Blogging Through France: Sept 15th

September 17, 2013

Carpentras Flea Market

Carpentras Flea Market

We began our Sunday in Carpentras where a Marche aux puces (antique/flea market) is held in a large parking lot one Sunday each month.  It was fun to stroll down the aisles searching for little gems on this mild, sunny afternoon.

I personally have a difficult time sifting through lots of items to find my treasures, but this pasttime is enjoyed by many.  I prefer taking pictures of the event.

Venasque Cat

Venasque Cat

 

We left Carpentras and continued to Venasque, a lovely hilltop Village (an ancient medieval city) with steep cliffs overlooking vineyards and cherry orchards.  We found a Provencal shop with beautiful linens and home goods.  We bought a polka-dotted tablecloth for Gene’s terrace.  Got a pic of a cat outside the shop who looked like he had a moustache.  Couldn’t resist him.  There were several hotel restaurants in the village, but our timing was a little off.  They’re open from 12-3:00pm and then again in the evening.  It was 3:30

Fountain In Venasque

Fountain In Venasque

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Gordes Vancluse Mountains

Gordes Vaucluse Mountains

Restaurants in Gords

Shops in Gordes

 

Continuing on to Gordes, a larger hilltop village (with winding cobblestone streets)…it began to pour.  Maneuvering our way up the mountain, sharing the road with large busloads of tourists, the road narrowed and became frightening at times.  (I felt like I was back in the Amalfi Coast where I couldn’t look out the bus window going around the curves.)

We browsed through several boutiques.  Gene picked out several dresses that made me look like a “hoochie mama” so…no purchases there.  I did, however, find some pastries that made me salivate.  A caramel eclair, lemon tart and a fruit tart. Oh so good!  We indulged ourselves on the ride home.

Gene made this delicious eggplant parmesan dish, and pork chop parmesan when we got home.   I really love a man who knows his way around a kitchen. 🙂

Jean Louis and Pilar, his fun next-door neighbors, came over for dinner that night.  We ate at 9 o’clock.  They had just returned from a trip to the Alsace region in the French Alps delivering wines  from their vineyard in Seguret.  I had fun trying to communicate in my broken French.

A late night, and tomorrow we’re staying close to home.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Joanne September 17, 2013 at 2:39 pm

So enjoying your posts! Sound like a trip of a lifetime. Can’t go wrong with French pastry that’s for sure!!!
Have fun,
Joanne

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Joanne September 17, 2013 at 2:42 pm

So enjoying your posts! Sounds like a trip of a lifetime.cant go wrong with French pastry that’s for sure!!!
Have fun,
Joanne

Reply

dacampa September 18, 2013 at 1:41 am

It’s a great trip. We are heading to a Marriott in Antibes for 2 nites (Cannes and Nice) and then Barolo and Bra, Italy for the weekend. Yesterday, stayed put to blog and had dinner with neighbors.

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Ina June 12, 2014 at 1:35 pm

I am finally catching up on the posts and I’m hooked already.

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