations which take in art-galleries and book-stores around town where you can see more photos.
The gentleman (I think) in the poster, with a great deal of fruit on his hat, is the work of Chaza Charafeddine who explores the questions of ‘genre, pop art and Islamic art’ too. Interesting! Here is the website for more info http://www.fontaine-obscure.com/pages/photaix_RC.htm which has a map of venues and also details of a photo competition if you think you can do better!
And finally, today, with families arriving to admire the Christmas markets and lights….
the town toilet is ‘en panne’. You really couldn’t make it up!
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2-25th January Collection of used Christmas trees – ‘Collecte des sapins 2014”; details here: http://www.aixenprovence.fr/Collecte-des-sapins
5th January: Last date for the children’s roundabouts at the Rotonde. They seem to have been a great success this year. (Christmas market already closed)
aixcentric 