Aix en Provence

Our friends were going to visit Cassis and even though it is beautiful we didn't figure we needed a 3rd visit there, so we headed to Aix en Provence. It was a really pretty day and this town was so enjoyable. There was so much shopping and a great deal of people watching.

We took some photos by the water fountain outside the Office of Tourism. Every good visit starts at the tourism office, right? Then priorities, priorities.....lunch. ;->

 London assumed her usual spot on Pappy's shoulders as we headed to find a place for lunch.

 We opted for a spanish tapas bar, quite a change from the typical french cafe's we have been visiting. This was probably the only tapas bar that served lunch with baguettes!!!! ;-> The food and sangria were so yummy! This was certainly a fun stop for lunch - we highly recommend it!

 After lunch, we began strolling around the alleys and streets of Aix. There is SO much shopping - everything from the tourist shops to specialty boutiques to Hermes! Of course we were in hunt for the children's boutique, Catimini. I LOVE their clothes for London. On our way we met this all white man.....London doesn't quite know what to think of him!

 Finally!!! We found Catimini!!! WOOHOO!!! To make things even better, they were having a sale - our lucky day!!! I was checking out and filling out our detaxe form when I heard someone talking to London just outside the store. When I turned around it was one of the girls from UT that was studying abroad in Aix. We had met their group at the Isle Sur la Sorgue market a week ago - what a small world!!!!

Mission Accomplished - a bag full of cute clothes! Or as London calls them, 'her beautiful clothes.'

 The great fountain at the main rotonde in Aix.

 We took a small taxi/bus thing around Aix and London started getting sleepy!!!

 We are trying to get her a second wind with some ice cream. The ice cream was a consolation prize since it was too windy and the carousel was closed for the day. ;->

 After the tourist taxi, we took the tourist train around town. The train actually had headphones that explained the sights around town....in English. ;-> Below are some of the photos from the train. Unfortunately I wasn't really paying attention so I cannot elaborate on the details of the photos. ;-> I think the sangria from lunch was wearing off......SLEEPY!!!!

 Back at the house!! We had stopped at the local boulangerie for our daily bread purchase and London scored a 'Meringue Fraise.' It was as big as her head!!!! Can we say sugar high????

 Back at home, London changed out of her cute outfit into her play clothes, or better what she refers to as her 'pappy pants.' Quite the interesting outfit.....pappy pants, her french 'je suis one princesse' t-shirt and crocs (which I happened to make it 3 years without purchasing those crazy shoes and now she loves them!!!!)

 Playing in the yard with dad before dinner....

 Jean helping set the table for dinner....or maybe just looking good!!!!!

 Our crew getting ready to sit down for a family-style dinner!

 Hmmmmm, what did London find after dinner??? A chocolate eclair???? Exactly how many desserts has this child had today??????