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City of Sun
Otherwise affectionately know as 'Little Paris', the town of Aix-en-Provence is just as sophisticated as its namesake. The Romans first set up camp in this classic little French town; nowadays, Aix greets a few tourists who make the most of the sizzling sunshine, orange trees and tranquil café culture. Aix is slap bang on the French Riviera coast. Warm weather and good French food are commonplace in this classic French town. Cézanne's birthplace, graced by typical provençal décor (think sand coloured stone, 19th century mansions and fountains and a distant sound of crickets), will have you wanting to crack open the Pernot, and join in the relaxed game of boules going on in the town square.
This is France at its most picturesque and traditional, with an added bonus of catering to a young student crowd. Famous for its large student population (no less than 3 separate facultés make for a vibrant social life), loads of trendy cafés and bars ensure that you'll be entertained whatever the hour and/or taste.
If your heart is beating a nostalgic Francophile chord, you should head over to Les Deux Garçons café in your best Dandy outfit, good enough for Zola and Cézanne back in the old days. The piano bar upstairs beats out a number or two, in the lazy afternoons. If you fancy something rather more exotic, than you could always perch on a Moroccan cushion at one of the many shisha cafés peppered about the town. Many restaurants ensure that you are well versed in typically provençal cooking, with Mediterranean dishes rolling off many a menu. As a student or a working boy or gal, you'll be soaking up the rays and enjoying this jewel of a Southern town throughout your time here.
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