On Saturday we had a rendezvous to have yet another tow bar fitted, this time to our replacement of the RAV 4. It is a necessary evil with the trailer being very useful for collecting items for the house and garden.
We arrived at the unearthly hour of 9am, certainly the earliest we have been to the market. It was a beautiful morning, about 5 degrees and the clearest blue sky you can imagine. Our car was not going to be ready until at least lunch time if not after, so we took a relaxing walk around the market. Apt is one of the largest in Provence. It is so busy in the summer they run a park and ride! actually we tend to avoid it preferring one on Sunday in nearby Coustellet. Unlike in the UK, although people use supermarkets, the markets thrive providing fresh local and seasonal produce, endless cheese and wine stalls as well as the obligatory tourist products!
We called into our regular bar for a coffee and read 'La Provence' the newspaper. As we strolled through the market it was noticeable that there were few tourists, instead all the locals were out on mass enjoying the winter sunshine. Even for us, the 'stroll' took time as we met many friends and acquaintances. We even met and chatted to the Mayor of Apt. And so time past, by 11.30 we met up with friends at the 'sunny bar' where you can sit and people watch. And how the French like to talk! It is such a different culture, the market was, well not heaving but just busy with people stopping and chatting, eating and drinking.
This Gentlemen was selling flowers - I took the picture about 9.30 - of course before setting to work he had made scrambled egg to be washed down with red wine!
Our car was not to be ready by lunchtime and like the shops,the garage and work shop closes between 12 and 2pm so what were we to do but go to 'Le Platane', one of our favourite restaurants for lunch. Forty Euros still buys 3 courses, wine and coffee for two thankfully! The local boule club was busy with what still seems to be a male dominated pastime!
We finally arrived home about 4pm. Before setting the fire I cleared some more of Erics debris in the garden and took a walk around the building site where I took this picture from the second bedroom of our new house - not a bad view eh?
Today, Sunday has again been a stunning day, almost 20 degrees (in the sun!), we have been to Isle sur L'Sorgue,known as the Antiques Capital of Provence which was really busy. We were being photographed again which was fun. The best part was Karen and I pretending to examine a 14th Century chest of drawers at just 1230000€ ( about 90000 pounds!)thank fully not to our taste! Once again it was lunch in the sunshine - I think I better sign off there before I upset too many people!I took this on route, 9.30am Sunday morning.
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