Okay, here’s my blog post about my experience with the Chapelle Sainte Catherine de Sienne in Aix-en-Provence, written in a casual, personal style, just like the example:
So, I’ve been meaning to check out this little chapel, Chapelle Sainte Catherine de Sienne, here in Aix. I’d heard it was pretty, tucked away, you know, the kind of place you stumble upon and feel like you’ve found a secret. I finally got around to doing it, and, let me tell you, the whole process was… interesting.
Finding the Darn Thing
First off, finding the thing. That was the first hurdle.
It is not a big cathedral. The chapel is small. I got turned around a couple of times, asked a few locals who looked at me like I was crazy (my French is, shall we say, developing), and eventually, I spotted it.
Getting Inside
It is old and very historical, and I thought it might be very busy with people to visit, but it was not at all. It was so quiet.
I walked around the building, finally I found the door. Getting inside wasn’t as straightforward as I thought. It’s not like the big cathedral where the doors are always open. Nope. This place has specific hours, and of course, I arrived, like, five minutes after it supposedly closed. Classic me.
But, lucky for me, I saw a side door that looked slightly ajar. I peeked inside, and there was this really kind-looking lady sweeping up. I mustered up my courage (and my terrible French) and asked if I could just take a quick look. She smiled and nodded, and voila, I was in!
Inside the Chapel
Once I was in, it was completely worth the hassle. The inside is, well, it’s just peaceful. It’s not grand or overly ornate, but it has this beautiful, simple feel to it. The light coming through the stained-glass windows was gorgeous, hitting the stone walls just right. I spent a good twenty minutes just wandering around, taking it all in.
- The stained glass was simple.
- It has stone walls.
- It has a peaceful feel.
Snapping Some Photos
Of course, I had to take some pictures. I’m not a pro photographer or anything, but I wanted to capture the feeling of the place. I fiddled with my phone camera, trying to get the lighting right, and I think I managed to get a few decent shots. Nothing that’ll win any awards, but enough to remind me of the visit.
Leaving (and Getting Lost Again)
Finally, I thanked the lady (again, in my terrible French), stepped back out into the sunshine, and promptly got lost again on my way back to the main square. But hey, that’s part of the adventure, right? All in all, a pretty successful little excursion. If you’re ever in Aix, I’d definitely recommend trying to find this little gem – just maybe brush up on your French first, and double-check the opening hours!
