Les marches, diner, etc

I love Aix! Or, more specifically, the large open-air markets that take place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today after my Theater class and finding my next class was cancelled, I took a stroll throughout the markets at the Hotel de Ville and the Place de la Madeleine and the surrounding areas. It may have been a Tuesday (Saturday is the busiest day) but it was lively: sadly, I didn't have my camera on me (when I do, pictures will come later), but there were stalls of colorful fresh produce, saucisson, cheese, pastries, breads, honey--anything you can imagine that you can also eat--everywhere I looked. I kept on getting offered free samples, and although I felt bad that I knew I wasn't going to be buying anything (I didn't really need anything), it didn't stop be from taking them. Delicious! I think next time I go I'm going to pick up some sausage and cheese, and I also sampled this amazing lavender honey that I may pick up for someone back home (I won't tell who I'm thinking of, since my family reads this). Although, I may not have bought massive amounts of produce, I DID cave and buy a few ripe local tomatoes and some delicious "tartons" (pastries filled with potatoes and spinach)--and some other non-produce items. There's also an extensive clothing/antiques/thrift items, and I had a fun time leisurely winding my way through stalls and stalls of sales and knick-knacks. I couldn't help myself--I managed to snap up a beret in a beautiful rust color, two vintage postcards of Aix, and a simple necklace for 2 euro. I'm going to have to budget my expenses more...even though if it's at a market and second-hand, it's okay, right? Yes.

Anyway, I'm not really going to have to save up any recipes to make with all the produce I can buy, because 4 nights a week we eat with a French family: me and my group (Brett, Hillary, Courtney, Hallie, and I) eat on Monday/Tuesday with the Poirssons, and Wednesday/Thursday with the Zarbs. M. and Mme. Poirsson are this adorable old couple who live in the outskirts of Aix, and are the perfect French grandparents. Mme makes delicious French meals with beaucoup du pain (last night it was deliciously rustic pork and vegetables) in their modest but cozy apartment while M. grills us on our grammar and what we've been up to. I love M. Poirsson--he kind reminds me of my grandfather. Lots of sensible but put-together old-man clothing, lots of frank questions and comments on our lives and our French, lots of attention to the ladies (never letting us refill our wine glasses--or let them go empty), and last night when we told him we were in a Theater class he perked up and Mme. told us how much he loves the theater and goes every week. They're a very nice couple, and after the first week's awkwardness, dinners have become more comfortable.
The other family--les Zarbs--are a family with two daughters, Julia (6), and Carmen (11). They're a very affable family--Mme. is friendly but a little bit serious (she's a teacher, or works with children or something), but their apartment is still decked out for Noel, replete with creche under the tree, and little Santa hanging from a zip line over the living room. Julia is adorable: Carmen is a little bit "cool older sister," but Julia likes to sit at the table and play with her DS or show us her toys or pictures. The Zarbs have been catering to Vandy kids for 5 years (!), and the other night they were showing us all the group pics they've taken over the years--some on the mantle, the rest in a special album. It's very sweet.

That's all for now. Aix is starting to get warmer--it's been consistently hovering around 50˚F--so I think I may head out to a cafe and do some reading outside. And this week I may visit my cousin Andrew in Paris, which should be fun. A bientôt!