Duke of York Market Colors

We headed out to the Sloane Square tube stop this morning, but took a quick detour around the weekly Saturday market that is held near us at the Duke of York square. 

Cristen got us some Honey Cinnamon cashews for our excursion that day. It is London Open House weekend, and we saw some beautiful buildings today which I'll share with you later.

I just thought the market was particularly colorful today, so my camera just begged to be released from my purse, and I captured a few sights for you. 

Enjoy...

Packing up my suitcase tonight to head back to Houston, and I wish I could bring you one of everything!

It's Market Day in Lourmarin

If it's Friday morning, it's market day in Lourmarin, and the streets are full of vendors and abuzz with shoppers,

elbow to elbow seeking out the freshest and most unusual products of the day.

Of course, your first purchase must be your French market bag if you don't yet have one,

or you might prefer a more colorful one. Now be ready, it's time to fill your bag.

What will you take home for the day?

Will it be beautiful,  fresh tomatoes,

fruits of every color,

flowers for your home,

sachets of lavender,

 or maybe some local pottery?

You don't want to forget the cheese on your list,

or the sweet melons of Cavaillon,

smocked dresses for your favorite mademoiselle,

olives,

beans,

and some fragrant figs.

In great demand are the "draps de hamman," or Turkish sheet towels

in every color to be used to drape your lounge chair, or as a beach wrap.

Also unique are the bags made from the pull tabs of cans--something for everyone, I guess.

A great gift to take home would be some Savon de Marseille, a traditional pure soap made from olive oil

or you might fall in love with these hand-made "coeurs de lavande" like I did. Full of lavender and decorated with ribbons, these are a special keepsake from Provence. More about these here.

Do you have your bread for dinner,

or all the spices you need,

the onions,

a roasted chicken,

some garlic,

or a flavored vinegar, almost too pretty to use?

Your trip might not be complete without a painting that will always recall the lovely town of Lourmarin.

And if you really want to end the day like the locals do, stop for a coffee back at the village square to people-watch before making your way back home.

As for me, as our shopping wound down, I was grateful for a husband to help cart back all our purchases and a market bag that would "almost" hold it all.

One more glance over our shoulders at the church as we head back along the footpath, eager to enjoy our purchases of the day.

So tell me, how would you fill your basket on market day?

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.