Marketing, Provençal style

DATELINE: Tuesday, Oct.10. All day in Vaison.

Need a 5-foot tall ceramic giraffe? An olive dish in your choice of 20 colors? A wool cardigan with two great big cicada bugs knit into the design? This and much more seen today at Vaison's weekly outdoor market.

About half a block from our front door, Vaison's large central parking lot is cleared of cars every Tuesday to accommodate the region's biggest collection of booths selling all kinds of food, clothing, toys, produce, flowers, and collectable junk. The streets of town are also filled with booths and crowds that make it a challenge to move.

We walked over about 10:00AM and joined the throng. Typical of European outdoor markets, no-one tries to keep right or otherwise form distinct walking lanes. Then there are the wheeled grocery baskets and the baby carriages to slow things further. So strolling the market is NOT an aerobic exercise.

Friends in foreground, market in background

Roz had bought a few scarves and some fresh strawberries when we ran into the couple we'd enjoyed meeting at last Friday's dinner at L'Arbre à Vins. After a quick loop around some stalls to complete their shopping, the four of us headed to the row of cafes that face onto the town square. They do a very good business on market days, and we had to scout around to find a table for four with a little shade. Coffee and some good conversation flowed for a leisurely hour, then we invited them back for a quick glance at our rental house.

Then it was time to split (though we hope to get together again this coming Friday at the wine shop dinner). They went to find their parked car and head home, while we walked across the river and up the hill into the medieval part of Vaison.

Destination: Bistro du'O, one of our favorites, where we joined many other diners in the crowded dining room. Pictures of our luncheon are on Roz's online photo album (click the link to the left).

After lunch we walked further up into the old village and peeked into the de-sanctified church to see a fairly dull display based on French archeological expeditions in the long-lost Greek colony of Philippi. Back outside, we came upon a ... I suppose I'd call it a public balcony ... with an open view to the east. Photos ensued.

Looking eastward from the medieval part of Vaison, which perches on a steep hill.
On horizon to far right, Mt. Ventoux. On closer hilltop, a statue of we-know-not-whom.

Home for a rest, then out about 6:00PM to move the car from the cathedral parking area back to the nearer Post Office lot, which had been cleared of every vestige of the morning market. We then walked to the town place for a relaxing stop at our usual cafe where we had an aperitif as we watched the locals play and relax.

Home again, a little cheese and wine, and to bed after some blog work. Not an exciting day, but filled with the relaxing scenes and activities we come here for.

A note about the devastating wildfires threatening much of the Napa Valley: Our neighbors tell us our condo is not currently endangered. We're worried about it, of course, but also very concerned about some of our friends, who have already been evacuated from their homes in other parts of Napa County. Even Napans whose homes don't appear to be threatened are being subjected to very unhealthy smoke-filled air. Please may they be careful and stay safe. Good luck to all of us.