L'Isle Sur la Sorgue

Our first day in Provence found us driving towards the island city of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

Surrounded by the River Sorgue on all sides,

the city oozes charm. Mossy wooden paddles from one of  several water wheels in town are still turning, and in former times helped keep the silk, woolen and paper industries going.

We made a point to visit Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on Thursday, its market day.

Vendors spilled out in every direction, along the river and around the Romanesque church

selling beautiful dish cloths

and table cloths

that were every bit as colorful as the fruit in the nearby stands.

Donkey sausage, anyone?

Flowers for arranging,

and for planting.

Cheeses for every palate,

or lavender by the scoop,

as well as the ever popular Savon de Marseille,

and greens for dinner. Just a few of the multitude of choices.

BUT, I must come back someday soon, because what really puts Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on the map is its popularity as an antiquing town. With over 300 permanent antique dealers and many more who flood the town each Sunday for its weekly antique market, it is the largest concentration of antique dealers outside of Paris.

Regretfully, our schedule did not allow a Sunday visit, and the antique shops are open only on the weekends, so I've every goal for a return visit. It's hard to imagine it being any more fun than the excitement of the Thursday market day when we visited, but I'll check it out....

someday,

 and maybe we can stay at our little farmhouse again, and a group of us can hook up together to share the fun.