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....
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm so happy you loved my country and my place :o)
<3
Posted by: Naelloz | October 23, 2012 at 05:09 PM
!!! those spices- the cheeses- the baskets....i want to shop there!
xo
Posted by: Amanda Thornton | October 23, 2012 at 01:23 AM
Thanks Lucy,for sharing your wonderful trip!It all looks amazing.The baskets!!!LOVe,I don't know how you restained yourself ;)As soon as I saw them,I thought yarn basket.
Posted by: Angela-Southern U.S.A. | October 23, 2012 at 12:57 AM
love all the colours and images, you bring Provence to life and bring back such lovely memories of our silver wedding trip x
Posted by: Carrie | October 22, 2012 at 08:21 PM
French coffee is soo good. One of the things I miss about France is the coffee. No good substituion here in the U.S. What fun baskets and pottery!!!
Posted by: Taylor | October 22, 2012 at 05:14 PM
Thank you for taking me to the market Lucy, and if only I could have bought one of those bags too!!!
Your market buys are 'just you', bright, breezy and colourful ...lucky you!
Can't wait to see your makes...please please reveal soon!!!
Fleur xx
Posted by: Fleur Cotton | October 22, 2012 at 03:37 PM
That market looks fabulous. You were very restrained in your purchases! Love those provencal bowls.
Posted by: Gillian | October 22, 2012 at 01:22 PM
Absolutely stunning colours, full of vibrancy and life. A breath of French air.
It's a holiday just to enjoy your photographs! Thankyou.
xx. Pats.
Posted by: Patricia Helliwell | October 22, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Thank you for takng us there... ;-)
Posted by: Lianne | October 22, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Oh the colours are simply breathtaking how gorgeous!
Posted by: Becky | October 22, 2012 at 12:22 AM
How lovely! Reminds me a bit of Montmarte,Paris but not as touristy and more colorful! Love the lavender- I have so many varities growing in my garden that I have grown myself and often pick a huge bunch like that-the scent indoors is heavenly. I've just aquired a yellow lavender and a white one and cannot wait to start growing cuttings! Thanks for sharing your trip!
Posted by: Bonnie | October 21, 2012 at 10:04 PM
I'm so happy you did get yourself a basket, they had your name written all over them!
Posted by: zenitude (formerly woolyknitsnbits) | October 21, 2012 at 09:41 PM
Those are raffia baskets from Madagascar :-)
Posted by: Pamela | October 21, 2012 at 09:00 PM
Oh gorgeous French market, beautiful colours. Welcome home by the way!
Posted by: maypole | October 21, 2012 at 08:31 PM
god, the colors, the flowers, the old tree, the yellow buildings, the wovenness of the color in the baskets, the pottery, the food itself. i can smell it!!! and the stinky cheese!
this recipe, from the old silver palate cookbook, is one of my favorites and among the quickest, for chicken liver pate. enjoy with thanks.
http://minigirl.typepad.com/recipes/2007/09/chicken-liver-p.html
Posted by: jeannette | October 21, 2012 at 08:08 PM
Lovely photography. But what is the project you have been working on? You are holding us all in suspense.
Posted by: Artmaker | October 21, 2012 at 06:15 PM
Oh... what lovely pictures!!!
belle :D
Lorena
Posted by: Lorena | October 21, 2012 at 05:06 PM
Glorious, simply glorious! :) xx
Posted by: Tina | October 21, 2012 at 04:57 PM
What a feast for the senses! I love the baskets and would have snapped up at least one big one :) The lavender must smell glorious!
Posted by: Sarah | October 21, 2012 at 04:48 PM
Your pictures always give me peace...
Posted by: Ana | October 21, 2012 at 04:42 PM
Hi Lucy thanks for describing your wonderful trip. I soooo, want to learn to crochet, but haven't a clue where to start it looks confusing, could you point me to somewhere that explains and shows as if teaching a child? I fear thats the only way I may learn, thankyou x
Posted by: Angie Bolton | October 21, 2012 at 04:35 PM
In Holland we call the 'straw' raffia, google for raffia ribbon, I think that's what your beautiful bag is made of.
Posted by: Kirsten | October 21, 2012 at 04:35 PM
Hi Lucy,
Glad to see you back! I wish the fragrances of your trip could come thru the internet too!
BTW, a fabulous alternative for that espresso coffee maker is the Aeropress--available at amazon.uk. And it's less than £27! It's got nearly 1500 reviews at amazon.us if you want to read more about it.
Posted by: Jillian | October 21, 2012 at 04:31 PM
I love your way of feeling and living colours, the fact that your eyes are able to catch the magic of every single thing in life and I admire your capability to make me feel as if I was there. THANKS!!!
Posted by: SHARITA | October 21, 2012 at 04:29 PM
Hi Lucy, welcome back! Thanks for sharing your Trip with us. It looks so much fun and very inspirational x
Posted by: Joss plane | October 21, 2012 at 03:25 PM