Market Day in Lourmarin

This morning we were offered a smorgasbord of the finest offerings in Provence at the weekly Lourmarin market. Truthfully I have never seen such a market anywhere. There was every variety imaginable of cheese, salami, bread, olives, fruit, tablecloths, scarves, hats, leather, and so many other things. This was not a market where people bargain, but a lot of money was changing hands.

We bought small gifts and lots of food, even a rotisserie chicken that came with roasted potatoes and onions. We found whole grain bread that should cure David’s constipation. We found artichokes the size of a large fist.



Kris and I returned to La Maison des Iris (our house) to assemble a daube, one of the most famous dishes in Provence. It is a combination of meats and vegetables that marinate in red wine and olive oil anywhere from several hours to a couple of days and then get cooked for about 5 hours. We had fresh herbs from here and there to add to the daube. I’ll give you a report when we actually cook and eat it.


This afternoon we went our separate ways. Kris and Bill took the car to do a hike recommended by Anton, the South African owner of our house. David and I launched off on bicycles toward the next town of Lauris. We got slightly intimidated by the big trucks whizzing by us on a busier road that was still narrow with no shoulder. So we turned off onto a smaller road that proceeded to get steep fast. That’s the point when I threw a tantrum, complaining about having to work so hard to have fun. I must say that David is good when I fall apart like this. He just kindly suggested we retrace our steps and head back toward home, stopping when we needed to.

On the way back, I spied a sign off the main road in the opposite direction advertising a winery. We rode for a little ways with grapes growing as far as the eye could see. Sure enough the winery of Chateau Constantin-Chevalier appeared up a driveway off to the left. After tasting three recommended wines, we settled on a fruity white that will go well with the rotisserie chicken.


The winery. The archway is the tasting room.


By the time we got back, I was in a much better frame of mind, anticipating sitting down to write, looking at my pictures, and thinking of eating again. It’s a good thing I am having to pedal hard uphill with all the calories I am consuming every day!

This is Batshik, a 6-month-old adorable resident of Lourmarin. Isn't he adorable?