Antiquing in France

     + Brocante in Malaucène, France

     It seems as though trips to Provence always center around antiquing... or visiting "La Brocante" -- a shop or outdoor market dealing in second-hand goods.  It probably has something to do with the fact that my sister is the designated driver when we travel... and her passion is antiquing.  When she hears about a brocante that, "you will always find good stuff" at, it becomes our destination, and there is nothing I can do about it.  I cannot lie... I also love scouring second-hand stores and brocante markets almost as much as Susan does, but there is a huge difference between my sister's purchases and mine.  Susan is a serious "collector" and always in search of specific items (Antique-of-the-Week).  I, on the other hand, am a collector of nothing in particular.  I am open to anything and everything.  An eclectic piece that I find fascinating usually ends up going home with me -- if it's cheap. 

+ Brocante market on the edge of the Ramparts... the walled, medieval city of Avignon

    
     And sometimes, when going to a weekly brocante market such as this one in Avignon, it means that we cannot have breakfast at our B&B since we need to get there, "before everything is gone!", as Susan would say.  I really look forward to my café crème with a croissant and brioche in the morning.  And did I mention the French lavender honey???  Going without my Petit Déjeuner puts me in a foul mood.  But if you arrive at La Brocante hungry, this is what you can purchase for breakfast!

+ A Brocanteur's means of travel

    
     I don't know what I was thinking when I bought this white French ironstone bowl, especially when I kept preaching to Susan and friend Renate about the risks of traveling with breakables.  The knives, however, didn't pose a problem for my luggage.  And how could I not bring them home with me?  They have "Paris" stamped on the blades.

+  In search of antiques in Bonnieux, France

+  Sunday brocante in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

     The L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Sunday brocante market and shops are where you go to view the really beautiful stuff, but not necessarily buy.  It's a huge tourist destination; second only to Paris for antiques.  And hugely expensive.  This was also our first day with heat of 98 degrees +.

    
     I could easily find a place for this iron chair with striped fabric at my house... if I could only fit it into my luggage.

     Monday, 9 June, was "Fête de la transhumance" in St. Rémy-de-Provence; a festival that celebrates moving the sheep to higher grounds and pasture lands.  In the morning 3000 sheep are paraded through the town.  We missed that yearly tradition, but did stroll the holiday's brocante market later in the day.  A carousel is set up near the brocanteurs to entertain the children.

 
     Somehow, these old, French café au laits bols made it back home with me...
I'm sure that sister Susan will soon have a post or two on her brocante purchases, too.  I'll let her tell you about the tin sconces off a French chateau that dominated space in her luggage...

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