One of the things I was most looking forward to when I read the itinerary put together by Provence Temptations was the promise of a jaunt to a local market. I felt sure that I was going to be in for a real visual treat, and I was not in any way disappointed. It was an absolutely delicious experience in every way, and I love love loved it.
We visited two different markets during the week, but my favorite of the two was the Sunday one in L'Isle-sur la-Sorgue. The town is very picturesque, with the river Sorgue winding right through and around it.
There were some lovely waterside cafés and restaurants to sit and while away a pleasant, warm Sunday morning over a coffee or two. Did I mention how much I loved the coffee? So delicious!
This is the old part of the town where you can see the Sunday market is in full swing.
It was incredibly atmospheric and I instantly fell in love with the whole experience of market shopping here. The abundance of fresh produce was absolutely breathtaking. There were huge piles of fresh, colourful fruit and vegetables, herbs, garlic, locally picked mushrooms....
There was an abundance of local cheeses and cured meats....
....and the famous lavender scented "Savon de Marseille" soaps.
There were rich, fragrant spices....
....and there was an enormous amount of (highly priced) bric-a-brac and collectibles.
There were beautiful fresh flowers....
....and gorgeous dried flowers.
There was oodles of lavender (swooon) in bundles and bags, it smelt sooooo lovely....
....and there were lots of hand crafted and brightly painted toys, instruments and decorations.
There were gorgeous scarves and beautiful embroidered linens...
....and there were baskets.
OH the baskets!!!!!!!!!!!
I absolutely went bananas when I saw these, aren't they perfectly gorgeous and desirable? I wanted to buy at least twenty in all different sizes and colours, but hell, I was travelling by train and had to be sensible about what I could cope with carrying.
I settled on one small basket for 5 euros, it just sang out to me from the pavement and I simply had to give it a home.
The colours of the woven straw (straw? not sure what they are made of exactly, but it looks like straw) are so vibrant, I love it very much.
Something else I fell in love with was the hand painted Provençal pottery. There were many market stalls selling these gloriously colourful bowls and plates, from huge big serving bowls down to these teeny-tiny little ones. To see it in such abundance was a real visual treat, although I have to say the vendors were very grumpy about photographs being taken. I bought these little ones for a few euros each, they are just so cute! I wish I had bought more. I wish I somehow had a huge case that I could've filled with these gorgeous items, with a personal porter to carry it on and off the various trains for me. Sigh.
The other thing I had to purchase was lavender, I felt I could not leave the market without some. The scent of true French lavender is out of this world, very much more potent than our English lavender I think. I have been inhaling it at every opportunity, my bag smells gorgeous!
I want to tell you that I used some lavender in my crochet project.....the scent of merino wool infused with lavender is oooooooooooo-♥-oooooooooooo!
Hoping you have enjoyed coming to market with me.....tomorrow I want to wow you with scenery and show you some of the gorgeous Provence Landscape. See you then....
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Thanks for taking us along, Lucy. I loved seeing the colorful flowers, baskets and bowls especially. What a treat!
Posted by: Val | October 20, 2012 at 08:35 PM
Oh, I love markets! And I would have killed for one of those baskets. What lovely colours.
Bimbi x
Posted by: Bimbi | October 20, 2012 at 08:36 PM
Thank you Lucy for sharing your beautiful photographs! The colors of the market are a visual feast for the eyes. Lovely!
Posted by: Traci S. | October 20, 2012 at 08:37 PM
What a beautiful baskets!
Thank you for posting those beautiful photos!
Posted by: Inge | October 20, 2012 at 08:43 PM
Oh Lucy- so glad you had a fabulous time! I am loving these posts.
Posted by: Louise ♥ | October 20, 2012 at 08:46 PM
I'm so happy you had a great time, thanks for sharing, I haven't seen Petah yet, but am looking forward to it x
Posted by: Anissa | October 20, 2012 at 08:50 PM
Oh how I enjoyed this post. The sights, the sounds, the smells. I can just imagine it all. Love it!
Posted by: Betsy | October 20, 2012 at 08:57 PM
Oh Lucy ...I've missed you .... What beautiful photographs! I've spent many happy weeks holidaying in that area of Provence over the years ... Your perfect images bring back so many wonderful memories and evoke the magical essence of Provence. Thank you so much for taking us on your trip with you!:-)
Posted by: Vikki Cook | October 20, 2012 at 08:58 PM
OHH, the Lavender!
Posted by: Sandra | October 20, 2012 at 09:13 PM
Dear Lucy
I love, love, love the colours of the flowers, scarves and bags - Gorgeous! Lucky you for bringing some of that colour back with you.
Your photos are beautiful too.
Best wishes
Ellie
Posted by: Ellie F | October 20, 2012 at 09:21 PM
Thanks for the photo tour! I wish I wasn't on the other side of the Atlantic. ;-)
Posted by: diana | October 20, 2012 at 09:22 PM
Lovely.
Posted by: SOL | October 20, 2012 at 09:29 PM
Oh gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! It looks so lovely! Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us!
Posted by: Fruitful Fusion | October 20, 2012 at 09:30 PM
What a trip! I wish we had things like that around here. Thank you so much for sharing with us! Truly memorable :)
Posted by: Lacey | October 20, 2012 at 09:38 PM
Maybe it's markets in the sun, but they always look better than our markets in the rain!!! Thanks for taking us along. Sarah
Posted by: 5ladybird lane | October 20, 2012 at 10:05 PM
So familiar...! How do you get such true colours? Camera? Phone? Merci pour le voyage!
Posted by: Ellie | October 20, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Wow, you describe it all so well, I feel like I was there with you! x
Posted by: Kezia | October 20, 2012 at 10:07 PM
I LOVE markets, especially in other countries, the colours, smells, sights and sounds, wrap around you. A sensation overload! Brilliant, I'm just going to have another look at those pictures! Ada :)
Posted by: Ada Bea | October 20, 2012 at 10:09 PM
Seeing the pictures of the market takes me back to when I lived in Athens, Greece & went to the markets there. It was one of my favorite things to do besides going to the beaches. Thank you so much for sharing your pictures & memories of your trip.
Posted by: Elaine | October 20, 2012 at 11:14 PM
WOW...thanks for all the eye candy!!
Posted by: janie | October 20, 2012 at 11:21 PM
These pics are just magnificent :) would love to visit the Provence one day and do plenty of crochet to :)
Thank u for sharing ur wonderful week x x x
Posted by: Kerry | October 20, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Lovely French markets! Adore those baskets. I got a gorgeous one when we went th Corsica. Unfortunately our cats liked it too... Oh how I'd love a whiff of that lavender. My favourite smell xxxx
Posted by: Sarah | October 20, 2012 at 11:37 PM
Oh my, Lucy. What beautiful lively photos. It makes me wan to go to Provence. The market was fabulous and I agree, I would have wanted 10 or 20 or those baskets. Can't wait for the countryside tomorrow. I'm so enjoying your jaunt to France. Thank you so much for including us.
Hugs,
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon Braxton | October 20, 2012 at 11:37 PM
Plenty of sun gives plenty of oil in the lavender and thus plenty of delicious aroma.Those baskets...why can't one get such lovelies for a reasonable price over here? A mystery!
That vegetable stall holder must have been up all night polishing those aubergines!Gorgeous.
Posted by: Kate | October 20, 2012 at 11:44 PM
I'd love to be there, too!!!!
thank you for sharing Lucy<
xxx Alessandra
Posted by: Alessandra | October 21, 2012 at 12:04 AM