My Slow & Idyllic Day in Provence: French Market, Shopping, Tea Time | SIMPLY SLOW TRAVELER

Hi everyone and welcome back to my channel. Today you will spend a beautiful early spring day with me exploring the beautiful city of Aix in the heart of Provence. We arrived there at around 10 in the morning with the city still very quiet, just a few people sitting at the cafe terraces as the store started opening for the day. Aix is such a special city for me, I love the city's architecture, its creamy limestone facades, the quietness of its streets in the morning that become very lively as the day progresses. One other thing that I love about Aix are its Provençal markets. Every day there is at least a market in Place Richelme which had just a few stalls the day I went there. Still, you are sure to find a very nice array of seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as breads, cheeses, charcuterie and inevitably lavender-based scented products. Another place where you are likely to find a market and right next to Place Richelme is at the Place L'Hôtel de Vie. Here they hold a flower market that takes the whole square almost every day but for some reason it wasn't taking place this day. As spring gets into full force, however, and especially in summer, you are almost sure to find it here and I really recommend stopping by. Across different squares around the city, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, you will also find other produce markets, antique markets and local products markets. However, as there was none taking place this day, I went on for a light lunch at Maison Huébel right by Place Richelme. Maison Huébel is a very nice pastry shop where you can buy all sorts of French and Provençal patisserie but they also serve light meals. I especially enjoy sitting outside but as it wasn't too warm yet, I went for a table inside with views to the square and we ordered the dish of the day. After lunch, I went visiting some of my favorite stores and my first stop was at the small but absolutely beautiful Franc 1884. Here you will find one of the most iconic pieces of Provençal artisanal tradition, the lavender spindles. For those who don't know them, the lavender spindles are made by taking a bunch of lavender stems, careful turning them around the flowers which are kept inside and then finished with just a tight knot at the end or woven with beautiful ribbons. Anytime you gently press the edge, you crush some of the lavender seeds that release their soothing scent, making them perfect to perfume your linen drawers or even your bed before going to sleep. We were lucky enough to run into Philippe, the store owner, who so passionately educated us on the making of the spindles, on their designs and on all the collections they make in partnership with luxury brands such as Dior or many luxury hotels in France and around the world. Besides the traditional ribbon spindles, they also make round ones that are meant to be used as Christmas baubles and you can order all these on their online store from anywhere in the world. And if you're planning a wedding or some important event, you can also order bespoke spindles, making it a very personalized gift for your guests. After such a lovely time at Franc, 1884, I went back roaming the streets of Fex and stopped here and there at some beautiful stores. Only at least I used to be because now a wildfire is raging deep inside and my heart strings are pulling like the tide and the match that drew a spark was a single stolen kiss and if that ain't love I don't know what is. For years I've kept my feelings grounded and gone where they don't keep within by these high walls I've been surrounded walls to her eyes only paper thin because now a wildfire is raging deep inside my heart strings are pulling like the turn and all the time I went for a relaxing time to have a tea and a snack in the very picturesque courtyard of Hotel du Comune. This hotel particularly from the first half of the 18th century is since 2015 a visitable museum, an art center and as a publicly accessible cafe and gift shop. The very secluded feeling you get when you are in its beautiful courtyard surrounded by the pastel tone buildings makes it my favorite spot for some afternoon relaxation time we went for some more walking around the city. As the afternoon started coming to an end we could definitely feel that the atmosphere had gotten much more lively with more people sitting at the cafe terraces enjoying the warmth of the sun over a glass of wine in such a typically Aix fashion. Thank you for coming with me on this early spring day to the beautiful Aix-en-Provence. If you came this far I would love to get your subscription to my channel and I invite you to my next videos in the south of France and around the Mediterranean.