Leaving France in the morning

Our time in France this year is coming to a close. We will be leaving for London in the morning, and then back to Greenville on Tuesday. My work has gotten in the way of my vacation, as I have had many meetings and business trips to London, Madrid, Switzerland, and Amsterdam while here, but all in all this has been by far the best trip ever for the Bays.

Both Ellison and Joseph celebrated birthdays on the trip. This is Ellison's fantastic cake for her big eighth!

Friends Nora and Eric on Bastille Day.

Margaret, Ellison, and Joseph enjoying the pool.

Joseph's dream car - mine too!

I think Margaret just won a stage of the Tour de France.

Me doing what I have done best on this trip.

A bit of skin from the topless beach.

The family cook Jill

A view from the balcony of our temporary home in the Cote d'Azur.

Joseph being Joseph

X marks the spot for the "real" Provence

We spent the day in Aix-en-Provence (pronounced "x" or "x on Provence"), which is about a 2 hour drive from Nice. I am told Aix is the place to go to experience the "real" Provence. I can't say that I have enough knowledge to know if this represents the "real" Provence or not, but Aix is a very nice place to be. My photos for this day did not turn out so well, but this city is amazing.
The history of Aix dates back to Roman times. The city served as a Roman military camp in 120 B.C. It was the first Roman base outside of Italy.

Aix-en-Provence is famous for great shopping, beautiful people, and the lifestyle - which appears to be very upscale.

I would recommend spending a night or two in this region as there is simply too much to see and experience in just one day.

I can't say that we picked the best of Aix for our dining, but the Bay family had another great day in Provence!

Sunday at the Marche Provence

We finally made it to the Marche or "market" in Antibes this Sunday. Sunday mornings are the time to hit the markets in France. Most villages have markets 4-6 days a week in the summer but Sunday is the big day and the variety is most impressive.

The Marche Provence is located near the sea in the old city of Antibes and has a huge assortment of vendors selling everything from clothing to very fresh seafood.

We sampled the olive tapenade from this vendor on a recommendation from our friends that live nearby and it was amazing. The proprietor is also a very colorful guy that sings and engages everyone who walks by - which just adds to the "flavor" of the place.

The fragrant spices are plentiful and very inexpensive with an endless variety of choices.

We found a fantastic assortment of cheeses from many regions of of the country. France produces nearly 300 different varieties, many of which simply can't be found outside of the country.

You will find fresh produce, olives, and meats of all kinds to enjoy, but just walking through will enlighten the senses with Provencal fare. You can easily walk through this market and buy everything you need to prepare a traditional midday feast for you entire family, friends and neighbors.