Sunday, March 12, 2017

Sunday in Aix

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Sunday in Aix

We started our day by looking for one of the marvelous markets of Aix.  Today the market was in Place Richelme and specializes in fruits, vegetables and legumes.  Even though specialized, the markets still offer other produce.  We found some wonderful cheese from a vendor who sold cheeses and hams. Further afield, there was an antique and flea market on Cours Maribeau. Aix's largest markets are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There are flower markets, book markets, used clothing and goods markets.  They are generally set up on the large public squares.  However, Aix is undergoing a 20 million euro construction project which has disrupted the main market places and sent them off to temporary places. The complex of squares in the Old town is being completely renovated and pedestrianised. The utilities (electricity and Water) are being repaired and a new car park created. (Parking is a nightmare in old Aix).  Place Perchaers, at the end of our street, is among the squares. The archeologists are busy looking for Roman ruins and graves while the natives twiddle their thumbs waiting for life to return to normal sometime after 2018.   While at Place Richelme we picked up some strawberries, fabulous cheeses, a quiche from a patisserie and returned home for lunch.  

The people of Aix revere and protect their Sunday afternoons.  After a busy market morning, we found that everything began to close down around 1pm and much of nothing was open by 3 pm.  The streets were empty; a very few cafes were serving.  This became a practical concern to us as we were in need of a bottle of wine for dinner. A futile google search revealed nothing open.  Eventually we came across a tapas wine bar that also sold bottles to take out.  It complemented our meal perfectly.  Pictures at flickr.