Aix-en-Provence Market

The vibrancy and the colours of French markets are always truly incredible. The sounds and the noise made by the hustle of little old French ladies bartering for some freshly cropped vegetables, the shear expanse of the variety of produce and products bring shame to British markets. A stroll through the market would surely bring a smile to anyone’s face. As you wander pass stalls upon stalls you catch glimmers of conversation in just about every language, somehow managing to understand the odd cognates yet still be amused at the market traders shouting random descriptions to the confused tourists. 

 
A showcase is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘A place or occasion for presenting something favourably to general attention.’  This is the perfect description of the Aix-en-Provence market, the crowds are just there to justify. Market traders from miles around gleam proudly as there most prized possessions wait patiently for the public’s approval. If you look carefully you can catch the sadness in their eyes as another possession is purchased but the stance never falters, they look as confident as they ever did.  
The old cobbled pavement is tired from the stampeding crowds, each day another stone cracks under pressure and a council man in an luminous vest comes to replace it, eventually they’ll all give in and the once distressed pavement will be replaced with a new, refreshed pavement allowing for new, lively crowds to visit the bustling market. The traders deserve support and I hope the market continues to strive for many more years. 

Floss xoxo