Bric-a-Brac, Avignon and Arles

 

On our way to Avignon we made a little pit stop in the village of Isle sur Sorgue for their bric-a-brac market.  It is one of biggest in the area with around 300 stalls.  It was interesting and fun but didn't linger to long because we truly don't have room in our cabin for much bric-a-brac!

We pull up to the walled city of Avignon, sometimes referred to as the "City of Pope's" because of the presence of popes from 1309 to 1423.   The popes built the wall in the 14th century and it is today the finest example of medieval fortification. 

Moving on down the road, we spend the afternoon in Arles. Where the Rhone river forks into two branches just upstream and forms the Camargue delta.  You can see the famous camarguais white horses and the Greater "pink" flamingo's roaming the marshy area.  Walking around town we explore the Roman ruins of an amphitheatre and coliseum.  We've had a very busy day exploring the Bouches-du-Rhone. 

 

 

                                                                       

                                                               deux cheveaux (cool French cars from the 50's!)

                                                             wall that encircles Avignon
                                                               

 

popes palace

                                                
  

                                                            downtown Avignon

                                                         street in St. Remy

                                                                      entering Arles

                                                                 Roman times amphitheatre

                                                                      Coliseum in Arles

                                                                              pretty in Arles

                                                         white horses in the camargue of Arles

Provence continued....

Today's market brings us to the town of Apt.  It is know for having the largest market in the Luberon hosting over 250 stalls!  Yeah! We have a lot of fun checking out all of the wares and treats.  The local ladies are actually running past us with their panniers (roller bags) to make sure they get the freshest produce!  Just don't get in their way!
Chef Michael bought us a nice rabbit to cook up for dinner with all the fixin's! Can't wait.
We head on to the village of Roussillon which is know for the ochre rocks.  It is orangey red in color and is used throughout the village buildings.  It is special to the area and one of the most colorful villages in Provence.
On to the village of Gordes.  A very spectacular village perched up on a glowing hillside.  It was an active resistance village during WWII and the whole town was awarded the medal, Croix de guerre, a French military decoration to honor people who fought with the allies against the axis forces.
We make our way home and are ready for a little aperitif and dinner prep. Michael marinates the rabbit with mustard, olive oil and garlic.  He then choppes up fresh Provencal vegetables to roast with a little of our rebluchon cheese. Decedant!  A bit later he seares the rabbit and makes a delicious sauce with chantrelles, shallots, Herbs de Provence and a Luberon red wine.  Bon Appetit!

   lavendar of Provence

 

Apt market

 

whole stuffed roasted pig!

 

Roussillon village

 

 

                                                            Church  in Roussillon

                                                  drive by of the village of Bonnieux

                                                                  Roussillon

                                                                           Gordes village

                                                                       Aperitif time!

                                                       Chef up to his old tricks!  Delicious!

The Luberon region of Provence

We have made our way back down south to the Luberon region of Provence.  I am loving it so far!  We found a great spot in the small village of Rubion to settle in and explore the area.
 Wow, driving around looks just like one of those books for the coffee table.  Every little or not so little house is stamped with the provencal blue or green shutters and just dripping with vines, flowers and a little " je ne sais quoi"!
Each village host a market on different days of the week so we are hopping around to catch as many as we can.  Our first one is in Lourmarin.  A very beautiful and charming village. The kind that you think of when you hear Provence.  Thumbs up for the market.  Purchased a few olives and a striped linen throw.
We headed on to Aix en Provence for lunch. The drive was beautiful as we wound through rows of the local plane-trees. After a bit of sight seeing on the famous street Cours Mirabeau we enjoyed the special of the day, moules marinieres at a tiny cafe.

                                                                  our spot in Robion

 

                                                                  Lourmarin market

                                              a bit of proscuitto and some cheese, please

                                                                  throws and blankets

                                                                 cafes in Lourmarin

                                                                fountain in Lourmarin

                                      Great little shop in town.  My friend Jane would love it!

                                                          Plane-tree's on the way to Aix.

                                                                   La Rotonde fountain in Aix

                                           Plane-tree lined street Cours Mirabeau in Aix.

                                                                      street in Aix

                             back to the local woodfired boulangerie for our daily baguette

. 

Market Day in the Haute Savoie

 

I dragged Michael out early this morning to get to the market.  I've heard this market is amazing and I didn't want to miss it.  Back when my husband was a chef he would understand this! :)

It was amazing! Freezing cold but so much fun.  Alot of the vendors and farmers were offering out samples of the most delicious  things.  I was happy of this because we didn't have time for much breakfast. We sampled sausages, cheeses, nougat, spice bread, honey and cakes.  Yeah!

The Haute Savoie is know for their cheeses especially the one called Reblochon.  Oh my, it is sinful.  It is a raw milk soft cheese that is the main ingredient in a local dish called the Tartiflette.  Potatoes, cream, butter, bacon and Reblochon a "dish to warm the body and soul" and add a few pounds!  We had to give it a try. 

I was also very excited to see the nougat. I've never seen such big rounds in so many flavors.  We sampled and decided on the almond.  It was a great morning.

To warm up from the cold morning we hopped in the car and headed to the hills behind the town in search of the famed cows with the bells.  We spotted a heard and rolled down the window to hear the clanking.  All is good in the hills.

 

 

 

                                                  Tomme is another great local cheese we purchased

                                                                      all kinds of nougat

                                                                      Big cookies

                                                               chocolate farm animals

                                                            love the "pig" markers

                                                        dinner in a tiny alpine restaurant

                                                                   the local dish tartiflette

                                                We disturbed a cow eating his afternoon snack!