Markets and winding roads

We headed in to Aix-en-Provence to explore the town and the Saturday Market. Aix, pronounced "ex", is the largest town near Annie and is regarded as a very beautiful Provence town.

Wheat fields with poppies on the way to Aix

We made a bee-line for the markets and explored all six of them one after the other. It is amazing how an ordinary open space - whether an otherwise public road, or a square can be transformed within a few hours to a pedestrian market place of vendors punting their wares, and then only a few hours later it has been cleared and is again a road, a boule court or the overflow from a nearby restaurant.

Geoff is not really a market person and as a general rule hates shopping (unless it is for outdoors kit) - but Lucy was in her element. We really enjoyed the food market and the flower market - so much colour and smells to take in.

Lucy in her element in the flower market

We spent the afternoon exploring the back roads of the "old" Aix. Paul Cezanne is arguably Aix's most famous son and his work and heritage is evident through much of the town. We visited the Granit Museum, which has nothing to do with igneous rock, but rather with modern and impressionist art. The modern stuff was too much for us, but the impressionist work was very impressive. Lucy really enjoyed the work of Orzek.

There are some beautiful doors in Aix

Little alleyways

The fountain in the centre of Aix

It had been a hot day and we made the most of taking the scenic roads back home. We drove via the impressive massive of Ste Victoire, a huge prow of limestone. Geoff ambled as high as he dared with the time we had available to take in the views.

The impressive Ste Victoire, often painted by Cezanne.

Geoff checking out the view

We headed home on little winding roads through indigenous pine forests home to wild boars and little passes through dry ravines.

Another poppy field on the way home

Our bucket list of things to do in France just keeps growing...