Market Day in Aix

There is a daily local market in Aix-en-Provence, but an especially big market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. So on Tuesday morning, off we went to the market.

It took us a little while to find the right square and a bit of an adventure to park, but we finally made it to the market by about 10:30 am. The market was divided into two sides - one for fresh fruits and vegetables and the other for local items such as soaps, fabric and linens, antiques and housewares.

We loved the spice vendor - he had pure spices of all kinds and special blends for seasoning grilled items, fish, potatoes and of course the requisite herbs de Provence blend. We bought strawberries, apricots (which are wonderful - at peak season right now) and more melons. It was a prettier market than Pelissane, but surprisingly, it was actually a little smaller. But it did have a few more touristy items like a huge selection of scented soaps - it was a lot of fun to pick out our favorites.

We also bought olives and some great paella from the vendor who was cooking an enormous pan - when we walked by the first time, the pan was completely full, but when we returned about 45 mins later, he only had about a quarter of the pan left.

Heavily laden with baskets, we stopped for a quick bite to eat at a lovely cafe on Cours Mirabeau (a beautiful tree-lined avenue) before heading back to the house.