Manifestation!

Of all days to leave my camera at home, Thursday was not the day. It was the day when students and professors from La Fac paraded through the streets beating drums, chanting, and generally causing ruckus. The police formed a sort of rolling roadblock, driving ahead of the crowd to close off roads and let the protesters through. Fortunately, someone else from our exchange program got pictures, and they're the ones I'm using here.

The manifestation in Aix was one of many all round the country; between 24,000 and 50,000 people are thought to have demonstration throughout France. The students, professors, and unions still aren't happy with the education reforms, and it looks like the strike could carry on for a while longer. We'll know more Tuesday.

Yesterday some students and I went to Carrefour again and bought cheese, fromage-flavored Lays chips, sandwich meat, and other snacks for a picnic this afternoon in Parc Jourdan. The wind is still fairly cold, but it's been pretty warm if you can stay in the sun. Today's high was supposed to be 16ºC/61ºF.

This morning I went to the markets with Mme G. She suggested we drive, and though at first I thought that was a waste because we live close centre ville, I'm glad that we did. All throughout Aix I'd noticed that the parking structures are underground, with signs next to the ramps down that show how many spaces are free. What I didn't realize is that the parking lots go five levels under the city! It's logical, of course: it doesn't use up valuable real estate and keeps the city prettier.

Once you get your ticket and enter each level, displays tell you how many spaces are free in each direction (ie. 11 free to the left, or 124 free to the right). All fairly straightforward. What really impressed me was the lighting in each aisle. Above each parking space is a little LED that turns red if the space below is taken, green if it's free, and blue if it's a handicapped space. That saves you driving all the way down an aisle that's full. It was all very cool and, once again, I didn't have my camera. I'm surprised more parking lots don't implement a system like that; Mme G said she hasn't seen that outside Aix, and it's obviously a pricey system: parking for two hours cost €4!

At the markets I got to taste more types of cheeses, dips, pastes, and even honeys. As today was a beautiful day, the markets were packed. People say that French people buy the majority of their food at markets, and Saturday is typically the busiest day. It's a fantastic atmosphere, because all the vendors are willing to chat and offer free samples. Like I said before, you can truly buy anything: meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, spices, honey, clothes, soap, jewelry, plates and cups, all sorts.