Le Parking et l'Oppidum d'Entremont

Here are some pictures to help better explain the underground parking system in Aix. The biggest, with 1800 spots, is Parc Rotonde. As the name implies, it's buried beneath La Rotonde.
There are five—yes, five—levels buried beneath the center of town, and each one has a sign indicating where there are free spaces.
Finally, each aisle of parking spaces has lights to indicate whether the space is taken or not. I noticed later that, in the leftmost picture, the lights don't seem to work properly over every space, but you get the idea.
On Sunday I saw something thoroughly less modern. To the north of Aix is L'Oppidum d'Entremont, a pre-Roman settlement that dates from about 200 B.C. and was inhabited by the Salyes people, who were a mix of Celtic and Ligurians. The Romans settled Aix-en-Provence, known then as Aqaue Sextiae, and later invaded the Entremont. OK, other than that, I didn't learn a huge amount—the signage at the ruins is pretty lacking. I did, however, learn that the Salyes people loved beheading their enemies and would keep their enemies' heads as trophies.The ruins are perched atop a hill and form part of a fairly large park. It's pretty, quiet, and isolated from the noises of the city, which cannot be said for Aix's parks. Because it's on a hill, you can also see all of Aix and its environs. I hadn't realized, for example, that Aix is in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains. I only knew of Mont Sainte-Victoire, which was even more visible from the Entremont.

It was a gorgeous afternoon and after laying in the sun (reading Les Trompeuses Esperances for school, of course) I was even a tiny bit sunburned! All very enjoyable and relaxing except for one tiny problem: we'd taken a bus from Aix to the Entremont, but, as it was Sunday in France, the bus had stopped by the time we walked back. Fortunately, the walk back is a gentle slope that passes gorgeous—and doubtlessly expensive—Provençal houses. Later, I checked on Google Maps and the walk back to my apartment was "only" about 3 miles. Still, it was a great and somewhat educational afternoon.