English Bookstores in Aix en Provence!

I read on vacation. If the growing collection of paperback books in our guest room is any indication, I am not alone. But what to do when you have finished the last book you and your family carried along? What to do when you are in France and you are definitely NOT fluent enough to pick up and read the French language version of the latest best seller?

If you and your family are in Aix en Provence, you are in luck! There are now TWO excellent English language bookstores in town, in the same neighborhood, making it likely that you can find a good read on a lovely Provencal morning. The shops are located in the center of town near the Cour Mirabeau, a primary landmark and lovely tree-lined street.

Paradox Bookstore: #15 Rue de 4 Septembre; at the square of the “fountain of the 4 dolphins”. This shop specializes in buying and selling secondhand books written in English.

Book in Bar Bookstore: #4, rue Joseph Cabassol
It’s a great family spot with books for all ages and a nice selection of teas, coffees, smoothies and goodies. They also sponsor special events which are listed on their web site.

Nearest parking: Mignet
Good nearby restaurant: Le Passage
Closest ATM: several on the Cours Mirabeau
Added attraction nearby: Two multi-screen cinemas with VO movies (Original Version in English)

Mailing Postcards from Provence Post Offices

La Poste in France has changed dramatically since many of us visited there in our youth. It is now very easy to send those postcards to friends and family back home!

First, all villages and towns have post offices that are now open much of the day and on Saturdays (some still close for the long lunchtime). Many of the larger towns and cities now have small post offices scattered across the neighborhoods in addition to the large central office. Look for the bright yellow and blue sign "La Poste".
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Second, stamps can often be purchased from La Poste at an easy-to-use 'English-optional' self-service machine or from the walk-up counter at the Poste Boutique. The postcard rate is now standardized, so you can buy stamps for future use and then just drop the cards in the yellow post box outside even when the post office is closed (the mail from these outside boxes is actually collected each day!!)

Third, the Post Office is now also a bank for the french. The benefit for visitors is that there are now, normally, separate lines for simple operations like stamps and more complex time-consuming transactions in which the french may want to engage. Also, the post office is now able to accept your credit card (or ATM card) to pay for your transactions.

Lastly, it is much easier to send packages. No need to wrap the boxes in brown mailing paper anymore! Pack things securely, write your return address in the corner and put an X through it to show that this is not the mailing address. Write the mailing address in English if you like, be sure to add the zip and USA.

If it is under 2 kilos (about 5.5 pounds) you can simply send it by 'service economique' for 2-week delivery or 'service prioritaire' for 7-10 day delivery. Do not be convinced that you must use 'colissimo', which is much more expensive! It is not required for packages under 2 kilos.

Oh, one more things, if you are using a french cell phone, you can purchase a 'recharge' at La Poste, in order to extend your talking time!

You may even encounter an agent willing to speak English with you. At our local Poste, the agent took a trip to California with her Harley-Davidson group and reported the entire adventure to me in a mixture of French and English!

English Books in Provence Libraries

Do you, your children, and teenagers love to read? Are you worried about running out of books to read together while on vacation in Provence? Try the village library!

Even the smallest villages seem to have a library and anyone can tell you where to find it: S'il vous plait, ou est la bibliotheque? (ooo eh lah bib-lee-oh-tech)

And because many of the books have been donated, you are likely to find at least a few that are written in English! AND, because librarians are such wonderful people, they are likely to let a resident tourist borrow a book or two.

I can tell you that there are such libraries in the villages of Cadenet, La Tour d'Aigues, and Grambois. I will be watching for others to tell you about.

One last note, you might offer them the books you have read and do not wish to carry home in your suitcase!