We were among the first at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue this morning. We parked on the road leading into the town, just four or five cars from the roundabout. Our plan was to come early, have breakfast, enjoy the market before it got too crowded, and then head home with the makings for a picnic lunch.
At 8:30 the sellers were still setting up, chatting with each other, arranging their stands, some sipping coffee in one of the cafes. We walked quickly to the inside of the town, settling on the Café de France for our coffee and croissants.
We wandered the market in the early morning… just a few things on our list today. I love just looking at the stands, seeing what’s for sale, soaking in the colors. Does it mean anything that the color that most caught my attention today was red??
Charley set off on another errand, and Kelly and I shopped together. She persuaded me that we both needed colorful espadrilles. Strangely, I didn't buy red!
The crowd began to build around 10. We ran into Charley on a narrow street and quickly assembled our picnic: roast chicken with the sauce, chinese noodles with broccoli, salad, a juicy melon, some nectarines.
On a small section of the river near the Jardin Public there was a Marché Flottant: several flat boats decorated with flowers, each operated by a couple or a family in native costumes, each selling some market product from their boat to the hundreds of people on either side of the narrow river: flowers, olives, copies of La Provence, fruit, even knives. Festive music played in the background. Somehow the men standing in the boats were able to keep their balance.
We pushed our way through the crowds to cross the little bridge and make our way back to our car. It was not yet 11, but we were ready for lunch. Another car gratefully slipped its way into our excellent parking place, as people came from every direction to this famous and colorful market.
