One thing that we wanted to do while in France was to visit a small town in Provence, the southeast region of France. Many people suggested that we visit Aix-en-Provence to get this experience so we decided to give it a try. After three amazing days, we were glad we listened!
 |
| The main and largest street in the city. |
Aix-en-Provence is a quaint town 20 minutes northeast of Marseille. The central town (about a 15 minute walk from end to end) is surrounded by a larger road, which allows it to remain small and mainly pedestrian. The crisscrossed cobblestone streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes and are full of locals and tourists. And no matter where we turned, we found delicious and local food. There is a food market everyday, with not only produce but also breads, cheeses, olives and tapenades - specialties of the region. There are also larger food markets and artisan markets on the weekends, both of which were delights to walk through.
Over the course of our three days, we ate amazing food from market picnics and local restaurants and bakeries. At the market we found a French macaroon cart that had very unique flavor combinations. Among our favorites were raspberry and rose water, strawberry and basil, and lemon meringue. Nearby, we also picked up all sorts of olives and tapenades, including black olive with herbs de provence, sundried tomato, and artichoke. A local bakery just up the street from the market, which was recommended by a friend, offered some of the best bread we have ever tasted. One had large chunks of dark chocolate, another was filled with figs and walnuts, and even their simple baguette was wonderful.
 |
| A few of the many macaroons offered at the market. |
 |
| Freshly baked bread at the bakery. |
One afternoon for lunch we ate at Le Pain Quotidien - a restaurant we have in the states but completely different overseas. We split a wonderful roasted vegetable salad that featured rolled eggplant, stuffed peppers, sundried tomatoes, and buffalo mozzarella. To go with this we had a open-face brie sandwich with walnuts and local honey. The meal was light and refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day.
 |
| Our salad and tartine at lunch. |
All in all, Aix-en-Provence was an amazing stop. Between the food, the rose wine, the casual walks, and the beautiful culture, it is a place we would love to return to in the future. For now we are off to our last stop in France, Nice, and Genoa and Cinque Terre in Italy. We are looking forward to experiencing the Italian culture as well as their local gastronomic specialties.
 |
| Sunflowers at the Saturday flower market. |
