Aix En Provence

I got off of the train and went to the ticket booth. I thought that I should buy my ticket today as it is not near the hotel, but the line was long(ish) and I thought if I change the length of time I stay, my ticket would be no good. I could not find a city map and so I was off using my written directions to get to the hotel.

Step 1: Walk on Cours Gambetta (so that Blvd Carnot is on Left) – this sounds easy, but it is not. I was only on one street, so one would figure it was Cours Gambetta and I need to pass Blvd Carnot, well the idea is good but I was wrong. I walked for a while, turned around and walked for a while. In neither direction was the first or second or third street Blvd Carnot. I wound up in the center of town and picked up some stamps to mail my growing stack of postcards (0,78 per stamp!) I found some fountains and Greek statues and snapped a couple of shots. I even found the tourist information office and took advantage of my luck. I got a map and took a seat outside.

Immediately, I was asked something in French and when I said I did not understand the man said something about me speaking English and being an American. He seemed nice enough and then was on his way. I found Cours Gambetta on my map and spent about 10 minutes walking to it. I know my bag is small but it is heavy and I am not used to having such a load. My feet began to hurt with the wait but I pushed on.

Now, I should mention that the map showed me where Cours Gambetta began, but then the map ended. This means that my hotel, is off of the map that I got and I will have to rely on the directions that already tricked me. I was up for the challenge and kept going. I made it to Cours Gambetta.

Step 2: Right on Rue Paul Bettcaguy. As I was taking my street I passed Blvd Carnot on my left and felt a ray of light (metaphorically speaking). I even saw a sign for my hotel and kept going. After about 15 minutes I needed to sit. I found a bench on the road and enjoyed a 5 minute rest. I continued on looking for Paul Bettcaguy. Where the current road ended, it split in two and I followed my second sign for the hotel (I am getting close!). I walked and walked…and walked…and walked. I thought that this should have only taken about 15 minutes from the train but I guess I was wrong. About thirty minutes later I found a little café and looked inside. I could not just ask if they knew where Hotel Ibis is without buying something, so I bought something and had a seat. Throughout the entire purchase, eating of tomato, cheese, and basil on bread and Fanta, and the leaving of the café I could not bring myself to ask where Hotel Ibis was (ordering was difficult today. I went into the café and looked around. The girl asked me something and I said I was looking (en francais) she had no idea so I played my oh so perfected version of charades and said I was looking. I decided what I wanted and saw the sandwich name was Paul. It was the name of the café too, so that meant specialty, it must be good! When I ordered a Paul she pointed to the wrong item, I corrected her and then realized, Paul was not the name, it was the café and written on all of the descriptions of the sandwiches…)

I left the café and continued in the direction that I was going. I stopped at a traffic circle and realized none of the signs said Hotel Ibis anymore, I must turn around. Walking uphill, I retraced my steps. I asked a woman on the street if she knew my hotel and she said no. I realized I still had not turned off of Cours Gambetta and was upset I must have missed my turn. Then I saw a sign that said the street randomly changed names and I was walking on the other street for a while before. I was glad to be walking back to find the hotel. I found a little park and decided I needed to sit after my 20 minute walk. I did not make it very far into the park before I grabbed a bench, I wish I did not have my stuff with me!

Basically, it took me three hours of walking and an hour of resting/eating to find the hotel. It is nowhere near the center of the city. I had walking and bus directions but figured I would walk. The route I took was for a road that they closed and I am guessing are getting ready to demolish. I found my way though and took a nap in the AC.