3 October 2009

RETAIL THERAPY


It's market day at Loches on Wednesdays and Saturdays so in the middle of the first week of our holiday we decided to go and have a look at it.

All the usual stuff was there, including the sausage man.

There was someone selling a sort of stew made out of "boudin noir", or black pudding.  We managed to resist!

This lady was selling cakes. We bought a chocolate one and it was expensive but absolutely delicious.

It was very like a dessert we often choose, "fondant au chocolat", which is chocolate cake with a hot runny chocolate sauce in the middle. Scrumptious.
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On Thursday evening there was a market of artisans at La Roche-Posay. There was lots of interesting stuff for sale; the kind of things that are quite irresistable but that you really don't need. Wooden pens, leather jewellery boxes, basketware in all shapes and sizes, etc. We managed to resist most of it but I did buy some pretty hand-made beads.
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On Sunday we went with Barrie to a brocante near Ligeuil. The shop, or rather, showroom is a permanent feature but every so often the owner puts a lot of stuff outside on tables, "vide-grenier" style. The things for sale were better than at most of the vide-greniers I have been to.

We bought a couple of interesting items for the terrace, perfect for displaying our geraniums. One of them was obviously meant to be used as a magazine rack.

There's something so enjoyable about browsing the markets and brocantes in the sunshine. The colours, the smells and the sounds are all a real treat for the senses. If you happen to get a good lunch and a bargain as well, it's just a perfect holiday activity.

3 comments:

  1. I love ferreting around brocantes, one finds all sorts of little treasures. Your garden pieces were a good find, they look great.

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  2. My experience is that you shouldn't visit a food market on an empty stomach as the colours and aromas will entice you to buy more than you actually need ... especially in France. Martine

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  3. Elizabeth - thank you. It's a feat of self control not to buy tons of junk really !!

    Martine - I know just what you mean. All that fresh food, especially the fruit and veg, are so tempting.

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