Today was the big market in Aix, which is only 15 minutes from our house. Ava and Lucia spent the night with Ava's friend last night, and Ava had plans for the day but Lucia decided to come home and sleep (I don't even want to think about how little sleep she got last night.). She was skimpy with the details of the evening. We wanted to get off to the market relatively early, so that we could be back relatively early. We gave the littles the option to go, or not. Romeo opted to stay, Gia came (since Lucia was staying home, Romeo could stay with her.)
It was a hot day, just over 90 degrees, which means in an ideal world we would have been at the market at 8:30 a.m. and done by 1030 a.m. Alas, we were there more like 11 a.m., and it was heating up quick. The market is huge, but spread out which makes it feel slightly less crazy than some other markets. We had fun just walking around, checking everything out. John and Gia bought a ridiculous amount of salami (considering we only have today and tomorrow and then we leave and can't take much food with us.) They have ambitious salami eating dreams I guess.
We found some gifts here and there to bring home, and once again, ate our way thru the market, finishing at a cafe for wine, ice tea, water and a bathroom. Gia had to go on the bungie jumping ride before we headed out, and she jumped so much she felt like throwing up for at least an hour. Too much heat, too much jumping.
The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to the kids playing in the pool. Romeo has officially crossed the line and can swim MUCH better now. They were squealing and having so much fun that we got an annoying notice via Airbnb messenger saying, basically, that the neighbors were complaining because the kids were too loud and it was French siesta time. Now, granted, Gia's screaming is ear piercing and high pitched, it was giving ME a headache inside with the door shut. However, it's still annoying and my immediate and snarky (internal only) response was to tell her that, "Americans don't sleep in the afternoon, we play, loudly." That being said, I was happy to force Gia to be quiet. Also made a mental note that having the owner live anywhere in the vicinity, even in a completely different house where you can't see them, is too intrusive. We need space to be loud, and "American."
John and I drove back into Aix for dinner, and sat in this beautiful big square and had a lovely dinner as the sun set. I never get tired of how the sun looks on the old sandstone buildings, and the beautiful contrast it creates with an unbelievable golden glow just at the tips of the buildings. I'm going to also miss the tree lined roads, it's the quintessential Provence postcard that everyone has seen...the Frenchman going down the tree lined avenue in a beret with a loaf of French bread hanging out of this sac. Other than the goofy beret which no one wears, the scene looks pretty spot on to what we see all the time.
Tomorrow is our last day in France and then we fly to London, pick up a new rental car, and head to the Cotswolds (which I'm super excited about)!
Signed, ME {lv}
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