Rainy days and other things in Provence

We have had several days of real rain here in Vaucluse and actually all over Provence...one would think we were in Bretagne, but no. Everyone here says it is "pas normal" so I guess Portland has the sunshine we usually see in this region!!

Anyway, there is not a lot to do outside in the rain and the huge puddles which is why I have not written much since the last post.

Here are some more market photos from Isle sur la Sorgue. For some reason they did not show up on my iphoto until this morning?? I am not sure why but that is the magic of the internet I guess.
Here is a view of part of the big Sunday market along the banks of the Sorgue.

These are all items made of olive wood. I just love the caramel colors here. The big square blocks are savon de Marseille which I use for my felting. I will need to do some shopping here in the weeks to come.

This passage leads into a courtyard of antique sellers and interior decorators.

The trees are beginning slowly to send out some buds here in front of this bank. This was a sunny day!

JC and I decided to go and see the House and Garden show in Avignon since the clouds were gathering for some rain.

Here is a shot of the entrance to the show...quite a bit smaller than what we usually see in Portland! Mostly focused on swimming pools understandably!

Outside the exhibit was this...the first food cart I have seen in Avignon. It is called "La cuisine qui roule" (the rolling kitchen). We didn't order anything but I loved the color of the truck and the tables and chairs!

After school we picked up Maya and since it was Friday and not too wet drove up to Venasque to check out the village and the playground especially. The naked trees on the right are cherry trees since this is the land of the "black diamond" which is the bing cherry. Soon they will bloom! Venasque is in the distance way up there in the sky.

In the meantime, les amandiers are now blooming pink like these trees at the Venasque playground. There is snowy Mont Ventoux in the distance. See...there is a bit of blue sky so we can play around!

Vensaque has these incredible Sarrasin towers which protected the citizens (and the pope when he was in town) from the barbarian invaders...

Here is a view or two down into the valley below from the playground. This village is perched high on a huge cliff.

Later we will come back and take a hike with a donkey...this is our local donkey named Doudou.

Time to stroll through the village before we head back to Pernes.

We went to get bread at the boulangerie on the way home and I could not resist this photo...Emmanuelle says this photo looks like an actor followed by the paparazzi! Right n'est-ce pas? Well, we all know that buying baguette is a serious business in France!

On Saturday morning we got in a short forest walk before the weather turned on us. Maya took the lead and we followed along some new trails

We also collected a variety of treasures:

Here is a shot of the amandiers in bloom in Carpentras near the new children's park and the theatre...spring is on the way and they promise that we have better weather coming in about a week!!