Toutes sortes de choses....

Well, I have been pretty busy here working on the Pocahontas/Sacagawea costume. The fringe took the longest but it was all pretty fun. I'll post a photo whenever I can get our little native american to stand still enough! Well here is a shot en passant!

Of course there is always a market somewhere and JC and I happened upon the one in Bedoin on Monday which is very pretty. It started to get pretty windy and some umbrellas were getting ready to take off for the sky

Here is the view from the parking area which was full of cars and people going to and coming back from the market with baskets and bags.

I think this pottery is such a colorful way to come into the market...I am crazy about color anyway.

 Brand new asparagus and artichokes...we had some of these asperges the other night...Anton passed on them however!

Here you see all varieties of artisan made soap...smells so good!

Walking the market made us a bit hungry (we got there close to noon and the place packs up at 12:30) so we drove through some little towns and ended up in Mazan where we had lunch with this for dessert:

It was warm, sweet...yes, you are right French toast!!! It is called "pain perdu" or lost bread! Who knew you could serve that for dessert! Look out back home!

Today we had dessert after a great lunch at Côteaux et fourchettes near Cairanne:

This is a bavaroise au mangue...a mango cake with sorbet in lemon/lime. Can you believe how pretty the presentation is? I can tell you it was absolutely marvelous followed by a very nice little café!

Okay, so you are thinking all they are doing is going around and eating...not true! Here are some new Italian books I just got:

Yes...I have been reviewing my Italian phrases...we leave for Rome in less than a week after all...see, here is proof:

Yup...that's me!!! My Italian is okay, the legs not so much sigh! I think it may be an optical illusion????

Tomorrow is May Day in France...a holiday so nothing is open. I guess that means more Italian for me and maybe Anton will barbecue something for us too...

cooperative set up of the new barbecue!!

Well...I am off to bed so I wish you all bonne nuit!

Carpentras et environs

Carpentras has a really cool cathedral: St. Siffrein. It spreads out in the center of town with a warren of small streets around it and shops and businesses on each side. There is a Roman arch almost attached to one side of the cathedral which was uncovered when the old prison, built up against the cathedral, was taken down.

In the place of the prison is now an open, sunny square with a playground and benches to sit and chat with friends passing by. 

A symbol of Carpentras is the strawberry because this area produces a most delicious one "la garrigette" for which they have a festival. Even the playground by St. Sifferein has a bouncy strawberry to ride on for children after they are done with the castle fortress.

There may be sunshine here but there is also frequent wind. Not the strong Mistral today but still "hair raising!"

Carpentras has been undergoing much renewal in recent years. Attractive playgrounds and parks have been created and old, decrepit buildings have been taken down to reveal, in some parts of the city, the remains of the medieval city wall which wrapped around the pedestrian mall and cathedral area. There still exists the Porte d'Orange which is a tall, stone medieval gate tower that opens into the walled city...only one car at a time can drive through.

I enjoy the pleasant stroll through town without having to worry about cars zooming by.

 This is right next to the playground by the cathedral.
There is also nearby a glass covered gallery about two blocks long lined with shops and boutiques. This is the first time I have seen cars in the gallery but Monday must be delivery day, many places are closed.

The more I walk around here the more renewed places I see. I like the shape and colors of these two buildings. Looks so nice with the blue sky. There is often a black cat sitting in the window of the yellow house on the right. The red shutters on the left have just gotten a new coat of paint.

 This is part of the cultural center and conservatory of music and beaux arts.

I think it is time for me to go have some of those famous strawberries!! before they are all gone.

What to do on a sunny weekend in Provence

Just in case you think I am not getting enough exercise here are a few photos to prove otherwise:

The Via Vénaissia is a former railroad track which has been transformed into a long, wonderfully paved biking path. As we rode along we came across inline skaters, hikers and bike riders of all ages. Along the path were blooming wildflowers and the beautiful poppies...in a farm yard we saw an interesting site...can you see the goat in the tree?

After a nice long ride we stopped for a gôuter along the way and posed for photos at the ancient train station which may be turned into a cafe at some point in the future. The route is in the process of getting longer and in the photo you can see the finished part stretching out into the distance.

The bike ride was Saturday and on Sunday (today) we went to a new park with a manmade lake and took in some exercise on a device called a Tyrolienne...Maya went first followed by Emmanuelle and Maarja!!! I think the kids in line were surprised to see grown ups going on the rope and in fact, after we did a few moms and dads followed suit! It was fun and now to bed.
BONNE NUIT!

Samedi en Provence

Yes...its Saturday morning and we are enjoying a lazy moment having breakfast...cafe, baguettes and...cereal in the window:

It is also red Flanders poppy season and here is one that has moved into the garden...I love how the red color seems almost electric especially out in the fields.

And of course it is market day somewhere!!! I know, I know this is perhaps obsessive but I like to go to as many markets as I can and off we went to Pernes les Fontaines close by where they have a really darling market. Colorful, personal and not too huge and we got the best strawberries today and...ran into a friend from Portland, Oregon!!! This little town is not far from Venasque.

Pernes is a small town filled with fountains and wonderful medieval buildings like the church and the bridge. We saw a man with two beautiful and affectionate donkeys...Claude and his daughter Desiree!

Friday is market day in Carpentras

I set off early today to my favorite market. It was a short walk to the market and as I strolled along I noticed how the platanes trees have been given a haircut!!! I love their shape when they are all naked like that and you can see their pretty bark even better. You can see in this photo that even in Provence there are overcast days!

I like to come into the market from the ave Jean Jaures which is usually a large, shaded parking area near the pedestrian walk area. Of course the first stand I like to look at has....fabric!!!

Moving right along, after a few minutes to check out new colors and designs I get to the Nougat stand...the scent is absolutely divine!

Of course...don"t forget the flowers, this is spring after all and there was plenty of discussion going on about which were the best ones to plant now.

Then onto the more serious subjects of olives and garlic which is just fresh out of the field. Two women were discussing their recipe for the tasty bulb...I just thought they looked so pretty. I love their radiant orchid color!

I took my umbrella to market but before I got back home the sun was peeking out and Emmanuelle and I headed over to our favorite shopping place....Auchan!!! Yes, its true...we left Miss Maya with JC and Anton and left for Avignon under blue skies. For those of you who have never taken a visit to this huge store here is a picture of the check out lane:

this is really only the tip of the iceberg so to speak!

Our stroll through this place with a very winky wonky shopping cart worked up our hunger and Emmanuelle took me to the most adorable restaurant in the old city of Avignon. Avignon is one of my favorite cities and Emmanuelle knows it blindfolded. She wove us expertly through the narrow streets and after we parked we walked over to Place des Corps-Saints

We had lunch at a "tartine" bistro called Ginette & Marcel whose specialty is a large slice of bread (size of a plate) with your choice of topping...then of course there is dessert and here is a shot of the counter as you step into the bistro:

We sat in the back so we could look at the wonderful decor and look at the people coming in. Behind us was a table of French people with Italian friends so I got some practice with "goat cheese" as the French hosts explained what was on the various slices of bread. I think they decided on foie gras??!! but we went for 3 fromages aux poires (deicious) and tomates pesto (looked wonderful)!

It was a good day!