Valentines Weekend, 2015
Aix en Provence, France

Interested in a Music and Markets Tour? We’d love to hear from you!
We’re looking ahead to Spring – how about the Prague Spring Festival in May?

What better place for Valentine’s Day than romantic Aix en Provence?! Mimosa is in season, golden masses tumbling from the florists buckets. I’m imagining this guy asking a friend “what do you think she’d like?”We choose Valentine’s flowers together – stems of red Amaryllis, which will slowly open, extending the pleasure through the week ahead.
Another vendor has added a few rows of single rosebuds to his stand  – a Valentine’s special. And I’ve never seen so many men walking through the streets with a lovely bouquet in hand!
Patisseries are also doing a brisk business – the line’s out the door at Aix’s best, Bechard.We’re planning to cook dinner together in our new kitchen, and peruse the market stalls for just the right ingredients. Shall we start with snails?No – we’ll keep it simple at home, but start out with an apero at Cave d’Yves, a cozy wine bar.Then a romantic stroll through favorite lanes

and squares. Recognize this one? There’s usually a bottle or two of rosé cooling in the fountain….in the warmer months.We continue celebrating on Sunday, sharing our new kitchen with friends. First an apero in the living room – see those amaryllis shyly opening?Xavier called to let us know he would bring a starter….and what a starter it is!Truffled eggs!Happy Valentine’s Weekend!