Honestly, we got a bit lost. It was Saturday and I KNEW there had to be a market in town, I don't watch the Food Network for nothing. But we couldn't find it. And can ya believe this just happened to be a French town where everyone who was awake, apparently spoke French. Sacrebleu (translation: French profanity)! I started to get a bit "antsy". Altho, the Better Half would define it more as "ticked". I'll compromise and call it "I just hate wasting a golden opportunity Monsieur".
We finally got pointed up this street...
...and VOILA'. French outdoor market in Provence. Food Network doesn't lie. And neither did that kindly French gentleman, merci beaucoup. Viva la apparently EVERYTHING...
Even a French Bulldog who looks like Yoda in the French version of Star Wars.
And of course, tents upon tents, upon tents of food. Even the FOOD in France has an air of superiority and sophistication to it. A feast for all the senses. "James Dean" was seriously outta control...
Yes, that says "Donkey". At least it's French donkey, right?
Textiles, and pottery, and antiques, oh my...
All experienced while hearing the strains of classical music in the background. Yes, the French know how to live life. Joie de vivre....
What's more French than meandering thru an outdoor market. Enjoying a cafe' al fresco...
Partaking of fabulous French breads while strolling...
And donkey (I'm not referring to Thing #1. Well, at least not at this moment)....
I often joke that I am an American with German blood, and an Italian soul. But I've come to the concluson that on market day...I just might be a little French....sans donkey.
--Kathy
Swoon. You must blow up and frame the picture of the silverware!
ReplyDeleteOh! Oh! OH!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you persevered and found this : ). Beautiful. LOVE the little bulldog. And your Thing of course. That made me smile.
Great, amazing, lovely photos :) I'm hungry now, because of You :D
ReplyDelete#1 pic...the artichokes. loved that one. and then the silverware, Oh forgot, the shutters too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHoly moly, these are all breath-taking. You have made Provence and their market place come alive. We have "french markets" on Saturdays around here, with musicians too...they actually resemble your market shots, but certainly not the architecture surrounding it. Thanks for just adding to my wanderlust to travel!!
ReplyDeletewow, what a fabulous place to be. tempting to zip right over there. I miss France. you took some wonderful portraits of the place.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, Kathy...I must ask this.
ReplyDeleteDonkey what??? hahaha
I feel like I was wandering the street with you.
What a beautiful day to spend among all those goodies.
Gorgeous photos...so glad you shared your day with us!
Oh wow...heaven! What I wouldn't give to have a market like this where I live. Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThat would have been the best day! Thanks for letting me live through it vicariously - vicariously is probably the better scenario as I probably would have purchased quite a few of the pottery crockery items.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tour - it all looks so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great series of shots! Now I am hungry.
ReplyDeleteSigh. that's all.
ReplyDeleteI'll have a piece of that bread please....love, love that first shot, and Donkey?
ReplyDeleteI love looking at your travel shots! Makes me long to be there. I was love strolling streets, and visiting markets...eating bread, drinking wine...you know, all the stuff you did!
ReplyDeleteOh the olives, the cheese, bread, the pottery & colors, sounds, scents ... I needed this boost to lighten up a grey & foggy week - Thanks! (ps: the upper 3 images --> a d-r-e-a-m ... would love to stay a fortnight on that adress :)
ReplyDeleteBeing Dutch myself, you would like to know that each individual country thinks they are THE most important country. So to me this is a little over the top (nothing personal!) It must be funny to an American that people do get dressed up to go to market:)
ReplyDeleteBeing American myself, I would like you to know that I truly appreciate WHATEVER country I am in. They are each unique and offer different things to the world. How boring it would be if everyone, and every place, were the same. There would be no value to travel then. The idea that a particular place and/or group of people think THEY are the most important is what causes problems in this world (nothing personal!). No one is more important than the other in the grand scheme of things. And to make generalization that Americans think it is funny to get dressed up to go the market...well it is obvious you haven't seen my closet. Heck, I get dressed up to take take the trash out.
DeleteI'm gonna just stay at "Wow"! Awesome shots-almost felt like I was there too. But wait....I didn't see any shoe stalls in that French market place. I guess that's a reminder that you're in paradise, just damn close. Thanks for sharing these. I love to see places I've never seen.
ReplyDeleteI can not WAIT to go visit France! Love all of this Kathy....candy for the eyes I tell ya!
ReplyDeleteWhat delightful images... love the umbrellas, and cheese, spices, coffee, silverware, keys... oh I just love them all! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou must have had a wonderful day on the market! I hope you bought a lot of the old cutlery?Gosh I can't wait for the spring to come and to go back to the Loire Valley where they have Fleamarkets every Sunday at a different location-heaven!
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way:I am known to dress up to take the trash and my shoe collection is legendary and handbags and sunglasses? Might be worth to blog about.Have a good day!
Oh yum!! I just love European cities. The combination of the sense of history plus the vivacity makes for such an intoxicating milieu! You're giving me an itch to get back there now!
ReplyDeleteHi, I've just found your beautiful blog and I am staying :-) I'd love to have such a market in my town!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures were a feast for these eyes - I think I might have even convinced the Mr. to include Paris on his proposed anniversary trip to Europe. alléluia!! When I visited Paris (more moons ago than I have fingers and toes) I was so paranoid about getting horse meat and now you tell me there is donkey. I can only picture Donkey from Shrek accompanied by Eddie Murphy's voice.
ReplyDeleteNever fear...this market was the ONLY place I saw "donkey" in any of my travels (which have included Paris). I think you are safe :)
Deletewhat a fabulous photo shoot (minus the donkey)... how wonderful that you have this opportunity to travel!
ReplyDeleteAs always, wonderful photos. And I won't quibble over your choice of words, I'll just say I'm sorry you didn't get to the marketplace where they don't dress. Might have been some interesting sights, if you could show them, that is.....:) My bad!
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful photos. What an amazing place to visit. I can dream to be there someday through your photos.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Oh my! somehow I missed this post and it is amazing. What fun going to this market. It looks like a place that i could get in so much trouble in. Just love these shots! Might have to run over to France after Italy. Have you been to Honfleur?
ReplyDelete