Shopping in Aix this week, I couldn’t help noticing a swing back to the sixties with vintage/retro patterns in the stores. Here are some images from Maisons du Monde who are celebrating 20 years of trading.
BUTwhat caught my eye was glitter! Yes, the Christmas decorations were being unpacked. In the 13 years that we have had a flat here, the commercialisation that surrounds Christmas has boomed so much. There used to be lots of emphasis on special foods – but nothing really happened until the special corn came on sale on December 4th, the feast of Sainte-Barbe. Now it seems as commercialised as the UK, and it’s getting earlier every year. A shame.
The market has undergone an upheaval since its displacement the end of the summer. Now located around the Rotonde, up the cours Sextius and along the ave Victor Hugo, it seems to me more spacious and pleasant to browse through. Everyone I have talked to thinks it’s working well – though the stall-holders tell me they are waiting to give their verdicts. I expect the challenge will come at Christmas when everyone will be displaced again by the seasonal chalets.
If you are in centre ville Aix, have a quick look in the Office du Tourisme where there is a fun photo display.
It’s the work of a local group, Arc Images and it is on until 23rd October. Like the photo on the left, most images are quirky or imaginative.
Worth a look when you are next in town!
aixcentric 
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