Sunday, March 29, 2015

Market Day and a 3 Hour Lunch

Sunday is the big all over town market day in L'Isle sur La Sorgue, and this was our last one, so we made the most of it. It's a big event for locals and brings in many people from the surrounding area, but all we had to do was walk downstairs. Fantastic to be where the action is!

We strolled around, bought a few things, then headed for the best place in town for a long Sunday lunch... Grand Cafe de la Sorgue...didn't expect it to last 3 hours, but there was no hurry and it was most enjoyable.

There are way too many images here, but I wanted to give you a feel for what it's like in this lovely town on a sunny Sunday, a paradise of color, sights, smells and sound!

 It all started early this morning when the merchants were setting up their stalls right below our window! My bird's eye view around 9am.


 The 2 highest windows straight in front are ours, as well as the window to the left of them in the terra cotta building. Great location!

 Within 10 minutes Joe had bought one of these veggie cutting devices 'as seen on the tele'. Good little gadget.

 Stalls set up in front of the church. 



 This little one was content to read in their van while his parents sold olives.



 Ah, more olives...

 Love seeing all the pampered dogs.




 We got a front row seat at the Grand Cafe de la Sorgue, also a little sunburn, but well worth it.

All of these photos are from my seat at our table... well positioned! Her father gave me an ok nod to take her photo, he had a camera, too. Some girls love to dress up!

 Fellow sit-and-watch-the-world-go-by people...there were a few of us :-)

 The stalls start being taken down around 1pm.

Coffee and a cigarette... Still many smokers in France.



Scene of the 3 hour lunch. It takes about 20 minutes to get the menu, another to see what you want to drink, then ordering, food comes quickly, but the plates stay for a long while. Then 'do you want dessert'... yes. Wait for her to come back to see what you want for dessert. Chocolate something delicious. No, thank you, no coffee. Ask for l'addition, nothing for 20 minutes. Forgets. Do you want l'addition? yes... another 20 minutes. Yep, easy to be there for 3 hours, there is no hurry to move you along, and that suited us just fine.


Friday, March 27, 2015

Lunch in Loumarin, France

On the other side of the mountain is Loumarin, still in the Luberon area of Provence, which is where we have been the last 2 weeks. What a fun time eating outside in a lovely square, good food, interesting people watching... and oh, so French: everyone relaxing, taking their time, enjoying spring.

 The castle in town, such a pretty day with these clouds and sunshine.

 Reading the paper and having a couple of beers...

 ..along with his hand rolled cigarette.

 An active hot spot, life is good.

 Lunch outside, heavenly.

Maybe a famous author, using longhand to write a novel?

Our very hardworking and interested waiter.

After our long lunch, we walked around town, and hey.... good time for a selfie. 

 Someone has style! Just a random table with tulips out on the sidewalk by itself.

 Love these little cars, and so practical on the narrow streets, not like our big Peugeot.

 Joe helping with a sense of scale. An old mini mini.

 Spring.

Love the trees! 


Thursday, March 26, 2015

Kayaking Competition in Fontaine de Vaucluse

A wet cloudy day kept us close to our present home, L'Isle sur la Sorgue, so we headed only 10 minutes away to Fontaine de Vaucluse. What a pleasant surprise!! A dramatic setting in a gorge with a swiftly running river, and a kayak competition! I spent a lot of time capturing the kayakers coming off the falls, trying to get just the right combination of action and an expression on their face, while keeping the image sharp.
 I love repetitive action situations, I get to try different settings and ways to get it just right, over and over again. It all made for a great afternoon!
Online I wasn't able to find out more about the competition, I wanted to share my images with them, but this is all I found... Maybe they will find me. Selectif Regional Slalom Canoe-Kayak Fontaine de Vaucluse

A beautiful setting for a small village and a sporting event.


 Spectators.

 Part of the course.

 Cutest dog!! I asked if I could take their photo, being friendly and agreeable, they said yes :-)

 Spring is on it's way.




 Great scenes and even in the rain it looks good.

Here are a few more of the hardy kayakers...