The open air market in Antibes is a mix of old mediterrenean flavors and modern sights. There is the guy with an entire stand of fabric bags filled with colorful provencal spices and the olive vendor. The tiny niçoise olives were a must for the aperatif, we bought some. Then there is the lady that sells her home made cakes and another that sells little ragdolls and behind you inflated plastic toys waiting for children to take them to the seaside and post cards waiting to be sent to far away places.
The small covered area is packed with French carrying big flimsy straw baskets and tourists of every language photographing the fresh produce. Outside is a group of young people wearing Greenpeace shirts that get angry when you don't say bonjour.
The delicious niçiose olives and some honey rode well in our scooter seat up the hills and through the round abouts towards Grasse. Waiting for us was family and the aperatif with champagne, to celebrate. To celebrate what? Simply being together. It is nice to feel included so easily to play games with the bunches of kids. Yahtzee, poker, even some obscure word game that I played in French, that was fun. What a laugh.
Five days smiling, laughing, relaxing in the soft August sunshine of the Côte D'Azure by the pool was what the doctor ordered. You can smell the end of summer nearing and when little cousins start to talk about the upcoming school year the sensation is more acute. The market of Antibes will surely have different fruit and vegetables next month. Fresh figs where the only thing that I missed.
