We decided today would be market day. Aix has markets every day of the week and we found 3 markets today: a produce market + some miscellaneous, a flower market and a clothing market. Each one was in a different city square.
It’s easy to find the markets. Just park in the garage and follow the people with the empty shopping bags.This is the flower market. The flowers are gorgeous and very reasonably priced.More flowers. I think the pink ones in front are peonies.A man was there to “dress” this car for a wedding. Cars must have special arrangements to get into this pedestrian area.More flowers. These are mostly roses in the front.I love this older lady with her purple hat and her Mary Janes shopping for flowers. So French!The poppies are supposed to be blooming but so far these are the only ones we’ve seen.On to the produce market in the next square down the street. Lots of beautiful produce. Local white and green asparagus are very plentiful right now.Huge lemons, nice bananas for about $1.25/lb, a kind of melon I’ve never seen before and eggs by the half dozen. Lots of strawberries too.This woman and her daughter are passing the time until it’s time to pack up and go home again. In front are tangerines that come from Israel for about $2.45/lb. I got some in the produce market near our house the other night and I think they’re the sweetist I’ve ever tasted.I’ve never seen beets like this before. Or this BIG before.This stand sold nuts, several varieties of dates and other dried fruits. I got a couple of kinds of dates and they’re very good.Several booths had cheeses that look so good.Down at one end was a huge seafood area made up of several big tables. They had everything!Fresh crabs and oysters.Love how artistically this seafood was displayed.Then we moved on to the next square down which contained the clothing market. They also sold fabrics and those gorgeous yellow and blue French linens we’re all so familiar with. We were amused by these 5 nuns out having a good time looking at the women’s clothing. According to their sign, these 3 guys were known as the Moldy Figs, featuring classic and traditional jazz. They were very entertaining and you could tell they were having a good time doing it.After we finished in the markets, we went on another of Rick Steves’ walks. We passed by this 2nd story window where we spotted a tuna can on the ledge. Since there’s no real balcony here, I wonder how their feline friends access this tuna.Next we stopped at Place d’Albertas. The restoration was designed by the man who lived across the street because he didn’t like looking at the ugly buildings across the street from him. Unfortunately only 2 of the 3 property owners agreed to fund the work so you can see the building on the left still looks run down. (And fountain alert!)Chuck and the girls had fun with the bubbles coming from the bubble machine above his head.This boar fountain was at the little restaurant in the square where we had lunch. The drool coming out of his mouth is a fountain. Gross!While we ate, this cat kept watch over diners from it’s second floor window.Loved the doors with the vines hanging over.Not on the tour but we stepped into this tiny square with it’s wisteria and fountain. And finally we went into the Cathedral of the Holy Savior. All nestled in among other buildings, it’s huge! Over the centuries, different changes and additions have been made.The 4th century baptistry is to the right of the front entrance. The church is a combination of 3 types of architecture: Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. The baptistry was in the Romanesque section.The Renaissance cupola in the baptistry.Beautiful huge painting on the walls of the baptistry.We got only a peak at the cloisters through a locked gate.About half way down the nave of the cathedral. Notice the green organ pipes on either side.Beautiful irregularly-shaped stained glass window.You know how I love those stained glass windows!
I don’t think I have seen fresher, more perfect looking produce and flowers. They looked staged and almost fake they were so perfect. I’d say the kitty cat was an acrobat if he got to that can of tuna on his own. These doors were simpler than some you have shown us, but I really liked them. And oooooh, the roses were beautiful. Doing great Aunt Joyce, I’m really enjoying this blog.
Loved the french lady with the purple hat…..every time we went to the street markets we did more people watching than shopping!……the gray cat looking down from his window looks like my Spencer……and that gardian looked as if he could have used Callie’s help…ha!…..the mime was a hoot….I think he resembled Joseph Stalin…..the little girls playing with the bubbles was precious!…….all GREAT photos…of course!
Provence Journey 
I don’t think I have seen fresher, more perfect looking produce and flowers. They looked staged and almost fake they were so perfect. I’d say the kitty cat was an acrobat if he got to that can of tuna on his own. These doors were simpler than some you have shown us, but I really liked them. And oooooh, the roses were beautiful. Doing great Aunt Joyce, I’m really enjoying this blog.
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Loved the french lady with the purple hat…..every time we went to the street markets we did more people watching than shopping!……the gray cat looking down from his window looks like my Spencer……and that gardian looked as if he could have used Callie’s help…ha!…..the mime was a hoot….I think he resembled Joseph Stalin…..the little girls playing with the bubbles was precious!…….all GREAT photos…of course!
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