Here I am at last! After changing two planes and an exhausting seven hours stay in the Beauvais Airport in Paris, I finally made it to my destination, Aix-en-Provence!
I haven’t had the time to see anything around the city, but I swear I am already feeling the bel air of France. Afterall, the bel air is not something you can see or hear or touch or taste; it is more a state of mind that enables you to perceive and admire beauty at its real value.
In my opinion, once you arrive in Provence, the land of impressionists has its own particular and mysterious way to slow you down. The fast pace of the 21st century is unknown here. Nobody is allowed to experience Provence in a hurry – everyone must sense and adapt to the Provencal rhythm. And once they do, I can guarantee (even after only one day spent here) that their coffee will taste different, their surroundings will reveal themselves in more vivid colors, their hearts will catch the beat of old French music, and all of the sudden their ears will have the urge to listen to Joe Dassin and Edith Piaf. Who knows… Maybe after a few days they will walk around smelling the scent of lavender at every step!
It sounds like a miracle to some of you, while others might think I have gone mental. I am sorry to disappoint… None of these things have happened; only Provence; Provence happened and nothing will be the same again!
-Monica