Sometimes I sit and watch the River Sorgue flow by, crystal clear all the way to the bottom, ducks swimming upstream against the stiff current, frothing white over the falls, flowing out of one of the most prolific springs in France, the source just a few miles upstream from here. L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a varied city - rivers, gardens, markets, shops, restaurants, homes, hustle, bustle, calm, flat, walkable - all encircled with crystal clear flowing water.
Thursday and Sunday are market days when vendors erect their stands in the streets. It is such a pleasure to shop for fresh produce outside in a local market, buying from a real person who usually made it or grew it or knows who did, rather than the plastic wrapped, prepackaged environments of the modern U.S. supermarket. I think that life was meant to be lived this way, buying small amounts often instead of pre-packaged stuff with a long shelf life. Sometimes a local dog wanders by calmly, hoping for something to drop on the ground but, otherwise well-behaved.
We bought some nougat from this vendor, a friendly baker originally from Tunisia.
He had many sweets to tempt a sweet tooth........but we resisted - except for the nougat.
Lots of dried fruits and nuts including the best tasting and biggest figs I've ever eaten.
A wonderfully talented acoustic guitarist played for tips among the vendors.
As did this sax man who played a beautiful rendition of the "Basin Street Blues" - made me feel like I was in New Orleans.
And always in France, fresh flowers.
But here's the stereotype made truth, a bicycle leaning against a wall with a fresh baguette in the basket ready to go home. Not a prop - a real person's bicycle on a trip to the market - all that's missing is a small dog peering over the edge of the basket.
I have noticed the skies here to be remarkably quiet and devoid of aircraft. That quiet was briefly broken today with this overflight of a tight formation of French fighter jets. (I added some texture to hide the fact the image was of such poor quality - nice tight formation though).
All that walking around the market meant it was time for a delicious vegan meal which included a fruit and veggie salad, roasted eggplant, fresh bread, and fresh wine. Life is good in Provence!
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