Frenchlife- Part Two

We explored our nearest town Uzes on Monday morning.

We had visited here twice before and always loved its pretty square and old town - this time it was good to think that we would be "locals".  I will have photos of Uzes in a later post.

The roads into and out of towns in this region are lined with these impressive plane trees whose shadows at different times of the day dapple and light the road.  

I am trying to get the perfect photo from the car.

Tuesday we headed to another town we had stayed in before, Vaison-la- Romaine,  which we knew had a market that day in the lower town.

We finally found the food area after wandering the narrow, crowded streets which were full of general market items - clothing, tablecloths, pots- sadly all looking the same.  The curse of markets world wide.

We have also noticed a distinct middle eastern influence in the food offer - the French are expanding their tastes.

This stall had various and unusual flavoured and very fresh dips.  The price of 14 euros for two small containers shocked me for a moment. They were good though.

Spices from all over the world

Middle eastern desserts!

Freshest of garlic

A market lunch again today - this time 2 courses for 13.5E. You can't get a toasted focaccia in the  QVB Sydney for that!

Not as good as our last lunch out - but good value

An asparagus rissotto cake for me, followed by a fish and prawn dish that had an overpowering prawn stock taste. I musn't have liked it that much as I don't have a photo!

M had salt cod brandade with an amazing thyme sorbet - we will try that on the farm.

Followed by ricotta stuffed pork.

Another reason for our trip to Vaison was to revisit the site of our marriage proposal that went wrong in the old town.

We walked up to the town, passing what M said was his first car - a Peugot 404 - on the way. 

He was a francophile even then.

Up the steep hill

And stone stairways

To the old castle (now under repair) at the top

11 years ago we sat here - both secretly in anticipation of a marriage proposal.

As we looked over this valley as the sun set, M opened a bottle of wine and readied himself to propose. It was not to be.  The wine was corked! Ooh la la!

We both agreed that there should be no proposal for us over a bad bottle of wine - it took another 6 months before he succeeded on the balcony of our apartment in Sydney.

So many memories!