By aixcentric I just went to the flower market for some tulips this morning but came away with a new interest in Panamanian buses, thanks to a photography exhibition in the Hotel de Ville! French photographer Michel Brombeck has mounted a display of his work, immortalising some of the 1000 …

By aixcentric Book In Bar is hosting a creative writing session on Saturday 14th February, from 11-13:00 hrs. Don’t know too much about the content but have checked that the workshop will be held in English as well as French. Participation is limited to 12 people so call the shop …

By aixcentric This blog normally welcomes initiatives in town, but today must report on two closures, a hotel and a book-shop, both longstanding family businesses; and their demise says a lot about the way things are going in Aix. The hotel is the 3-star Le Manoir, in rue Entrecasteaux, which …

By aixcentric Just a quick call- out for Chez Jo, an institution in Aix. We popped in there for lunch last week on a bright sunny day but the mistral was blowing its chilly passage through the streets of centre ville. Not a day for lunching on the terrace. Inside …

By aixcentric In this week of commemoration, remembering those who perished at Auschwitz, it is fitting to honour those people, living and working in Aix, who helped save Jewish families, at great personal risk. They are designated ‘Juste parmi les Nations’. There are 25,000 worldwide, 3,700 in France and more …

Abbie Spencer would tell you that in her family photographs were treasures, and maybe that is why she has ended up in the industry. She would also say that travel and meeting people are her inspiration and crystallizing those moments in images is her mission. She describes the weather in …

Suppose you are visiting the super Raymond Dépardon photography show at MUCEM. In that case, there’s still time to cross the road to the delightful Musée Regards de Provence to catch the last weeks of Marseille Eternelle. You will be guaranteed a relaxing viewing of these colourful local paintings…a better …

By aixcentric Alan Ayckbourn is one of the UK’s most popular playwrights with over 70 plays to his name. And this weekend there is an opportunity to see one of them, direct from the National Theatre London, here in Aix. A Small Family Business tells the story of Jack McCracken, …

By aixcentric In search of a lunchtime snack today, I happened across Columbus Café which I hadn’t seen before. It has a good array of fresh salads, filled baguettes, and toasted paninis and bagels, plus muffins which they say are made on the premises. It was a perfectly good lunch …

Ok, I’m dreaming about Starbucks. I know I know…… I should never say such a thing like that when I’m in France surrounded by the highly sophisticated coffee drinking society of Aix. It starts early with a small black (ordered as un cafe, mainly served in a cup but sometimes …