Another Day in Provence

Yesterday started at the market in Loumarin.

I think I liked it better than my husband.

For obvious reasons.

At one point he took refuge behind the vendor lined streets to see what the town might look after this once weekly burst of activity.

Later we had lunch at La Terasse in Goult. We both decided we wouldn’t mind living there hardly at all.

Then we drove toward Mount Ventoux. It was hot. And uphill.

It was hard to stop because there were so many bikers on the road. It was hard to stop and I took some idiot pictures from a moving vehicle.

Then we saw people camping on the side of the road towards Sault. I thought they were lavendar pickers – WRONG. The further we got up the mountain and away from the lavendar fields, the camping density along the road got thicker and thicker.

Turns out some kind of bike race is coming through Sault and over Mount Ventoux in a couple of days.

We weren’t allowed to drive all the way to the top of the mountain and had to return to Sault. We liked it there, but counted ourselves lucky to not get run over.

It was so crowded watching the Tour de France on the television in the window that it took a while to get a clear shot.

I guess the French really are what we’d call biking enthuisiasts.

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10 Comments

Sheri July 25, 2009 at 1:27 pm

Wonderful post! I love the picture of the tomatos and soaps!
.-= Sheri´s last blog ..Book Review: Still Alice by Lisa Genova =-.
Pricilla July 25, 2009 at 3:28 pm

That market looks so like the one in Florence that I couldn’t bear to leave. I just wish I could have brought everything home with me….
.-= Pricilla´s last blog ..Harry and the Wood Pile =-.
Jane Gaston July 25, 2009 at 5:35 pm

All the photos are great but I, too, just love the first one of the tomatoes and handmade soaps. I can just smell them!!!
.-= Jane Gaston´s last blog ..(Big) Backyard Project =-.
betsy July 25, 2009 at 5:52 pm

I’m finally here! Is it too late for that bloody mary?
.-= betsy´s last blog ..Blue =-.
The Mother July 26, 2009 at 3:20 pm

I think if most of us had to choose between fresh tomatoes and silk scarves or our husbands, we know what the answer would be.
.-= The Mother´s last blog ..Cleanliness, Godliness, and Allergies =-.
Ellie July 27, 2009 at 5:57 am

I love your pics. Feel like I’m getting to share Provence with you.
The Dental Maven July 27, 2009 at 8:27 am

Guess you guy’s aren’t big biking fans. The Tour de France (biggest annual bike race in the world) has been going on since July 4) Ended yesterday, the 26th.

Enjoyed your photos!
.-= The Dental Maven´s last blog ..Dental Wannabe’s =-.
Eric July 27, 2009 at 11:32 am

Nothing like the markets in Provence! And the neat old buildings with the characteristic blue shutters.

Hey if you are around those parts and feel like a bit of kayaking fun, take a detour to Isle sur la Sorgue. Even Petrarch thought that was cool, but they probably didn’t have Kayak Vert back then!
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Strange Photos and Sundials (Fotografie Bizzaro e Orologi del Sole) =-.
Lin July 29, 2009 at 7:48 pm

These are incredible photos!!! Love seeing and hearing about your trip.
.-= Lin´s last blog ..Jesus Jarvis???! =-.
robin July 30, 2009 at 7:58 am

I love the market photos! The soaps next to the tomatoes are gorgeous!
.-= robin´s last blog ..Wordful Wednesday =-.