Buried deep in Aix-en-Provence is a thriving morning market. Provence, in the south of France, is a land of markets — colors, people, a relaxed vibe, and a love of life have all existed together in tight quarters for centuries. When you have a small fridge tucked under the sink (rather than a freezer in the garage), you need to go shopping each morning — and you get to check in with your neighbors.

When you actually reach out and get to know it, you learn that the world’s not going to hell in a handbag, it’s going to the market with a shopping bag. (I love pondering such thoughts while I’m updating our Provence & the French Riviera guidebook. And this work never gets old, thanks to the encouraging smiles and happy feedback from the travelers my co-author Steve Smith and I keep meeting. You can pick up your own copy at https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/provence-guidebook. Happy travels!)

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