Our plan had been all along to head to Marseilles from Arles, but when we looked at the distance combined with the climbs, we decided to go around our elbow and get there in two days.  We left this morning to overcast skies and a serious threat of rain. Though the temps were not far from the last several days, the humidity made it feel much warmer, thankfully, with the clouds shielding the sun, we did not roast.Huge birch trees formed beautiful canopies along our road, the best we’ve had in France so far; sometimes we even had a paved shoulder to ride.We rode through small towns bursting with flowers and past old farmsand churches.The sun started burning through the clouds
about ten and in less than an hour, we felt the heat that we had not missed the last several days.  Started climbing at exactly noon;

it would have been sooner, but we had to stop to fix a flat tire.  The ride up was beautiful but very steep and tough in the heat of the sun.The ride down featured hairpin turns and white rocks jutting out from the green.We arrived in Paul Cézanne’s charming hometown of Aix en Provence (founded in 123 B.C.) sometime before 3:00.  The city was bustling with people, yet it had a small town, unhurried fee.  Aix en Provence is sometimes referred to as the city with 1000 fountains, though you could say that about the churches, as they seemed to be everywhere.  Walking the narrow streets lined with exquisite doors, we heard the call of church bells and could see the tower in the distance. Arrived at the Cathedrael Saint-Sauveur, with two huge organs that mirrored each other, just before the service started.  We waited through the processional and listened to the organ play in this massive stone church, truly magnificent.  As was the nave and tremendous frescos that lined the surrounding walls.  Though this cathedral is not as “fancy, bright and shiny” as others we’ve seen, it will take your breathe away.  A little more window shopping (the smells coming from this dessert shop were incredible),people watchingstopping in galleries and then to dinner.  Found a great local Italian restaurant with a wood fire oven, but didn’t do pizza, just two incredible bowls of pasta.  Robyn, this Carbonara tops the one in South Beach…time to take a trip to France!